To serve the best food and prepare the most delicious meals for my masters. This is her pride. In the name of the Gremory.
DISCLAIMER: Dxd doesn't belong to me~.
Hey, Rina-chan, good to see you! I was thinking that maybe we should do something fun today... Like, go window-shopping or play smash Bros. Again, that would be fun and... Then we can...
No.
Caham! Berolina, would you accept my invitation to share the company with yours truly? Maybe we can, uhm, I don't know, walk around Lucifaad and...
No, not like that...
Hi, Rina. Since you're going to see Nemesis-sama, how about we go together? Your peerage can come too, and maybe we can make flower arrangements for her there! Doesn't that sound fun...
No, no, no!
I'm halfway through the path leading to the Gremory manor and I have no idea how I should address Rina in the slightest. I already have a bouquet and the flask, yet I have no idea of how to talk about any of them!
'You're too uptight, Reirei. Loose it up. They're your friends, so if they really like you, they'll be happy regardless.' - Nee-sama's voice would speak inside my mind with each step, and I couldn't help but to pout at her imaginary head flying all over me with a smug grin. Says the laidback sister who Jii-sama said wouldn't be able to inherited the clan of Phenex and couldn't care less! I don't want to end up like her, at all!
That's why I practice in the first place. To show that even among friends, the Marquis clan of Phenex maintain their dignity up high! Besides, Nemesis-sama is hospitalized, so maybe I should bring Rina some gifts to cheer her up, and maybe we can visit the sister later...
Besides, I just made my first Phenex tear! So cool, making one is basically a rite of passage in the Phenex house, and I want her to have my first tear! I'm gonna show her the exact reason why the Phenex are just one of the best clans in the Underworld! And also... To make sure she won't be hurt that badly anymore. That dummy has been in such adventures as of lately, I don't want her dying because she was careless... I don't want her to die at all.
Ikkun will have to wait for his, but knowing him, he'll pull something out of his rear end and get out of that situation before he dies. I hope he understands this for now...
Oh no, as I finish my monologue, I am already at the door of the Gremory mansion, a hand extended towards it front gate. I stop dead on my tracks and my face contorts in an ambiguous expression. Ah, ah! I don't know what to say, I don't know how I should act! I don't want to look improper in front of the Gremory servants, specially Rina's peerage, and every step feels like a landmine~!
Maybe I should start by offering the flowers? Plucked straight from our gardens, they shine the brightest tone of golden like flames, ideal for any lively house, and I know the Gremory clan has those gallore. And then I can start talking about my first Phenex tear and now she should be grateful for being presented twice! Yeah, that might work! I just hope I don't cry again...
Slap! Slap! A good cheek slapping to wake up the beast and I'm ready to go! I gather both the flask containing the tear and the bouquet in one hand and again reach for the door to give it a knock. C'mon, Raven Phenex! You can do this! Just knock, talk with Berolina and invite her to do something fun, servants may included. Calm down, just calm down and knock, greet the servants and have a good time with your friend. Okay, here I com-...
*VUPT!*
*GRAB!*
"Eh...?"
"Oh, Rei-chan, great timing! Come with me!"
"Wait, whaAAAAAAAAAAAA...!" And opening the door for just a little and grabbing me by the wrist ready to knock, a shadow of an adult greeted me from the darkness and with no other response, I was pulled inside the Gremory manor and dragged at the speed of light through its entrails! Doors, corridors, rooms, everything was a blur in my eyes, and when I could finally find some firm ground, I shake my head to get rid of the dizziness and looked at the person who was holding me. "Awawawah... A-Alice-sama...?"
"Hey, Ichijou...!"
*TOSS!*
"... Think fast!"
"KYAAAAAAAAH...!"
"What the hell...!" And the madness continues! For some reason, probably a very erratic reason, the current head and matriarch of the Gremory house hurled me into the air like a ragdoll, flowers and all! Fortunately, my fated encounter wasn't with a hard and cold floor, but at the arms of a certain red dragon emperor! He's carrying me now, bridal style even, our faces so close! He blinks a few times in confusion and looks at me. "Ah, Rei-chan...!"
"Ikkun, what in the world is going on...?!"
"Hot pot Comet! Coming through!" And I was cut once again as a shadow lingered over us, promptly turning my head upwards only to see a giant wok pan descending upon us like a mad moon! Ikkun held me tight and dodged the giant pan, which made a very powerful and vibrating sound, almost enough to burst my eardrums! Really, what's going on! "Hey, hey, Sekiryuu~! You weren't suppose to dodge in our match, y'know!"
"And this was suppose to be a cooking contest, Haen-san! Smashing my head with a wok pan is not cooking at all!" Ichijou turned and screamed at a certain figure holding the pan, now standing on one of its massive holders: a girl with honey-coloured hair wrapped in twintails with red sharp eyes and pointy shark teeth, wearing a maid outfit! Wait, isn't she one of the maids of the Gremory? The maid smirked.
"This is how I cook, y'know! Not just for dear ladies Gremory, but for the whole staff! This is my pride as the chef maid, y'know!" She blows a cloud of black smoke out of her mouth and then releases a true inferno of flames against us! "And how can I forget?! To have a perfect hotpot, you need fire, y'know!"
"Gh...!" Ikkun grunts and braces himself against the fire waves! Wait... If that touches us, the flowers and the flask will burn and melt! Like hell I will let that happen! I jump from his arms and stand in the way of the flames! "What...?! Rei-chan, what are you...!"
"Hah! Worried about me? For a Phenex, those flames... Are lukewarm at best!" I said, and with a snap of my fingers, I create a magical rune that unleashed an even bigger fiery storm, not just clashing with the crimson inferno with its own golden glory, but practically swallowing it completely until there was nothing left, my own gilded flames disappearing in another finger snap, leaving only the honey-haired maid with an dumbfounded expression. Oof, my low pressure is at it again. "Know your place, low-class."
"Arara~, bringing a Phenex is cheating, y'know." The maid whines with a tongue sticking out. Yes, fear the flames of the Phenex, which there is no like. Now that the maid is frozen... Heh, in fear, I turn around to see my other friend as mesmerized as his foe and waking up once I pull one of his cheeks!
"And you! What the hell is happening here! It's incredible how you're able to stir such a commotion during your visits!" I start to lecture him with a hand still pinching his cheeks which for some reason are darken by fumes and charcoal. Gross, and he doesn't even react to it. He just seems bored. I guess even he is used to this insanity on daily basis. "Explain yourself, red dragon. If satisfactory, I shall assist you in this endeavor!"
"Good morning to you too, Raven." He's making a fool out of me! This red dragon is making a fool out of yours truly! In retaliation, I apply even more pressure on my pinching until he starts to whine a little. "Owowowow...!"
"Try again, Ikkun."
