Hey there, fandm. wow, two chapters in a spam of a few days. this might be a new record, now that the new saga is coming unfold.I hope you are all liking this long and kinda bizarre story, and if you're reading this here, well... Thank you for your support and liking of this little story and i hope you keep enjoying reading! Like always, stay golden~~
Disclaimer: Highschool dxd does not belong to me.
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"I'm gonna ask, what happened?"
"I don't wanna talk about it. If you know best, you won't want to hear it either." I said with a sigh, hovering my chopsticks on my bento as Ren enjoyed his sandwich with boxed juice. If only he know...
The past weeks... Well, they were something. Something something I fought this idiot and my friend Knight, the golden dragon, discovered the existence of aliens in Kuoh academy and almost lost my virginity to a crazy chick that says is my fiancée(and almost raped her too). Also, my sisters are back, and I almost lost an arm in a wrestling match against them after they discovered the new number of girls around. Fortunately, with all that training and a little help of Yoko, I put them back in place. Barely, I still need to wear those bandages because even now they're somehow stronger than me.
"Look, you were with me the whole week, and you know how messed up my everyday life can be. The past ones are not exceptions!" I said to him, frowning and finally picking a octopus sausage out of the lunchbox. I'm exhausted, and I've been spacing out a lot. But somehow, today the day looks brighter. Maybe my day at the springs helped me relax. After all, was all that happened there...
...
...
Who am I kidding? I blew a fillbuster and kissed my fiancé like an animal and released everything on her! That's why I'm so light! I used her thighs as an onahole, and assaulted her with saliva and blood! I've become my father! Soon I'll be attacking other girls with my uncontrollable libido!
"AAAAAAAAHHH! I CANT MARRY ANYMOOOOREEE...!" I stood up again and screamed to the heavens. The whole place trembled with my voice, and I only stopped because Ren went ahead and slapped me shut.
"Will you shut up?! Can't I just have a day without you having a bitchy-fit in the middle of nowhere?!" He said, as I could only twitch in pain, my face burning hot. I stood up to frown at him.
"Shut up. You don't know what it feels like being surrounded by weirdness." I said, biting my tongue, which I soon regret it because the wounds on it are still open, and looking back at my lunchbox. "Hey, Ren, can I tell you a secret? Something that happened to me this weekend? I wasn't going to, but I have the feeling that it'll start devouring me from the inside if I'm don't say it to someone, anyone."
"Go ahead. It's not like it'll much to a ninja, anyway." Of course it wouldn't. He's a ninja, he probably have seen worse in one day than everything I had in my entire lifetime. Still, that thing was pretty freaky. Whatever, I need to tell this to someone or else it'll stuck in my throat and shot out in the worse moment.
"I lost my V-card."
*PFFFFFFFF...!*
"Damn it! So much for a high-class ninja!" I dodged the flow of juice that came out of his mouth after such revelation. I still don't get people, that's why his reaction was expected, yet unwelcome. He choked on his own breath after that, tearing up like a condemned. "Chill out, will ya?! Where's the cool and collected of you ninjas?!"
"There's a thin line between 'news' and 'mind-blowing revelations', Tsukino-dono. Sometimes certain things must be kept hidden in order to maintain universal order." He said to no one, staring at the nothingness in front of him still with drool and tears running down his face. "Now that you unlocked the final lock, who knows what kind of horrors awaits us in the abyss. Our sanity will slip out of our reach as he drown even further in the godless territory..."
"And stay there, there are too many chapters where I am the joker. Let me be the straight man for once." I deadpanned, feeling the powers of the Tsukkomi returning to me. It's good to be the only sane man again, but I don't want to ruin my friendship with this blockhead, so I snapped him with a friendly punch in the arm. "What? I'm a teenager, we gotta share those things with friends, don't we?"
"..." He looked at me for a few seconds, snapping back to reality, and then turned his face away, blushing a little and covering his mouth. "We're not friends..."
"Yes, we are. Acquaintances, maybe. Partners in crime? Maybe a little too much, but we are something." I sighed, standing up from where I was sitting on the ground floor and taking now my time to open a juice box. "I think I'm getting the hang of being friends with somebody. It feels kinda nice."
"Please, no more. After that frenchy thing, anything that comes out of your mouth regarding friendship makes me feel dirty." He wheezed in a rather pathetic way, lifting his hand for silence in a silent way. I frowned at him, and pretty much opened a hole on the ground with a stomp so that same foot wouldn't land on his ass. After a minute or two of sharing pitiful stares, he finally asked. "So... How was it? Your first time? Popping your cherry? Reaching the finals? Doing a touchdown?"
