To entertain and brighten your world with her beautiful spectacles, that's her pride as maid. In the name of the Gremory.
DISCLAIMER: Dxd doesn't belong to me~.
The Beelzebub Hospital.
Not only the biggest medical facility in the whole Underworld, but also the centre of all scientific researches around; magical, medical or otherwise. Founded around 17 years ago by the recently-crowned Mary Beelzebub demon lord and named after her title and her mentor's, it's located between the Phenex and Purson territory and near the Dantalion mansion. To say it's the epicentre of all the scientific progress and power from the Underworld would be a gross understatement. The only things above it would be the Lucifer magical association and the original Heavenly system...
It's also the place me and my peerage have become too acquaintance than I would want to admit. In less than a semester, I had around 4 trips to this literally godforsaken place, and none of them had a happy memory... Okay, maybe one or two, but still. And now, we shall visit my dear sister and knight and see her recover.
"Hmm~... How odd. This is an hospital, yet the scent here... Is quite nice." My dear bishop Whiswain says while smelling the air around. The place is a four-store facility with medical and research buildings, and most of the time is very busy because, well, devils being devils, but the smell in the air is very nice. I take a sniff myself and feel the scent of fresh lemons.
"Mh-hm! Lady Beelzebub... I mean, doctor Beelzebub is quite a germaphobe, and this is a hospital, so it makes sense for it to be pretty clean." I comment back, signing to the entrance. Whis turns to me, blink a few times and blushes, hiding herself behind a hand mask.
"Hm? Ah, I... I didn't mean it like that, Berolina-san. It does smell nice, but that's not the smell I can feel." She whispers, and I tilt my head, a bit confused. "What I mean is... For a hospital, it doesn't have... The smell of death around. It's pretty unusual for a place like this to smell... So alive."
"Oh." I snap in realization. I kinda forgot that, that grim reapers are able to feel that. "Well, doctor Beelzebub is a genius after all, and her Purson special ability plus her ties with the Phenex clan and Dantalion clan makes it easy for her to treat and cure almost everybody. The chances of recovery once you're here is... I dunno, 90% or a bit less? I don't remember."
"Whoa. She really is incredible!" My bishop's jaw hangs agape, impressed. Incredible? Certainly, but again, she is a Demon Lord, apprentice of the previous Beelzebub. Mother also used to say she was such a perfectionist even Lord Ajuka would tell her to chill. Not hard to notice that. The only devils stronger than her are... My father and grandfather. Doesn't that make me feel important.
"She also has own brand of lollipops for the sick. They're actually medicine that tastes like apples." I quip, sticking my tongue out. "She really is incredible, she's a demon lord, after all!"
"If only her personality was sweeter, though." Aria-nee chirps from the background, and like always, we draw uneasy smiles to each other. That... Is something everybody had to get used to, Doctor Beelzebub's rather methodic personality, even mother saying she can be a real deal sometimes.
No words to counter that comment, we just gathered our stuff and entered the establishment to visit our dear pieces. The one to welcome us there was no other than Irene Dantalion, the daughter of Doctor Beelzebub, her purple hair wrapped in a clumsy side-tail and adjusting her glasses seeing us.
"Well, if it isn't the daughter of the Lucifer demon lord. What business you have to grace us with your presence here?" She smiles, doing a good girl expression despite the fact I can sense a tint of malice coming from her. She is the daughter of two Satan's, so of course she is powerful, almost as much as Nemesis in that regard. Yet, she can control her aura just fine. It's almost frightening. But I'm not here to measure powers, just visit my sister. And she is being nice, so I have to be polite too. "Your honourable father already came to visit lady Nemesis, but since she is still unconscious, he opted to instead wait for her awakening and frolic around the hospital. He has been causing quite a ruckus since, If I may speak..."
"What do you mean?" I asked, confused. Irene let out a bead of sweat run down her face, but didn't answer. Didn't have to, actually, since I heard some laughs echoing through the corridors and coming from one of the rooms, I saw my dear father the Lucifer, Cohen... Propelling himself backwards on a wheelchair with a fire extinguisher, being followed by the Beelzebub demon lord, Mary, who was almost fuming in rage!