"Now, now. Don't need to be upset, Rei-chan. Ichijou is just having a little rite of passage regarding his position as a Gremory servant." And the lady who is as mischiveous as a devil can be, Alice Gremory, comes closer to explain the current events. As expected, the scarlet dragonic monarch caught himself in another set of shenanigans! And I almost certain the catalyst for such is the redhead madam in front of me! "I just brought you here to be of assistance of his current trial. You don't mind that, right?"
"What do you mean?" Honestly, what does this even mean? 'Rite'? 'Trial'? This got complicated fast! I turn back to the dragon who sooshed my hand away and signed to him once again. "Ikkun, what's this all about? Sounds... Painful?"
"You don't know half of it, Rei-chan." He sighs, massaging his cheek which was now red as a beet. I'm sure there's more there is to it, coming from him. "Well... It started a few hours ago..."
"Noin is my name. Noin Abraxas, and I hate you, Red Dragon."
My cheek is burning, my eyes go awry everywhere from the floor to the ceiling and the in between, and the shock made me step backwards once, twice until I can set my footing straight, the pain rippling all over my cheek for a few seconds until it stopped, but I still held it in shock. My eyes now darts forward, to the maid who just slapped me, and for once, I'm not scared or angry, I'm just... What?
I never met this maid before, I didn't even know her name until recently, and I tried to be nice and polite for once, but then she just smacks me out of nowhere and declares her hatred towards me. How else I can react but with a...
"Eh...?" I murmur, hand still on cheek and a mouth agape. Lucrezia-san also looks shocked as she covers her mouth and turns to Noin-san, who just adjusts the glove on the hand that assaulted me. One, two seconds, and the shock turned into something else. "Hey, what's the big idea?"
"You heard me, Ichijou-sama. I am not very fond of you. In fact, I can definitely say that I hate you." She responds me without losing a beat, her composed stance or calm tone not being able to hide the fact that she was pretty much emanating hatred. Worse of all: she's being too polite about it, so I can't muster much anger because it just feels wrong. "Queen of Berolina-sama? Such a honorable title, you should be grateful. However, I see that it is wasted on you. Such a pity, indeed, which only fuels my disdain for you."
"Hah...?" I interject again, too confused to even formulate words again.
"Noin, what's the meaning of this?" Lucrezia-san came to my rescue, walking beside me and holding me protectively, arms around me and positioning herself between me and the elder maid. "Don't be mean to Ichijou."
"I am not being 'mean', Lucrezia-chan, I'm just being... Honest." She says with another 'tch' escaping her lips. I grab the maid around me by the wrist and pull her closer to me, a bit on the edge as well. "The position of a queen is the highest and strongest in a peerage, and so, it is exclusive to the closest and most loyal member of a peerage. Something I am sure Ichijou-sama... Isn't."
"Hey, what the hell!" I say back to her. "Who the hell are you to say anything about my loyalty to Rina! I might not be the most noble or the best knight around, but I still love Rina and I will do anything for her!"
Ah, I said it again, I said that I I love Rina. Such a weird feeling...
"Like winning a Rating Game, I ask?" She says without missing a bit, and for that I close my lips tightly. The Rating Game back in May, our first one at that... And we lost. No, we wouldn't even be a match against Nemesis-san's own peerage without their handicap. And even with that spark of hope... I threw it all away out of pride. I look back at her, and her pretty face frowns, showing something worse than Hatred: disdain. "And you think of yourself worth of being Berolina-sama's queen, after that clear display of rebellion and insubordination. So fearless, so free... It makes me ill in a way that it hurts. What do you have to say for yourself, Ichijou-sama?"
"I... I..." I gulped a lump of air down my system, and stared back at her, a bit more serious this time. "I... I love Rina a lot... But that time I wasn't thinking about her own good, but my own... And I don't regret it, at all..."
*SLAP!*
"Noin, please stop!" And Lucrezia-san held me tighter as Noin-san slapped me yet again, this time with a lot more strength, to the point her glove almost came off! The younger maid held me in place before I could be launched somewhere else! That was one hell of a slap! I turn to the older maid and she adjusts her glove again.
"And you have the audacity to call yourself a member of her peerage, let alone her servant. Even the sole she steps on has more rights than you." She's practically spitting venom from her mouth yet still speaking in a composed manner, not unlike the maid who's holding me. "I'm sorry, Lucrezia-chan, but I can't get rid of that pesky, lingering feeling that this... Lass has not even an iota of trustworthy presence regarding the Gremory. Betraying his own king like that, I'm surprised he wasn't punished for such yet."
"Ichijou is not a bad person, Noin. He's not." Lucrezia-san continues to hold me tightly, to the point I could hear her heartbeat. Her face shifts from composed to a bit on the edge, but still hugging me for dear life. "Please, stop."
"Sorry, but I just can't." The older maid sighs. She sounds not hateful anymore, just exhausted. Hey, I should be the one tired of dealing with this bullshit! "My heart... It flutters with all the flooding hatred it has for the red dragon emperor: How he inconsequentially threw off his match against Nemesis-sama for some frivolous motive, making our dear Berolina-sama lose her first Rating Game and her sanity, almost costing her identity altogether; how he never bothered to visit his 'beloved' king and instead frolics with his other mistresses, not minding the lives he ruins; and how he can call himself 'loyal' despite all the other motives to think otherwise... Are my emotions and doubts unfounded in such occasion?"
"..."
"I am asking a question: are they?"
"No, they aren't." I respond with a sigh, but looking fiercely at her, as she looks back the same way. "But doesn't mean I can't love Berolina. What I did had its consequences, yes, but... In the end, everything turned out fine, and I now love and care for her, deeply. Is that not enough?"
"No, you have all the rights to love milady." She sighs again, a hand on her head as suddenly I think her blood pressure might've lowered. But then the stare came full force As she approached me yet again. "As I have all the rights to think you're not a suitable Queen for her peerage and must be eliminated right now..."
"You...!" I picked up my stand and now walked towards her as she walked towards me in a clash!
"Noin, please..."
"Okay, that's quite enough." But before we could clash and who knows what else after that, a shadow appeared right in between us and... I ended up clashing on boobs. The momentum was too much, and so I couldn't stop the moment the silhouette showed itself, and then my face encountered a soft bosom, so puffy they did that 'BOYON~' sound. Taking a step back before the breast monster could eat me, I looked up and saw a familiar face.
"Ah, aunt Alice!"
"Alice-sama, excuse my bluntness, but your interruption was quite rude." And lo and behold, there she was, Alice Gremory, wearing a pretty fresh summer dress with even a large-brimmed hat and sandals, standing between me and the maid. Hearing the older servant, auntie Alice turned around to smirk at her.
"Well, it is also pretty rude to pick fights with fellow servants, dear Noin." The taller Gremory said, making Noin-san turn her stare elsewhere. So they're quite close too, I am both surprised and not really. She then turns to me and pinched one of my cheeks. "Dragon, is Noin bothering you? Is she being a meanie? Don't hesitate to say it, and I will make this old maid stop just for you."