"Weird... Weird as hell." I sincerely answered, my face immediately grimacing just by remembering my animal instincts assaulting Irene-san and her session of soap-landing on me. My tongue is still sore, and because of her mouth-rape, I'm still spitting her own saliva. I had to wash my mouth with alcohol in order to get rid of the taste. "It was really, really weird. Soap-landing, French kiss, thigh-job and make-out sessions. Everything was so fast and convoluted I almost ended up throwing up(although I have the feeling she would had appreciate that.)."
"Seriously? You're a teenager, and your first time was 'weird'?" He looked at me so confused, and at the same time with a glare that says 'are you serious' without words. Just remembering already gives me a vertigo sensation.
"You have to understand. Lady Akeno was a Sadomasochist and lord Vali had butt fetish. You have to keep in mind that not all the paraphilia around are 'inoffensive'." And hers was kinda really, really messed up. But gotta stay calm, or else she comes back to me. She even licked my armpit in all of that. Gross. I need to shave those to avoid that...
...
Wait, am I considering doing that again?! No, no! No, no, no!
"Shiiiiiiit~...!" I facepalmed to no one, taking a deep breath and trying to thing in good things, which was kinda impossible with all the weird things happening to me. Ren's still staring, I have to change the subject before the conversation goes anywhere else. And then I noticed a pretty girl passing by, not using Kuoh's uniform at all. Instead, she was wearing Babel institute's uniform. Isn't that the fancy school right besides Kuoh? "Huh...? Now that I think about it, there is a awful lot of students from others schools around?"
"You only noticed this now? Well, since you were too busy remembering your f-buddy, let me say something to you." Ren said, standing up and looking around with me to the other students around, from Kuoh's and other schools. The Babel institute, Gessen High, Horin's all-girl school, and many, many more. Seeing those Gessen highschoolers made me have a small bad nostalgia regarding another student from there. "Today is the selective day for the transferred candidates. All the students of other schools that want to enroll in Kuoh are gathered here."
"Is that s-Pfffff...!" I choked on my own words. My tongue slipped. Maybe I've said that same sentence so many times it ended up expiring in my mouth. Maybe it's because for some reason my lips are sore, maybe it's the wounds in my tongue after my make-out sessions with Irene-san, I dunno. "Sorry, my tongue slipped. So, anyway, any idea about the seven other mysteries of Kuoh? Since everybody will be too busy working out this transferee stuff, we will have time to search and avoid any problems."
Too soon, the moment I spoke that, he signal for the end of lunchtime rang, and my face faltered with that. Are you serious? However, it didn't stop there. Soon enough, an announcement signal rang, and the voice of Nemesis-san spoke through the voice-boxes.
'Attention. Student Tsukino Ichijou from class 1-B, please present yourself at the headmistress's office. And come alone. That's all for now. Have a nice evening.'
"Wheeeeh, wheeeh, 'I don't have a break, booohooo, I'm so miserable', or something like that, right?" Ren mocked, crossing his arms and pretty much mimicking my actual thoughts, although much more childishly. I flicked a good one on his forehead, and he simply grinned. Huh, not a bad one, actually. "Like you said, chill out. I'll be waiting for you anyway, anyday. We still got some weeks before the meeting. Don't worry, I'll take care while you're at it."
"Thanks." I said, lifting a fist for him. He stared at it for a few seconds, turned back to me, to the fist, to me, and finally he sighed and we fist-bumped. We shared a second of thought, then a grin. I was about to take my way to Nemesis-San office, but before I could do that, I turned back to him and tossed him something from my pocket. He picked in one go, looked at it and gave me a question mark. It was a small pack the size of a pebble. "If you ever encounter Annie, before you TRY to kill her, give that to her. Think of that as a... Request from a client."
"..." He looked at the pack again, and after a few seconds, he hid it inside the pockets of his gakuran and blushed. "Okay, fine. But just this time."
"Thanks again." And with that out of the way, I took my way to Nemesis-san's office.
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~~x~~
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It took me a few minutes to finally reach Nemesis-san's office. Like a polite lad, I knocked a few times, and after a while, Nemesis-San gave me the permission to enter, so I did just that.
I opened the door, and like always, Nemesis-San was using her Morimoto Shizuka disguise, Aria-San right next to her. However, from where I can see, three figures were also present here: Serena-kaichou, a pretty lady with azure spiky hair and green eyes wearing Babel institute's uniform and a girl I've never met before wearing Kuoh academy's one. She had long and wild spiky black hair and deep purple eyes, as well as an aura that warned me somehow to not mess with her. That other bluennete also possessed a very freaky aura.
"Good evening, headmistress Shizuka. In what can I be useful today?" I turned my attention to the headmistress in front of me. She instead stood up and picked a cup of tea from Aria-San.
"Well, first of all, good evening for you too, Tsukino. Now, you might have noticed the awful bunch of students around school grounds, am I correct?" I noticed that just recently, so in order to avoid getting scold for not paying attention, I simply nodded. "In total, there are 666 contestants who want a place in Kuoh academy. All of them want to transfer here from their old schools."
"Wow, all of that? How come?" I questioned. Nemesis-san took a backseat on her own chair, while Aria-san took a step up and explained the rest.
"The truth is, bro, our school has several reasons of why someone want to transfer here. From the fact this is a prestigious school to the simple desire to build a harem due the girl/boy ratio around." She grinned, and in response, I frowned a little, but chuckled internally, remembering senpai. She soon resumed to lift a hand and signed to the pretty bluenette next to Kaichou. "However, it came to us that a total of three other individuals want to become Kuoh's students for a specific reason. Sarah-chan...?"
"Sarah-chan...?"
"Tururu~, that would be me, Sekiryuutei." The girl in Babel's uniform said with a hand up. Once he got my attention, she smiled a little and took a deep breath to talk. "It turns out, three of my siblings want to transfer here because this place homes the ultimate evil that we fear so much. In order to defeat it, we need to know the place, and once our terrorist attempts failed, we saw that becoming part of Kuoh's staff would be less alarming. End of message."
" 'Terrorist attacks'... So it was one of you who attacked Class 1-D, wasn't it?!" Rage dominated my body, and I stomped hard on the floor and summoned my Sacred Gear! She's one with Miyama's, one of the Dragon Kings' sacred gear-users! She must know where he is! However, before I could leap at her, Serena-kaichou stepped to in front of her and shielded her, while the other mysterious girl hit me in a blind spot at the speed of light. I fell down on my knees, but my rage was still up. "It was one of you, wasn't it?!"
"Calm down, Tsukino Ichijou! This is the worst time for a rage attack!" Nemesis-San screamed from her chair. After that, reluctantly, I grunted away and dismissed my Boosted Gear. The place turned back to normal, and soon, Nemesis-San began her explanations. "It's true that Lady Sarah Leonheart..."
"Manga artist, AB-blood type, 17-years old with birthday on June 12th, Japanese. End of message."
"Whatever... Planned and executed a unsuccessful Terrorist attack against Kuoh. However, after some time and enough persuading, we entered an agreement with her." I turned to the bluenette duo.
"I took her to Tokyo Disney. We had fun and finally ended with a date dinner at the Tokyo Tower." Serena-Kaichou smiled, as the girl next to her blushed a little. This is really getting out of hand. I turned to Aria-San, and like she was saying 'see what I mean?', she grinned. Okay, maybe this whole 'all-on-all' is a thing in the underworld, yet no way in hell I'll French Ren. Kissing Irene-San wasn't all that bad, thoug-Aaaaaaahh!
"Anyway!" We shifted our attention back to Nemesis-San. "The rest of the Miyama runaways are in between the others 666 students that want to transfer here. In order to avoid chaos and find them out, I'm appointing you and... Serena Sitri, plus lady Sarah as a mole, in order to find them. Also, you'll serve as mediators in order to avoid casualties. After all, the method to capture dragons can be... Bloody."
"Huh..." I don't know nothing, but if Hyung is strong like his truly, who knows what those humans with Sacred Gears based on the rest of the five kings can do. However, for me, a question was left unanswered. I turned to Sarah-San. "Hey, Sarah-san, you said something about an 'Ultimate evil' by the organs of Kuoh. Care to elaborate?"
"..." However, her answer was none. Not even a state or a sight, only silence. Sarah-san hid herself behind Kaichou. I vein popped on my head, as I step once into her direction.
"Hey!"
"Forget it, bro. Sarah-chan won't say a thing. She said everything, except that particular 'Ultimate Evil'. I guess this is a thing between them." Aria-San said. I turned back to Sarah-San, and she gave me an apologizing bow. It was sincere enough, so I just sighed away and returned to my natural form.
"Tch, no wonder you're considered the worst Sekiryuutei. You lack guts to have anything by your side. Things are not like in a Shounen manga, y'know." Suddenly, the girl who was quiet this whole time spoke. I turned to her as she flicked her long and black hair and threw daggers at me with those cold violet eyes. "You can't simply say that everything's gonna be alright. How gullible can you be?"
"What?!" I said to her. Everyone on the room suddenly quiet down as I stared back at the new girl! For some reason, she's pissing me off. However, to avoid any unnecessary confrontation, I turned to Nemesis-San. "Hey... Headmistress Shizuka, who's that?"
"..." Instead of an straight answer, she gulped down a little, turned to Aria-san and waited. That alone was enough to creep me out. "She's..."
"I am the descendant of the one and only True Great King of the Underworld. My name now is Ludger Bael, and I shall be the next grandmaster." She declared, as the weight of her words somehow hit me hard. So suffocating, I wanted to mentally snark at that, but even that was proved to be difficult. There was something pretty nasty, yet familiar about her aura. It looked like someone just punched my gut with the strength of a boxer. "And I shall be also a mediator against the Sacred Gear-users during this elective trial. However, I won't weigh words or efforts to subdue them in case they lose control."