"As if, Alice-sama." The maid responds. Aunt Alice's smile suddenly took a darker tone as she shifts from me to the former.
"My, you really don't have any respect for me, do you, you old hag?" The redhead devil smiles darkly, which didn't fazed the older maid much, Lucrezia-san taking me a few steps away from their clash. Now that I notice, every pair of breasts really is small compared to aunt Alice's own set. As expected from the Bael genes according to Rina.
"On the contrary, I highly respect you and your accomplishments... As the head of the Gremory clan, that is." The older maid responded, her tone low yet respectful, yet still carrying some real weight of malice with them. "As a person... What can I say about the lass who got herself pregnant at the early age of 13, with one of her own servants, no less?"
"You're just jealous because I have a man of my own, while that spasm chasm down there of yours withers away." Aunt Alice counters with a snark and a sardonic laugh behind a hand, as it was now time for the two to clash, showering everything with angry sparks in a intense staring contest. After a while, the Gremory sighed to herself to turn to me. "For real this time, is dear Noin bothering you, Ichijou? Don't be afraid to say it, I assure you."
"Not really." I admit it with a shrug, still being held by the azure-haired younger maid. The Gremory lady hummed a curious one. "We were just talking about Rina and stuff, nothing too major. She's just being very blunt with her ideas..."
"Is that so?" Aunt Alice hums, turning her attention to the older maid with a calmer expression. Noin-san was still frowning a little. "And what ideas you two were sharing, if you don't care with me minding in them?"
"I was simply pointing out that, even if he is her Queen piece, ichijou-sama is unworthy of such status or any trust from the Gremory house and its servants." The older maid explained. An eyebrow of me twitched a little, this bitch really is blunt as hell, even with the head of the house! That's... Kinda charming. But annoying too... A-noin-ying... Yeah, anoinying. Huh. "Alice-sama, you are aware of what happened during the rating game and it's subsequent consequences, all due to his independent actions, aren't you? Ain't that enough reason to distrust and hate the red dragon emperor?"
"Hmmm~... I see your point, dear Noin. The red dragon did show to be kinda unreliable in that situation, and honestly, even as a Gremory, it would be hard to put the same amount of trust on him after that." Aunt Alice pouts and crosses her arms in a thoughtful pose. As I was about to interject, the redhead lifted a finger. "If! His intentions were purely malicious. If! He did so purely out of spite for my daughter, I wouldn't ever be willing to forgive or tolerate him. But I know for sure that he didn't do it to harm her. After all... He is mostly harmless."
"..." So this is how aunt Alice sees me... It was nice until she called me 'harmless'. I think that's a bit too much trust. A brow of the older maid twitches again, and she flicks her hair a little.
"And what, may I ask, made you come to this conclusion, Alice-sama? He might be hiding quite malignant behind that cute face, I wouldn't be surprised." She spits, giving me a cold side glance. 'Harmless' and 'cute', none of those words regarding of intentions are making any wonders in my self-esteem. A moment of silence between them, and aunt Alice finally manifested herself.
"Nothing too big. I just trust in my daughter's better judgement; therefore I trust her pieces, specially the red dragon emperor." The Gremory smiles, and places a hand on my scalp to pat my head in a cute gesture. I feel a bit better now. "Besides, he was still new to a world he was forcibly pulled into; a few slips were to be expected. To be so ruthless and condemn him for an honest and acceptable mistake... This is not the way for a Gremory. Not at all."
"Hm. Gullible as always, I guess I spoiled you too much as well, Alice-sama." Noin-san shrugs and scoffs, and from here I can sense the animosity growing and growing between the two. Not just with the sisters, she has a history with the head Gremory as well. "I understand and greatly respect miladies' better judgements, including that knight and dragon of Nemesis-sama. But I shall not be that lenient with someone who will turn heads the moment weakness strikes. I don't trust nor believe in the red dragon, and that's final."
"You old hag... You're really wanting to pick a fight, huh?"
"Hey, may I have a word in that?" And breaking the tension between the two ladies, I lift a hand to stop them from eating each other out and have my own take on the matter. They're fighting because of me, and all this pressure is making me feel a bit heavy, so better clean things up as fast as possible. "Uh... Noin-san, you said you hate me because of what I did back in the Rating Game, when I threw away my chances of victory, right? That's why you don't trust me in the slightest, right? Well, what can I do to make it up for that?"
"...?"
"Hah? Why is that, Ichijou-sama? Begging for forgiveness? How unsightly." The older maid scoffs while the Gremory head and younger maid were stunned by my words. Even when she says those things, I don't falter, not anymore.
"None of that, none of that." I respond waving a hand in a dusting motion. Begging for forgiveness? Not a chance because I wasn't wrong, but still. "I know that you hate me so much words won't have any effect on you, so begging for it is worthless. Still, I don't want to be on the bad side of Noin-san, so tell me: what can I do to make you trust me? In a way I won't have to worry about you slapping me silly out of nowhere, at least."
"Huh. It seems you have some form of self-awareness, as faint as it is." She comments, and I guess this is how I can get to her good side. It's not like I want her to like me or something, but there is also no reason to have that civil war between us either, specially with a senior Gremory servant. Besides, I rather not have maids slapping me silly left and right, thank you very much. She tilts her stare to the ceiling, as in deep in thoughts, then turns back to me. "Very well then, I shall... Test your devotion to the Gremory clan as a whole in a endurance trial. If you really think yourself as one of us, you will persevere. Otherwise, you'll still be the target of my ire. Permanently, as if."
"Endurance trials, huh? Sounds nice." I let out a puff of smoke, which she probably though it was a sign of smugness considering her frown tightens even more. I feel a lot better now, and the thought of putting those into test is making me kinda excited. "So, how are we gonna do it? Noin-san knows best, anyway."
"Indeed. As much as I hate you, challenging someone in an already decided match is unbecoming even for a devil." The devil maid sighs, massaging one of her temples with a finger while looking at me with a neutral stare. Endurance test, huh? Why do I feel like this could potentially kill me midway? Ah, right, because that has happened ever since I became a devil. "Let's see, what can I propose to the red dragon and make him prove his worth while making him suffer?"
"I heard that..."
"Hush, you."
"Dear Noin, how about the newbies?" Aunt Alice lifted a hand to call for the attention of the older maid, a small glint in her orbs. This can be either a handicap or she's downright condemning me, the devil lady. Noin-san snaps back to her boss, who smiles. "You have been training those girls for quite some time, no? No better way to put their talents and convictions to test than against the red dragon. Besides, who knows, maybe they can make some friends out of it."
There she goes again, playing with the strings and pushing girls my way, just like that time with Rei-chan. I wonder if she's doing it on purpose... Regardless, Noin-san blinks a few times, perplexed.
"Oh, it's not a bad idea, not at all. I do believe in the strength of those girls, anyway, I know that while their strength is nothing compared to the great sekiryuutei, they have more than enough class and endurance than... This excuse of a servant." Noin-san lashes a stare in my direction, and my brow twitches yet again. How do people know how to push my buttons? It's really annoying! Without further ado, though, Noin-san turns around and leaves, but not before flashing another freezing stare at me. "I shall inform them about the ensuing match. I hope you're prepared, Ichijou-sama, to show me how wavering your resolution really is. Regardless of results, I bid you good luck, you'll need it."
"Hm, thank you, I guess." I respond, and again, she probably thought I was being sarcastic and emoted a small grunt before turning around and vanishing. Endurance tests against other maids? Her apprentices in the art of the maids? Might sound romantic in a way, but I can only dread of what's to come. I cough a small cloud of smoke out of my system containing all of my anxieties and tensions and shifts my gaze to the grinning redhead. "Hah~, as always, my trips to the Underworld are always a party. It's not even funny anymore..."
"Hahahah, even so, as a loyal and true servant of Gremory, you will step up to the challenge, right?" The devil lady smiled to me, and while I sigh a deep and tired one, I nod at her. Of course I will, why not? "Good boy, Ichijou. Gallant as always, much cool. Besides, you should get familiarised with the other servants of Gremory; they might be inferior to you, but they're your comrades regardless."
"I'm surprised you accepted Noin's challenge so willingly, Ichijou." Lucrezia-san added, coming closer and blinking in curiosity. I tilt my head to a side. "I expected you to shove her complains away and go on with your day. To accept her provocations so willingly, how unusual of you."
"Is that so?" I say back. I feel nothing wrong in picking a fight with a literal old maid, specially one who says she hates me, so its only natural to accept her provocations. I yawn a little. "I guess I'm just in a good mood today, feeling refresh and brand new. Besides..."
"...?"
"I wanted to look cool in front of Lucrezia-san just once." I let it out with burning ears and eyes that go everywhere but her or aunt Alice. "I feel like people have only seen the lame side of the current Red Dragon emperor, and I want to change that, if just a little. Don't think the best way is to beat up some maids, but I should start small anyway. If Lucrezia-san thinks I'm cool, then I'm cool with it."
"..."
"Moreover..." I turn elsewhere, and a kitty grin grows on my lips. I guess my good mood is also tickling the funny and mischiveous bones in my body. "... I guess it's time to show what happens to people who talk shit about the sekiryuutei. Of course, no lasting damage... Probably."
"Ichijou..."
*PINCH~!*
"Hahahah, did something good come your way last night, dragon? This boost of confidence is unheard of, but it's hard to dislike it." Aunt Alice said while pinching my cheeks with her long fingers. Despite her actions, I feel no malice coming from her, in fact, she's spoiling me in a way. She let go off me and walked away, a finger lifted in front of her lips. "Well, might as well see what dear Noin is planning myself. Good luck with your trials, dragon, I will be cheering for you. But also know this: my trust in you will be severely damaged if you withdraw from the challenge."
"Of course not."
"I see. I'm just kidding, kick her saggy old hag ass, Ichijou!" And the redhead cheered, escaping my gaze to probably prepare my trials against Noin-san, leaving me and the younger maid alone with each other. I feel a lot better with this confidence boost, so I absentmindedly waved at her away.
"Heheh..." I laugh dumbly. Compliments are always nice, specially in this unbroken good mood.
"Ichijou, you seem to be really radiant today. What gives?" Lucrezia-san calls for my attention, and turning to her, I can soften my expression so I wouldn't scare her. Instead, I smile a bit brighter. Me, radiant? Not a chance, but I did say I wanted to change, and when's better opportunity than now?
"I just feel like messing around. I might regret it later, but now I feel like I can face the world in a way. It's a nice sensation..." I admit with a shrug. Lucrezia-san smiles, and accompanies me as I walk into the Gremory mansion.
"I see, I see. Regardless how you feel, I should warn you that Noin is a formidable foe. I advice handling her advances and her apprentices with care." She says. I know she's not trying to discourage me, but it does sting a little. No, I should stay focused on it, otherwise it will be all for nothing. "I won't interfere in your trials, but know that I'll be also cheering for you, Ichijou..."
"Hm... Lucrezia-san, give me a kiss."
"Hm? What's that all of the sudden?" She blinks in surprise before recomposing herself, and despite that, she is still a bit shaken by my wish. I am blushing as well, but there's no turning back.
"Gimme a kiss. It can be on the cheek, I don't mind, just peck me." I repeat with a finger on my lips. She blushes, I blush, but my mood is too bright to care. "I'm happy you're cheering for me, but gimme a kiss. I feel like if a beautiful woman were to kiss me, my confidence will skyrocket. So give me a kiss..."
"Ohoh. While honoured, please remember that I also have my pride." She responds, instead winking at my direction and touching my cheek with her slender fingers. "Don't patronize me, Ichijou. I shall kiss you when I feel like it, and while I pray for your victory, I won't allowed myself to serve as a console."
"Ah, ah, Lucrezia-san turned scary for some reason..." I murmured miserably, but I can see her point. She is still a maid, but I shouldn't push my luck with her and command like I own her. The whole morale boost was a lie, by the way, I just wanted a kiss from her, but since that's impossible now, might as well pump it up and be prepared to the things that are to come. I turn forward and crack my neck a few times. "Okay, then. Whatever. I can take on some maids, no problem. After all... I'm more me than ever!"
"Just kidding." And snapping me from my stupor, Lucrezia-san came closer and pecked me on the cheek. It was quick, it was silent, yet enough to leave me catatonic. She steps forward and touches her lips, winking again. "I don't mind kissing you, of course. I think milady's lips would boost your resolve even further though, so please, settle for now with a kiss of a simple maid."
"Ah." I nodded to her, but then I smile with a hand on my marked kissed place. My lips hurt a bit for smiling like an idiot, but that really boosted my resolve. Huh, now I feel better than ever. I guess a kiss from a pretty girl does improve one's mood. I lift my fingers on a V-sign. "Now I'm 110% motivated."
She just smiles...
Man, girls really are the best.
"And this is how I ended up like that..."
"..."
"...?"
"Ikkun, did you ever think of not picking fights with others? Like, chill for at least once?"
"Like it's my fault everyone wants to pick a bone with me!"
"..."
"But, yeah. This one's on me."
*ZOOOOOOOM~... DON!*
"Gyah...!"
"Kyah...!" And we were abruptly cut as a massive fridge slid to our direction and knocked us out cold! Fortunately, it was only the shock that made us fly, and soon enough we landed safely on the side, my presents still safe and sound at my hands. Seriously, Ikkun needs to chill out and stop picking fights! "Damned low-class...!"