"...!" I think I know pretty much what she means by that, and so did Sarah-San. She turned to that chick Ludger and shouted. "Message! Don't harm my siblings! They don't know what they do! We lost contact for a while, but I know that...!"
"On your knees." However, she was soon cut-short after Ludger said those words. In a second, she was on her knees, and because of the creepy aura leaking, so did I. What kind of power is that? Is that the paper... Of a descendant of the Great King Bael? But not even Nemesis-san or Gremory had that power? What the hell is that Ludger chick. The silence reigned for a while, and so the Raven-haired girl continued. "And with that, I shall take my leave. And please, don't interfere with my job during those trials. I will control myself, but if they resist, I can't guarantee their safety. Farewell."
And she left the place with a magic Rune I don't actually remember, but reminded me of something. The aura around the place vanished, and with the help of Kaichou, Sadah-San stood up from the floor and received some encouraging words, soon leaving the place. I stayed for two reasons. I turned back to Nemesis-san, who was sighing and lost this whole time, and opened my mouth to speak.
"Nemesis-san, in all honesty, who was that bitch?" I said. I thought Aria-San would slap her King or simply make a face, but instead, she deeply sighed. Nemesis-san turned her bloodshot eyes to me.
"She's... She's... Ludger Bael." The next heiress of the Gremory clan said with a weighted voice and passive eyes. I frowned a little to that half-assed answer. What the hell, was that even remotely satisfying in her eyes?! However, I couldn't bring myself to ask again. Instead, I picked a chain of keys out of my pocket and tossed to Nemesis-san's table. "Keys...?"
"Those are... The keys to my house. When Rina wakes up, I want you to give that to her and say that she can visit me anytime." I poured a little, and turned my head to another direction in embarrassment. Geez, this is the only way I can do it. After that passing week, after Yoko's accident, I couldn't stop thinking about Annie and Gremory and their situation. I mean, Yoko almost died, and since she wants to reset our friendship, I realized that maybe I wasn't being too fair with Rina specially. So, wherever they are, even for a small visit, I want to see them again. I sighed, and hid my face with a hand. "I mean... Tell her I want to talk with her. I might be my fault that she's where she is. So... Aaah, what the hell, say that she can visit me back when I'm home. I'd pay a visit to her, but I'm too busy nowadays..."
"..." Nemesis-san wilded her shiny purple eyes at me for a time, and after a while, they watered up a little, and she sniffed once. This freaked me out! Oh, crap. Did I just pull an inconvenient flag?! Before I could apologize, however, she dried her tears and shined one shinning smile at me. My blushed creeped through my whole face. Her smile... Is precious. "Thank you. Rina really met... Some good friends."
"I'll... Be taking my leave." was all I could muster as I took my way out of her office. Once outside, I took breath and sighed. 'Good friends', eh? No, not at all. I'm just a selfish asshole sometimes, and maybe I took some of her shenanigans too seriously. She was just a girl wanting to play make-believe, and even with all that treatment... She even said she loved me. This makes me feel bad... A little.
"Tururu~. Taking your time to flirt with miss Nemesis? So the rumors they say about your late-evening leaves at school ground are true." I turned next to the door, and there she was, Sarah Leonheart(Japanese), together with Serena-kaichou, resting their backs on the wall. They're probably waiting for me. "If you don't mind, we still need to arrange the gym in order to receive the candidates and thus, my long lost siblings. End of message."
"So... You don't remember them, that's really convenient. Well, I met one, apparently your leader, and I know another who's probably also your sister, so this means there only two to go." I declared, as her eyes shined hearing those words. Crap, she's too honest. This means she really don't remember any of them. Well, they have different surnames, so probably they split during some time. I turned to Kaichou. "But... Hey, Kaichou, why they need us as mediators? Can't your own peerage take care of that? I mean, it's not like all those 666 students are all supernatural creatures, right?"
"..." And her only response was an forced half-assed grin. Trembling lips, avoiding eye contact, sweating buckets, this can only mean one thing. Shit's going down.
"Right...?"
"Tururu~, unfortunately, Sekiryuutei, the majorly of the students who wants to transfer here are indeed supernatural identities. Just a few humans." Sarah Leonheart(Japanese) said without blinking. I turned to Kaichou, and after a deep, heavy sigh, she nodded. Are you serious. I turned to Sarah-San, and she eyed me oh so curiously. "It's true. Kuoh academy is famous for it's history of great tales. Of course that it would bring several other creatures from other folklores. After all, nothing ever exciting happens in other schools except Kuoh. End of message."
"Oh, jolly-joy crap."
"Tururu~, which is quite curious, really. No sane creature would ever want to transfer here. Kuoh is the worst school ever. End of message."