"Rei-chan, over here...!" And Ikkun held me by the wrist and pulled me elsewhere, behind a counter filled with meat and vegetables, all of them freshly picked! When safely away from the maid, he starts to explain the current situation. "So yeah, this is my first trial: I need to make a dish Haen-san likes and steal her commitment ring. It stops once I make her say 'delicious' or call uncle! Thing is, she is also making food and throwing stuff at me, so that's pretty distracting. So, uh... Could you help me out?"
"Does it look like I have a choice?!"
*SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!*
"Salsa slash! Coming through!"
"Kyaaah...!" And behind us something slashed all the vegetables and meat on the table, and the entire counter while at it! The sheer power behind it blew us away and made us roll on the ground! Finally finding my stance, we stood up and turned to the chef maid, who now had an entire bowl on salsa on hand!
"Heeheeheeh! Sekiryuu, you need to get yourself together, y'know! I am already done with the salad, y'know!" The maid says triumphantly, her sharp teeth flashing a dangerous grin! Then she sticks her tongue out and shows on it a crimson piercing! "To be able to serve the most delicious dishes to my masters and make them say 'it's Good', that's my pride as a servant of Gremory! Haen Mayre is my name, and I am the chef in training! Nice to meet you, y'know!"
"She's part dragon and part devil, you two! Even if her blood is diluted, she can pack quite a punch, so be careful!" Came words of advice and mischief from the redhead devil lady, who was watching our misfortunes from a safe distance together with other two female servants. Ain't she enjoying this whole ordeal!
"Rei-chan, I know this might sound ridiculous, and honestly I don't know what's really going on anymore, but..." He draws himself in a fighting stance and gives me a quick side-glance. He's really ready to engage! "... I just want a certain maid to see I'm worthy as a servant, so please... Lend me your strength!"
"..."
...
*VOOOSH...!*
"I-I have no choice, do I? Even if I'm here against my will, to a Phenex to stand down in the face of a challenge regardless of peril is unthinkable!" I said, my cheeks burning a little as I throw my Phenex tear flask and flowers to Alice-sama, who caught them in midair! I... I don't have a choice, do I?! I mean, Ikkun asked for my help, and it would be rude to refuse it so, not to mention the blow my pride as a Phenex would take! Its not like I'm helping him because I want to! "It's really annoying, but... I shall help you as a member of the house of Phenex! Be thankful and honoured, Ikkun!"
"Sure!" He simply nods at me and smiles. Hah, since when he became so handsome... I mean! Since when he became so cocky?! Hubris like that just brings one's downfall, like Jii-sama always says! "Thanks, Raven."
"Hm!" I turn to the lowly servant in front of us, summoning some flames from my hands! I hope he doesn't notice my ears! I bet they're on fire! "Let's cook, then!"
"Yes, ma'am."
"That's what I like to hear, y'know!" And the lowly servant known as Haen Mayre grins, stomping so hard on the floor the entire kitchen trembles, almost making me lose my balance! I hear creaking sounds coming from above, and looking up, I saw several pieces of meat and sacks of food suspended by hooks! They creak and squeak, and finally come loose to fall onto the tables below! Knifes at hand, she resumes her assault! "Now, let the hell's kitchen begin, y'know!"
"Hey, Haen. Don't let food fall on the ground. It might be clean enough, but a chef never gets ingredients dirty!" I hear a voice call the lowly servant, and turning there, I saw a maid screaming said instructions next to Alice-sama, a lavender-haired mature woman. Oh, that's Noin-sama, Rina's nanny! Huh, everything is starting to make sense now...
"Oops, sorry, master Noin! It was careless of me, y'know!" The lowly maid makes a silly expression and bows a little for her misstep. In a blink of an eye, she swings her knives and not only she dices pieces of meat perfectly, she almost cut down Ikkun, who came closer to pick a chicken under her. "Oops! You wanna die, sekiryuu? I am making some steak bites, but dragon meat kinda ruins the vibe, y'know!"
"Then mind where you cut, Haen-san!" Responded the red dragon, sliding his way away from her to next to me, lifting the raw chicken on me! Gross, don't show me this stuff! "Rei-chan, help me out! Please, I need you to cut this meat as small as you can and-..."
*SLICE! SLICE! SLICE! PON.*
"Ah..."
"Hm..." And before he could even finish his sentence, the caught raw chicken simply fell in tiny cubes on our feet. No sound or reason, it just simply fell in tiny raw squares, forming a diced mount. Not just that, Ikkun's entire sleeve was ripped to shreds, leaving only confetti-like cloth to the wind. One, two seconds pass, utter silence. "Well, that's that, I guess."
"Yeah." He quietly added, flexing his naked arm a few times just to make sure it was still there.
Really, those servants of Gremory...!
*PENG!*
"Not so fast!" And back to the shitstorm at hand, Ikkun felt a disturbance and kicked a pan up to catch it and shield us from another barrage of slashes from that Haen maid! One moment, and then he bonks her away with it, again making a sound so loud my ears started to ring! He then turns to me! "Rei-chan, I will take care of the rest, you just help me with this, and then we finish it together, okay?"
"U-Understood." I say still scratching my ringing ears, and he passes me the massive pan and a stirring spoon. I draw a doubtful mark to that? There's so much I can do with those things, be specific, please! "Hey, Ikkun, what do you want me to do? You want me to fight her with those?! As in, a sword and shield?!"
"None of that, none of that! Instead, I need you to help me out with the dish!" He says, picking a wok pan to himself, digging some cubed chicken with them and ready to face the lowly servant maid! Before charging, he turns to me. "Rei-chan, from you, I need... Eggs!"
"..."
"I'm not asking you to lay them, by the way. Just make an omelette for me."
"I wasn't thinking that."
"Yes, you were." He chirps.
Yes, I was.
Years of teasing and yakitori jokes from other devils have severely damaged my sense of humour. Please forgive my rude assumptions...
"Omelette, right? I can do that, so go forth, red dragon!" I commanded, reaching for and breaking some eggs as he charges against the maid Haen! I don't know what he's planning, but I bet he's not throwing random recipes for an easy win! I summon a magical circle with a finger snap and start to stir and fry a solid layer of eggs! Golden and vivid, the best meals made from the flames of the noblest house in the Underworld!
I wonder what would Riser-jiisama would say if he ever sees me using our flames like that...
*SLASH!*
"Gaaaaah! Bitch!" I shift my stare to Ikkun, and I see him with a cut on his left shoulder as he defends himself with the pan against the cuts of the maid! Oh no, his reflexes might be sharp, but even I can barely follow that Maid Haen's knife movements! "Gh...!"