"Huh...?" That one was freaky. Why would she said something like that? Before she could say anything more, Kaichou made us follow her to the gym, where the meeting and gathering would take place in.
Somehow, I'm nervous...
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~~x~~
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And after the school period, the massive amount of students gathered in the gym, the total of six rows for different schools: Gessen high, Babel institute, Hourin all-girls private school, Tokioka educational colony and finally Hijirigazaka academy. From here, I could see Sarah-san's blue hair sticking out like a sore thumb in between the new students, but for some reason, I couldn't find Miyama Rei in between the students of Gessen.
Currently, I'm at the entrance door, my back turned against it with Lady Ludger Bael right next to me with her arms crossed and stoic expression turned to the podium. I dunno, but I'm feeling a strange aura leaking out of her, and it's suffocating me. She noticed my stare, and turned to me.
"Stop staring at me, Sekiryuutei. You might get blind." She simply spoke. This sentence just popped a vein out of my head. Gremory also said that, with the exception of Lord Sairaorg, all the other members of the Bael clan are extremely tightass and traditional. She probably doesn't see me as worthy since I'm a reincarnated devil. Figures. "Don't even touch me. Don't get near me, don't breath my air, and only talk when I allow you to. Otherwise, be quiet. You're a servant of the house of Gremory, therefore my servant by default, so know your place."
*SNAP!*
"Why, you...!" I started to crack my fingers, so pissed off that my vision became jet-red. I probably snapped a vein by sheer rage alone. Who that pipsqueak thing she is to talk about me like that? However, her sudden move changed the scenario out of nowhere; and all of my determination vanished as her overwhelming power again showed by just her stare. I grunted, seeing the difference between our powers, and returned to my place. "Don't go around thinking that you're the king of the world, young lady. One that, someone will definitely kick your ass!"
"I used to think that, too. To try to find a way to beat everyone alone. But now I see the world in a different light." That sentence was actually pretty sad. It almost made me feel sorry for her, the key-word being 'almost', specially due to her next one. "So I choose to follow my true lineage. The Bael clan. So I guess now I am truly the king of the world, Sekiryuutei. Like I said, know your place."
I couldn't bite my tongue since it was wounded enough, so instead I bit my thumb. So much for another tightass. No use trying to discuss with her. I put my problems up to the air and decided to ignore her. Less trouble, much silence. I took a look around, and Ren was there too, looking by the signal lights pointing at the podium. We have another problem to deal here, anyway...
Suddenly, all the lights flicked a few times, and after a while, they all pointed their shines to the president of the student council who was standing tall at the podium, adjusting the microphone and taking a deep breath to begin her speech.
"Good evening and welcome to the gates of Kuoh academy, dear transferred candidates." She said, cleaning her throat a little in order to stand against such a crowd. Some whispers were heard. She continued. "As you all might know now, the entrance exam for the supernatural is a little... Different than the simple transference for the normal students. While most of you are already second or third years, you might think that such task will be simple. However, I'm have the unfortunate task to inform you all that regardless of your own ranking, the entrance exam will require much more than that. And for that, I present you the judges for such. The dxd Children!"
And Kaichou stepped aside while the black curtain behind her opened space. From there, the dark silk let the lights enter the new place, and from there... Nothing. There was no one there. I squint my eyes as I could, but to no avail. There was really nothing there.
"What the... I don't see a thing." I said out loud. Ludger-San then sighed.
"Look closer, Sekiryuutei." She spoke, then returning to the podium. I did it so, and then BAM! a chill ran down my spine, and out of the sudden, my body began to sweat buckets as a pretty diverse bunch appeared out of nowhere to the said podium. The whole gym gasped, seeing that little group of five young adults behind the curtains. From here, I could also see Aria-San by their sides. What the hell?! I turned back to Ludger-san, and she was also trembling a little. She gulped down hard, and spoke. "Who would've thought, right? The power of the dxd children combined is so above us that their simple presence makes us turn our heads and ignore them out of fear. Like a simple group of fish that ignores a predator at the bottom of the ocean."
I couldn't also stop trembling, and when I knew it best, at least half of the students here fell on their knees. Some of them were already crying, others looking at other direction. After a while, however, the sensation of extra weight vanished, and I was back to normal. Not so lucky for others, but one of the said 'DxD children' didn't lose any second, and reached for the podium and microphone. Isn't that... Nemesis-san's bishop, Himejima Akio-san?
"And good evening, dear transferee wannabes. How do you do, today? My name is Himejima Akio, and I'll be the one taking your first test, today!" With those words, a sensation of panic spread through all the entire gym. I was also curious and confused. What? The test would be take today? Worse, right now?! That's just unfair! However, before anyone could faint, Akio-san lifted a finger and smiled. "Yare, yare. What a troublesome bunch. Please, stay calm, y'all. Today's test in just a personal, simple question. If you can answer it in your heart, and stay true to yourself, you pass! That's the only task. Even if you don't have the answer, if you stay here and say 'I want to stay at Kuoh', then you're free to pass to the second test. Pretty simple, right?"