"Well, you know what they say: mess with the dragon, you get its flames! You should know that, sekiryuu, y'know!" Laughed the lowly maid, now opening her mouth to unleash another blast of crimson flames against the red dragon! Ikkun fortunately shielded himself with the massive pan, but I could see from here he was struggling with the high heat! "Heeheeheeh! Now those are the flames of a real dragon, y'know! Taste the true inferno of the lords of the sky, y'know!"
"G-Gh...!" He's really sweating buckets under the pan, and the metal turns black to crimson to pure white!
"Ichijou-sama, you just need to say you give up. Don't make a fool out of yourself." And from the distance, I see Noin-sama warning the red dragon who was still fighting the crimson flames! Her tone was low, but I could feel some... Animosity? from it. The impact of the flames were also too much for him, so he crawled under the white pan for protection! And after that, no response anymore, only silence. "Ichijou-sama, just withdraw and spare yourself from an humiliating defeat and an even lower opinion from me. Don't make me add 'fool' in the list of adjectives I have for you."
"..." There was no response! The flames are still burning the pan and the scorching smell is filling my nostrils! I can feel the heat from here, so imagine what he's feeling!
"Ikkun...!" I was about to drop my omelette and come for his aid! I don't care what will happen in this trial, but if this keeps up, he's toast!
"Raven-sama, keep your faith up, please." But before I could intervene, the younger maid calls for me with a hopeful voice. I stop on my tracks and turn my attention to her, her serene expression strengthen my resolve.
"B-But...!"
"Have faith in him and in his ordeal, Raven-sama, just like he has in your talents." She continues.
"..." I am uneasy, but the amount of trust this little servant has for Ikkun is contaminating. I feel like if she can trust him, I should do it as well! So I put myself sit and continued to prepare the egg dish. I nod to her! "Hm!"
"Lucrezia-chan, your trust is unfounded. Ichijou-sama is clearly outmatched." Noin-sama declares with a sharp glare to this Lucrezia maid. "I would love to see a turnabout regardless, but as we can all see, he has failed in anything but words."
*BAM!*
"...?!"
*BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!*
"...?!"
"Noin, you shouldn't underestimate a fellow servant either. We are... Quite fiery."
"Kyah!" And I almost lose my balance again, another tremor echoing though the kitchen floor coming out of nowhere! Not as strong as the the ones caused by the chef maid, but they were enough to make the suspended ingredients below slip off their hooks and fall! Is that... Ikkun's?!
*ZOOOM~... DON!*
"Hidebu...!" And among the falling food, one specially thick piece of ham descended from the skies and landed right on top of the chef maid's head, ceasing her flames and making her fall on her back! Once the inferno was gone, I see the white-hot pan tremble and move.
"I-Ikkun...?"
"GYAAAAAH! FUCK! DEVILS BLESS ONION LEEKS!" And then Ikkun emerges from under the pan, red as a beet and sweating to the point I thought he was melting, but pretty much alive, surrounded by onion leeks and dicing some vegetables under it! He turns his attention to me. "Rei-chan, the sack of rice, please!"
"Huh?! Ah!" I snap to the ceiling, where a full sack of rice was suspended, and losing no second, threw a small fireball at it, bursting it open and raining the grains everywhere! Ikkun flipped the pan with the diced vegetables and caught the rice in it, starting to mix them together! I see! I know what dish he wants to make! From the counter, I threw him some tomatoes and peppers! "Ikkun...!"
"Good call, Rei-chan..!" He calls me, reaching for a mixer and ready to pick them!
"Not so fast, y'know!" But a shadow lurks closer to him, and we saw a glimpse of light from it! The chef maid, with a massive red bump on her head, whipped out her knives and went to encounter the red dragon! "Now, become ingredients, red dragon emperor, y'know!"
"Kh...!"
*SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!*
"...!" And my mind couldn't keep it up, but once the barrage of slashes was settled, I gasped in horror: Ikkun was cut down like a pig, and thick blood flies everywhere as his damage body goes limp! "Ikkun...!"
"Heeheeheeh! Become food for us, red dragon...!"
"Hm..."
"...?!"
"Thanks, Haen-san, this is what I needed!" But despite his cuts and ruined clothes, the dragon snapped back to reality and picked his pan by one of the handlers to spin around and bathe his dish in blood! Wait! That's not blood... It's tomato sauce! From the tomatoes the chef maid cut! With his spin, he bumps the pan against the chef maid and makes her fall to the ground! He turns to me yet again! "Rei-chan, is it done yet?!"
"Of course! The best dish from the best flames!" I signed, flipping the flat omelette one last time and then tossing it upwards, a disk of eggs flying everywhere! Ikkun nodded, flipped his own pan one last time and tossed the mix in the air as well!
In the end, the two parts clashed and the omelette wrapped itself around the mix of rice, vegetables, chicken and sauces and then fell perfectly on top of a plate strategically placed on a table! As a finishing touch, Ikkun picked a bottle of ketchup and draw a small heart there! It was finished! Suddenly, from our back, the chef maid emerged with now two bumps on her head and charged at us!
"Sekiryuu...!"
"There, done! The Tsukino's special homemade omurice!" But as she was about to clash against us, Ikkun turned to her and offered the golden omurice! The aroma was strong and it was bright as gold, as expected from me! The chef maid stops on her tracks and eyes the dish with an intense stare and drooling mouth! The fire inside her mouth dies down, and she opens the biggest, hungriest smile! "It's served! Dig in, Haen-san!"
"A-Ah... O... Mu... Rice? Is that what you call it? That's a really lame name, y'know!" The maid comments, eyeing the plate and the golden egg dish in it with mesmerized eyes regardless her rude tones! Ichijou pushed the plate further to her, a confidant smile on his lips. So handsome... I mean... Gosh! What's going on!
"The name is lame, but taste it, you'll like it." He nods, and the maid, despite her willingness to taste it, was taken back a little, eyeing everywhere but the dish in front of her.
"Haen, taste it." Came the command from the head maid, Noin-sama, flipping a spoon for the chef maid. Said maid picked said spoon and, after a quick response from her master, nodded back and turned to the omurice.
"I mean... If you insist, master Noin...!" And then she snapped the plate from Ikkun's fingers and took a spoonful from the dish, like a rabid animal! "I'm digging in...!"
And it only took that spoonful to make her speechless. Her eyes were shot open, her entire body trembled, and she soon resumed to eat the rest of the omurice! Chicken, rice, the eggs, all gobbling down her system until nothing was left, not a single grain! In the end, the plate fell on the ground making a ringing sound, and she stopped on her tracks, frozen on time. One, two seconds passed, and Ikkun reached a hand for her...
"Hm... Haen-san... So, how does it tast-...?"
"DELEEEEEEEEESH~...!" She declares while her clothes burst away for some goddamn reason, and she sticks her tongue out with an indecent expression on her face! In that meantime, her piecing ends up snapping away from her mouth muscle and without losing a second, Ikkun catches it midair and smirks. The chef maid snaps back to reality and closes her mouth with a hand, but it was too late. "No... No way, y'know..."
"Yeah way." Ikkun brands off the small piercing in his hands, probably the said ring of commitment, and smirks to himself, not even minding the small trails of saliva dripping from it. Gross. "Badge of victory, get!"
Seriously? Sigh...
I turn to the trio in the back, watching. The younger maid had a big smile on her pretty face, Alice-sama was laughing to herself, and Noin-sama had her eyes wide open, in a surprised neutral expression. She tries to open her mouth to speak, but Alice-y beats her to the punch with a clap of hands...
"Okay, first trial completed! The winner: the sekiryuutei Ichijou!" She declares. So, Ikkun won this one...
I still have no idea what the hell is going on...
"Lame, lame! I can't believe I lost! That's so uncool, y'know!"
"Hahahah, sorry Haen-san. But I don't feel like losing today!"
"And you have the nerve to drag me into this mess! Have some respect for the Phenex, Ichijou Tsukino!"
"C'mon, Raven, you know that's not my faul-owowowow...!"
The current situation is thus: after the events of my first match against Haen-san at the Gremory kitchen, we were relocated to the staff room, where I could eat something fresh and regain my strengths after that heated battle. Being a sore loser, Haen-san is now biting my arm and neck while an indignant Rei-chan pinches my cheek for dragging her into this mess, despite the fact that it wasnt my fault! But, oh well, the power high was still lingering, so I still am in a good mood, even better, perhaps!
"Stupid sekiryuu! Don't think you are better than me, y'know!"
"Ikkun~, you rascal...!"
"Hahahah~... Hm?" But then we all stopped from the bullying to look up, to the source of the shadow that was casted upon us out of the sudden. I stare back at amber eyes, Noin-san's stare, still as cold as before. The confidence however made me smirk as I showed her Haen-san's commitment ring, the physical manifestation of her dedication to the Gremory! "There, Noin-san! My first trial completed! How do you like them apples!"
"..."
"Heheh... Are you mad?"
"Good job, as expected from a servant of Gremory." Her words made me drop my smile and snap back to her. She wasn't mad, she wasn't smug about anything, her expression was... Neutral, at best. Wait, what? Not even her voice seemed altered. "Your first trial is completed, and I'm glad for the results. Don't be mistaken, you're still pending regarding my trust, but I can't say my vision for you changed."
"Huh...?"
"Haen..." Now her face shifts to the maid next to me, who flinches just hearing her own name. She closes her eyes and clings to me, as if she's waiting for some kind of punishment, but then Noin-san sighs and pats her head, calming her down. "You did good, that dish of yours is probably very tasty. Dont worry, if you feel overwhelmed, then I shall help you."
"Ah... Understood, master! I'll do my best next time, y'know!" And from frightened, Haen-san's expression became a bright smile, and she nodded rapidly, even from here I can see a ghost of a smile in Noin-san's lips. Wait, what?!
"Now, please, let us have a healthy breakfast. I think Berolina-sama would love to have company in her morning." The maid simply said, lightly bowing to us and turning around to leave. Wait, I'm not done! I try to stand up and call for her attention, but then she vanishes, no traces at all left behind...
...
What the hell! That wasn't a reaction at all! Why didn't she get angry?! Or at least show some form of sore losing?! I even got the commitment ring to shove it in her face, and yet... This is not fair! Where's my satisfaction in proving someone wrong?! Why isn't she going bananas for that?!
"Ikkun, you're making a face, you're making a face..." Rei-chan pinches my cheeks to wake me up to reality, and I turn to her, sighing. I was probably making an ugly grimace. "It was pretty ugly too, don't do it ever again."
"I was? My bad." I respond. The ire from before vanishes, and all that is left is tiredness. For some reason, I just feel so... Numb. I look down to the commitment ring, and sigh once again. "It's just... After that response from Noin-san, it feels like... I didn't do much. I wanted her to react, but when she said those things, I... Kinda felt unaccomplished."
"I see." Rei-chan observes, and then puffs a laugh, making me turn to her. Eh? "Huhuh... It seems Ikkun hasn't deal with a mature, professional devil yet. It also just shows how really immature he is. Huhuhuh..."
"Hey, what the hell does that mean?" I interjected, a bit irritated. Of course I would be!
"It means that unlike certain devils, Noin-sama is capable of accepting defeat and move forward instead of cultivating a grudge or let her rage consume her." Rei-chan explained with a smirk and a wink. "She is mature enough to see and comprehend that she lost, and instead grow as an individual. She is not some bratty kid who claims unfairness or whines about her losses, and even if she is angry about that, she won't show it so to not give you the satisfaction in the first place. Noin-sama... Is being the bigger person."
"..." That's... Irritating. Comprehensible, and at the same time really irritating. Noin-san lost, yet she took it and swallowed it like a champ, not only sparing herself from judgement based on wrath, but also not giving me an ounce of satisfaction. I don't feel like I've won anymore, and that's probably how she wants me to feel. How... Irritating. "Shit..."
"Hey, Ikkun. Play it on the same coin." Raven calls for my attention again, and I turn to her a frown. "You won, didn't you? Rejoice, bask in your victory, you should be proud of yourself for doing whatever the hell that was. If you're doing those trials just to enrage Noin-sama and strike a nerve on her, then I'm sorry to say that I lost some respect for you."
...
She's right. Noin-san is just as petty, but I have to be also the bigger devil here and enjoy what I accomplished. I accepted doing those trials so I could prove her wrong and to show I am worthy as Rina's servant and Queen, making her pissed at me should be just a bonus. Getting angry for her not showing a grudge against a loss is just me being no better than her, no better than that Miyama bastard, no better than uncle Henry. I need to grow out from that, I need to be better than that...
But I would be lying if I say I wouldn't enjoy her biting herself in frustration. Heheh...
"You're right, Rei-chan. I should just relax and enjoy my victory. It's... The adult thing to do." I sigh, and smile for her. She might be a try-hard adult wannabe, but... She's way more mature than me, and I'm glad she shook me out of this jazz. "Thanks, Raven. You're really... You really know how to be an adult."
"...!" And then suddenly her hair burst into flames as a red shade turns her face into a pink mask. I was taken a little by her literal explosion, but then she hides her face and turns elsewhere, waving a hand frenetically in front of us. "O-O-Of course I know how to do this! Who do you think I am?! N-No need to thank mez we're friends, right?! I should guide you to the right path as both a friend and a fellow devil! Right?! RIGHT?! That's the only thing to do!"
"Uh, right. Okay." I nodded, seeing her flames die down little by little, but her blush intact. I still don't get those outbursts of her.
"B-But, y'know, Ikkun... You were really cool back then." She whispers only loud enough for me to hear. "Even if you were just cooking... Seeing you confidant like that... Was really cool. Cooler than any seinen hero."