After all of that chaos, suddenly, the air became calmer, yet everyone stayed confused, me included. Akio-san said that the only trial for today is to simply want to stay at Kuoh? That seems easy enough. I mean, she even said that the ones that wants to stay at Kuoh, even without a resolution of their own, can pass to the second test. This seems easy enough. And everyone seems okay with that. Calm reigned once more at the gym. However, Akio-san cleaned her lungs, and spoke...
"Very well. The only question you need to answer in order to pass for the next trial is..."
... What the hell is wrong with you for you to want to transfer to Kuoh academy?!
"...!"
"What...?" I dunno what happened, but her words hit me right in the heart. That was actually a pretty, if not a little rude, question. Yet, I couldn't bring myself to say anything. For some reason, the majory of the students here present couldn't do it either, with a few other exceptions. Akio-san coughed a little, and continued...
"You heard that right: why would someone in their right mind ever want to transfer here? This is the worst school ever." She said with a sign of actually thrill and enjoyment by the suffering of others. "I don't actually care for that, but you all must be pretty much social masochists. After all, your school years here will be completely empty and without any substance of meaning. And do you know why? Because no one will ever remember you."
Now, half of the students present fell on their knees, while the other half was struggling to keep themselves up, with a few exceptions, one of them being Sarah-san. Akio-san didn't save words with her next statement.
"Maybe you want to have a prestigious school life full of achievements and success. Unfortunately, you won't find it here, because no matter what you do, someone will steal that from you without blinking twice." She said, as now part of the other half fainted and went to the ground. "Perhaps a good and happy school year with new friends and club members? Too bad, that same person that stole your place at the spotlight will also steal any change of you getting friends. And I'm talking about the pretty girls. If you're not busty, or pretty, or unique in a way, I can guarantee that no one will remember you."
"Cruel..." I gulped down a set of uneasiness, as even those who stand tall until here were beginning to tremble. Akio-san licked her lips, and cracked her fingers.
"You won't get either a boyfriend or a girlfriend, because everybody will be following those so-called idols. If you're a guy and want a harem, or even a girlfriend, too bad. There'll be a much more handsome idol guy around that probably is the exact one that will be either full of achievements or friends, attracting females around it. And you girls think that this guy will be Available? Think again, he probably will be the lover or under the orders or the said pretty girl idol. In short, no one will ever remember you, student-wise."
I gulped again. Now the whole gym was either despairing or crying, and only a small percent of the students remained tall against Akio-san's harsh words.
"Your club won't ever win a tournament unless that same girl or guy is part of the team as a substitute for the absent teammate; you won't ever win at the school festival as long as that idol is in the same activity as you; the teachers won't ever remember you or listen to your problems. The best you can get is for them to call your name during the class calling, and only if that same idol girl or guy is in the same class!" She grinned, blushing and pretty much enjoying every single moment of that mind-torture. Tears ran down my face, as I could see some students desperately trying to get out of there. "In short, your pathetic, meaningless, short and empty school life will be all about those specific students, with you as they simple lackey, servant. You won't ever be an idol, they will; you won't ever win at anything, they will; you won't have friends or meaningful relationships as long as you don't either follow or worship them, and finally, by the end of the day, it'll be just one more by the rest of the year. That's why I ask you all another question: who still wants to be part of this lovely school that doesn't benefit or help anyone but a limited number of important students?"
"Now, Sekiryuutei, we shall open the door." Ludger-san said, as she pushed the bar on the door so that it could open her part of the gates. I gave her an question mark, but did the same despite he fact that my hands were still trembling because of Akio-san's words. Come to think of it... Was she talking about Kaichou? Serena Sitri, heiress of the Sitri clan, is the number one student of the second year grade-wise, the president of the student council, full of friends and servants, with good looks and grades. There are other idols in Kuoh? Well, nobody ever talks about them, is all about Kaichou and her looks and antics. Wow, that was really cold. After a while, Akio-San smiled once more, and pointed at my direction.
"For those who want that life, please stay. Otherwise, the door is open for you to simply walk away and escape this place. This was the Manusya trial. Goodbye~..."
And she stepped out of the podium, jumping to her place of the group dxd by the other side of the curtains, and then disappearing again. Serena-Kaichou reached for the microphone and tried to speak something, but that fell onto deaf ears as a great chunk of the students there just turned around and ran for the exit. Some of them fainted during the meeting and had to be carried away by others.
It was complete chaos, so I reached for one of the basketball rings and stuck there to avoid getting stomped on. This is insane. They were all so confident, but that speech... No wonder Akio-san's the descendant of the maiden of Thunder and Lightning, a true sadist, this time, one with words...