"Really? I see, I'm glad." I whisper back. Ah, now I feel much better, now I can actually feel... Satisfied, even without an angry Noin-san. In the end, I stand up from my seat and turn to her. "Well, let's go grab a bite. You came here to see Rina, right? Let's get going."
"Yeah." She grins like a madam, also standing up and flicking her hair a little. "After all the hell from this trial, a balance breakfast with a dear company is all I would ever want."
"True, that. Let's go, th-..."
*BITE!*
"Owowowow~! Haen-san!" And my attention shifts to the maid who was still biting my arm and neck like an animal. Her eyes turn to me and she shines me a toothy grin with her sharp fang-like dentition.
"Don't think things are over between us, sekiryuutei! I can accept defeat, but I still have my pride as a chef, y'know!" She smiles, coming closer and closer until we were face-to-face. Close, too close. "Just you wait. Dragons... Can only improve once defeated, y'know."
"Yeah, I know."
"Besides..."
"...?"
"Teach me how to do that Omurice thingy, y'know! That stuff was too good! I'll do anything for you to teach me how to prepare that!" She now flashes a cute grin, genuinely excited. Whoa, was my omurice that good? She should taste mom's, her head will probably explode. Even so, I mimic her grin.
"Sure, anytime, Haen-san." I nod. "After all... We are fellow servants of Gremory."
"Kewl!" She bites me yet again! Holy shit, that hurts! "I'm starting to like you lots, y'know!"
"Heheh, thanks."
"C'mon, you two. Let's eat." Rei-chan called for our attention and signed to the corridor, her face now showing a pout and a sour coloration. Is she...? Probably yes. "Stop flirting, is unsightly for the public. Not that I care, but mind your levels of decency. Honestly..."
"My bad." I scratched the back of my head, and then we walked towards the dining room to meet everybody and have a healthy breakfast...
I clinch the ring in my hand, and finally smile, satisfied. Yes... The trials haven't ended. I have to prove I am worthy of my place here, for her... And for myself.
And so it finishes the first trial. A delicious in devil, if you will. Hehehe...
Still getting used to my new computer and so the chapter took longer than expected, but here I am, dxd fandom, and I hope you liked the chapter as much as I loved to write it despite my shortcomings. So it begins, the maid in hell mini arc. Ichijou vs. Maid apprentices, that should be fun.
And as you could see, Noin is the main antagonist and she is... unique from the other antagonists as well. Shes probably the second oldest losing only to Evelyn, and also someone who carries a lot of responsibilities from long ago, so shes a lot more mature than Rei, the Hellsing siblings and even Nemesis. She is petty, yes, the arc started because she is devilish like that, but as you could read, her reasoning is... different. Will ichijou will be able to crack this maid while also developing himself? We hope so. :3. I hope I was able to make her nice enough so people wont get bored fast. Maybe I do also have a thing for maids. Huhuhhh...
Ikkun's friends and charming points/traits
[Ichijou] - Ichijou has the habit of biting things, mainly his lips, under pressure or when feeling strong, but not necessarily bad, emotions. As of his last trip to the underworld, he tries to hide it by covering his mouth. His peers thinks it makes him cuter in a way.
[Shiori] - The cool beauty, Shiori has a cool and collected aura that makes people attracted to her while also worshipping her as a goddess. She likes it, but also makes it hard to make true friends.
[Berolina] - Her stupid cowlick that sticks like a crescent moon on top of her head, unlike Nemesis', which is sharply turned to a side(a 'reaper' ahoge) or her mother's, which sticks like an antenna. It wags when excited or when nearby supernatural events are in order. If you pull it out, another take its place!
[Kurama] - Her platinum blond nine tails, which are prehensile and extra sensitive when shes in the mood. She even has names for them: Ichika, Melmel, Hanami, Hime-lu, Lihan, Fue, Crim, Ryein and Suyun.
[Annabelle] - Her fangs are naturally crooked, which means they're always sticking out like those cute fangs from anime girls. Don't mind the blood stains.
[Tasha] - She doesn't talk much, hence why is hard to notice, but Tasha has a beautiful voice that melts hearts faster than butter on a sunny day. Her intones are also perfect and she never cracks. However, she has the bad habit of biting her tongue.
[Liu Bei] - Her boobs are firm and big, and all the stares pull down to them like they have their own gravitational pull! Also, her nipples are inverted.
[Whiswain] - Shes not as big as the other girls, but Whiswain's thighs are smooth and soft, not to mention pleasantly cool due to her naturally cold body heat. A nap on them would be a good nap.
[Guan Yu] - The general is always training and her body is quite sensitive because shes not used in being touched. She'll melt if you whisper on her ear... And then beat you to a bloody pulp afterwards.
[Serena] - A few can distinguish, but Serena is a natural born leader with both charisma, leadership skills and a bit of quirkiness to make her entertaining. Before you know it, she'll be helping you without a second thought, and you'll stay loyal to her to the end. Unlike Shiori's, Serena's aura is fiery and powerful.
[Yagura] - Her lips are very squishy and soft, and her cheesecake kiss makes it even better. Ichijou can kiss her how many times he wants, he wont grow bored of it.
[Lucrezia] - Her orange eyes that shine a comforting yet eerily lonely aura, making it both charming yet scary, like she has the look of someone who is either serene as she looks or will choke one in their sleep with a smile on her lips. Her glasses are purely aesthetical, she says it makes her look less intimidating.
[Irene] - Irene's hair is silky and smooth as one possibly can, and passing your hand through it is addicting. It is also naturally shiny and smells extremely good, a trait passed down from her Purson heritage since Mary's hair is as good as her daughter's.
[Raven] - Raven has a naturally pleasant body odor, she smells like a summer day at a tropical garden, no matter how tattered or tired she becomes. Also, her flames smell like oranges.
MAID FILES: Haen Mayre
- A newbie maid in the Gremory household, she's 18y/o and training under Noin to be a chef in the Gremory household.
- She's the daughter of a dragon father and a devil mother, giving her sharp, shark-like teeth and red eyes. Her mother died giving birth to her and her father offered her to the Gremory knowing he wouldn't be able to raise her properly. She lived in one of the areas owned by the Gremory until she could afford her own stuff.
- Besides fire breath, she's extremely keen regarding silverware and her wildness hides a precision in cutting and cooking like no other. Her sharp sense of smell can also spot fresh or rotten ingredients on the spot.
- Her commitment ring, a insignia symbolizing her loyalty to the Gremory clan, is a piercing on her tongue. The metal is made from dragon skin and therefore almost impossible to melt even with her flames.
- Shes fiery and arrogant like a good dragon. The few people she fears are Nemesis Gremory and Lucrezia Onoskelis.
- She thought ichijou was cute the first time she saw him and has the urge to bite him everywhere until he cries for mercy.