The reports came soon after, and for the said 'Manusya trial' the numbers went from 666 contestants to 465, Sarah-San being one of them. Unfortunately, she couldn't find her siblings due the strong magic energy the rest of the students there. However, I could spot Miyama Rei, but he disappeared as soon as he received his approval note. Damn it...
After that, we all went to the student council room, a place not so different than the other classrooms at Kuoh, with just me, Ludger-san, Sarah-san and Kaichou.
"That was... Terrible. I could feel my heart being stomped every time Akio-San would open her mouth." I said still with that uncomfortable feeling of weakness and pressure against my being. I took another quick gulp of water, as Sarah-San did the same. Maybe it's because we are... Kinda human-like, those words have a bigger effect on us.
"That's Akio-dono's gimmick right there. She has that ability to control the unprepared heart of others and make them her own pet. You can say that she can use words mightier than swords." Kaichou spoke, taking a nervous laugh while Ludger-san flicked her hair once again. "Still, I'm impressed. You three, still being so young, being able to withstand a direct blow from her. What an achievement!"
"Those with weak hearts and resolutions can't enter Kuoh that easily." Finally Ludger-san spoke. She made a glacé pose, and gave us a contemptuous stare. "Nor those who can't even withstand words. You must've noticed, Akio-dono's speech wasn't to discourage them, but to save them of a miserable school life. After all, everything during the Hyoudou-era was around the 'three onee-samas' of Kuoh academy and their servants. Nothing else could've been said. Even lord Hyoudou, the so called 'Hero of the Underworld', was just a loser if it wasn't for one of them."
"Hey! Don't you dare talk shit about my senpai!" I said, turning to her. She did that just to piss me off, I'm deadly sure about that! She turned to me, her eyes filled with ill-intent, And gave me a sigh. "You just did that to piss me off, didn't you?!"
"Does the power of the Red Dragon Emperor gives you also the ability to read minds? Don't go around guessing what I'm thinking." She said, again flicking her hair. "Your education regarding high-class Devils shows some lack of common sense. Maybe that Berolina-brat wasn't as strict as she should be. Or maybe it was your up-bring that caused that. What? Did your mother was too busy serving others to take care of you!"
"THAT'S IT!" That's it indeed! Talking about Gremory while she's in a coma was already crossing the line, but shit-talking my mother is enough to have a face-meeting with my fists! I leaped towards her and picked her by the collar, lifting her above the ground! My fist was wen trembling to sink itself on her pretty face! "You don't dare talk about my mother like that! Don't you even dare mentioning Rina, because she's in a coma, for God's sake! For going so low, so low, I should... I SHOULD...!"
*DRIP! DRIP!*
"What...?" However, before I could even hit her, something happened, something that melted all my will to harm her: she's crying. For some reason, she's crying. That alone left me dumbfounded enough to halt all of my movements and stare at her in confusion. Why? Why is she crying? That doesn't make any sense. "What... What...?"
"Hush, Sekiryuutei. And let me go. I did not give you the permission to touch me." She spoke in a morose tone, frowning and then slapping my hand away. I was so confused I let go of her after that single contact, as she landed on the floor and adjusted her collar a little. She dried her tears with her sleeves. She turned her eyes to me again, those amethyst orbs of the void, and lifted one hand, in which a sphere of darkness appeared. Is this... The power of destruction?! "Don't make me vanish you from existence."
"Hey, you! Don't do anything harsh!" Serena-Kaichou said, giving her best warning stare that even I stopped any harsh moves. Ludger-san looked at her, and soon the power of destruction in her hands vanished.
"I was just kidding. However, like I've said before, know your place, Sekiryuutei. Insubordination is the worst sin a devil can commit, and I won't be so merciful next time."
And she turned away from me. Before anything, however, she tapped her left foot on the floor a few times, and suddenly, the sensation of gravitational pull made me fall in my knees, the air being pulled out of my lungs and the pressure against my body to tenfold in just a second. It took me a few seconds to recover from that. And giving one more stare at me, she summoned a magic rune and with it, vanished from the student council room. Serena-Kaichou sighed, and sat on her seat, while I had a full glass of water to deal with that stress. Who the hell is Ludger Bael?! What does she want?! Why is she here?! I turned to Kaichou.
"Kaichou, who the hell was that chick?! Is she a friend of yours?!" I said to her, so enraged I shouted at her. Still on her seat, Kaichou looked at me.
"Yes, you can say that." Kaichou answered. Another Half-assed answer for an important question. What the hell? Why is everyone so vague about this chick?! I know she is a Bael, Great King and all that jazz, but cut off some slack, she's not even here! Before I could say anything else, Kaichou sighed and lifted her hand. "Ichijou-kun, please don't ask about her. She's a special and private case. For now, why don't you take Sarah-chan home? Her house is not very far from here."
"But I...!" I tried to say, but suddenly my female detector said that she was too upset to answer straightly. Yes, I have a female mood-detector, you can develop one when you live since birth with women that will skin you alive during one of those days and moods. I bit my fingers again, and signed to Sarah-san. She followed soon after as we walked towards the exit of Kuoh academy...
"Triple-sixes minus four hundred and sixty-five. That's almost two hundred students giving up after one single speech right there." I said to no one in particular, Sarah-San by my side, wondering how deadly was Akio-san's time on the spotlight. Not even I could handle it very well.
"Recalculating... You meant two hundred and one students, Sekiryuutei Tsukino Ichijou." She said. I gave her an 'are you serious?' Face, but after a quick recount, I realized she is right. Pff, that one was lame, but it was for one number, though. "Tururu~, don't be upset, you were almost there. Or perhaps the real source of your uneasiness was caused by that girl, Ludger Bael. Am I right? Yes/no."
"Seriously, did Kaichou really pass an entire date with you taking like that?" I deadpanned at her. However, she didn't mind as she was still holding two hands up waiting for an answer. Sigh. I am really easy to read. This will kill me one day... "Yes. The answer is yes. I'm upset because of that Bael chick. I have already enough women to deal with, and plus an guy idiot. To think I'll have to deal with her too... Ugh, this spins my head like crazy!"
"You said 'enough women to deal with'. Does that includes me? Yes/no." I turned to her, and she gave me a pretty upset face. Oh, crap. I did it again. I said something that upset some done without intention. Sheesh takin it to much into context, eh?
"Don't flatter yourself, I don't even know you. But if had to answer it, I guess you wouldn't be in the list of 'girls pissing me off'. As much as I know you, at least." I said, turning the other way and blushing. Smooth as a cactus, eh Tsukino Ichijou? Why do I have the habit of saying those nonsenses?! Gosh, maybe it's the Tsukino genes rubbing on me. Shit, womanizer asshole.
"I'm glad to hear that, end of message." She said to me. I turned to her, and she gave me a playful smile, which was enough to make me blush even more. I take it all back, she'll another teaser on my life. "Tururu~. Look, Sekiryuutei Tsukino Ichijou, there's a message waiting in your recording message."
"What?" She pointed to a random direction, and aiming my gaze towards it, I saw Tasha half-asleep supporting her back on the entrance wall. Is she waiting for me. I walked to her direction and with a quick hand wave, I got her attention. "Hey, Tasha. What's up?"
"Waiting for you." She simply said, patting my head. Sheesh, another one. What a drag. "School's out. You didn't come. Worried. A little."
"Yeah, sorry. I had to take care of things with the student council. You didn't need to wait for me. It's already getting dark. Mother is probably worried." I said. Mum is probably worried, but my sisters... They'll probably ask if I went in a love hotel with Tasha, and beat me regardless. I sighed with the upcoming beatdown, and waved for her, to point at Sarah-San. "Err... Tasha. Sarah. Sarah. Tasha. She's my escort for today. I hope you can both get along."
"..." Tasha looked at Sarah-san for a second, two seconds, scanned her whole body, blinked a few times, and then sighed. And then, for some reason, she smiled. Tasha smiled. Shit, that's the second one out of nowhere. "Greetings. Name: tasha Campbell. N-T-M-Y."
"Database: Sarah Leonheart. 17-years old, second year student from Babel institute transferring to Kuoh. Manga artist, blood type AB. Japanese. N-T-M-Y-T." And then, Sarah-san also smiled. My nose is bleeding now, I think o had enough of precious smiles today. Tasha turned to me, and pointed at finger at Tasha.
"Good girl. Good boobs. Harem candidat-...?"
"And where are gone! Sarah-san's parents are probably worried about her and you don't want to miss dinner, do you, Tasha?! Okay, okay, fine, fine, let us go~!"
And before She could finish one of her jokes, I came to behind her to push her away to a random direction, soon joining Sarah-san as she pointed to the direction of her home.
For now, let's just think of today's problems and solutions. I have the impression that today's trial was just the beginning, but I don't want to ruin the moment for now. Let's not be gloomy, and make Sarah-san glad that Kaichou chose me as her escort.
Yeah, I'm really taking the hang of all of that friendship thing.
But there's a problem that still needs solution... A problem with a name...
Ludger Bael.
And no fights this chapter. instead, let's try to have mind games for now. Of course, knowing myself, it won't last long and ichijou will probably punch someone out of nowhere. So, yeah, new girl, an arrogant ojou at that with a strange habit. Who wants her in ichijou's harem? hehehe...
Like always, stay golden.
btw, that N-T-M-Y thingy? it means 'nice to meet you', it's not anything big, really. Poor ichijou just doesnt understands.