'FOR LUCIFER'S SAKE, COHEN! NOT IN MY FUCKING HOSPITAL, YOU GODFORSAKEN COCKROACH!'
'Fuck you, I do what I want!'
...
"I'm sorry for that." I apologetically bowed to her, seeing our parents making a fool out of themselves and making it miserable for everyone else as everybody from my group laughs a bit awkwardly. Irene just shrugs to herself, giving us small cards as hospital visitors.
"Don't be, honestly. As long as they reign supreme as demon lords, we can't help ourselves but to wonder in their shenanigans. It's a little funny too." She laughs, looking at me with those big golden eyes reflecting my form as bright as the sun. There is a pause, and I have a feeling she wants to talk about something, tilting her head to a side to take a peek at my bandaged right arm. "And how's your arm, Berolina Gremory? Feeling better as for now? Mother said this is an improved prototype so while it might take some time to get used to it, soon enough you'll be able to perform all sorts of movements and even feel through it."
"Oh, right." I nodded, lifting said prosthetic to show her a groping movement and some snaps from my wrist. I feel a lot better now and it doesn't weight as much as it did back then since I started taking control over it, so I'm good to go. "I can't still feel anything from it, but the movements are really good, and I can feel temperatures from it, but nothing else...I mean, not that this is bad! Of course, not! Between this and having no arm, this is a blessing! Hahahah...!"
"Ufufufu... I see." Irene let out a small chuckle, and everyone but me and Aria-nee tenses up. I think she's doing that just to mess with my servants, and honestly, I don't like it. "Good to hear that, for both mother and myself. After all, I want you in your full power when we match up in our Rating Game some day in the future."
"..." I draw a pout with my lips. These words, Rating Game, who used to get me pumped up are now making me a bit, a lot, uneasy. Not that I would avoid them for the rest of my life, I am a high-class devil with a pretty badass peerage after all, but to think all of my trials and adventures started with a Rating Game, against my own sister to boot, I have some reasons to hang low about them for now. Irene probably notices my mood shift.
"Daughters of strong parents, clashing romantically in the battlefield, doesn't that make your heart skip a beat? I dream of the day we stand face-to-face." The daughter of Beelzebub winks at me, and some noises that shouldn't come from a sapient being escapes my lips. If her intention is to get on my nerves, then she's doing a marvellous job at that, no joke! However, her bombastic presentation ends there, and she sits back on her counter, flipping some pages and shifting her attention elsewhere. "Just kidding. Berolina, if you ever feel about fighting me, feel free to call me anytime for a match. Just be careful, I am... The one who aims for the title as the next Lucifer. I won't hold back, even against someone like you~."
"..."
"Ufufu~."
"I... Want to fight you too, someday, Irene." I declare with a smile, and for a split second, her entire face faltered, if just for a few seconds, like I just exploded without a second or reason. I don't know why, I know she is stronger and smarter than I am, not to mention her peerage might be just as powerful, and she has her medals regarding Rating Games and even victories under her belt, she's one year older than me, but for some reason... I feel excited just by thinking about fighting her! Not out of pride or the idea of throwing all back to her face, but to simply imagine our encounter... I feel some heat! "I want to... Fight a lot. I dunno why, but I do want to fight you... And Mudrock, and even Lord Calico one day... It feels... exciting!"
"I see." She blinks a few times, and after a third time, she snaps back to reality and back with her smile. "I look forward to it. As strong devils, it is only natural for us to desire conflict. I guess... Confrontation is indeed the way of the beings of the Underworld."
"Yep, couldn't agree more." I say, taking my way to the entrails of the Beelzebub hospital and waving at her one last time, but not before winking at her as well and sticking my tongue out. 'See you at the top, Miss Irene."
"I shall be waiting, miss Berolina." She responds. Doesn't that make you a bit excited? But no fighting today, I just want to greet my dear servant and sister, like I planned.
Still, fighting the child of two Demon Lords is but dreadful... But really, really exciting to think about it!
*TAP!*
"Watch it, Rina-chan. Your bloodlust is leaking." I snap back to reality once again with Aria-nee poking me on the side, yet grinning. I hold a hand to cover my mouth in shock, and looking around, I saw that my instincts were indeed affecting everyone around, my pieces and Nii-sama a bit on the edge regarding such. Oops.
"Oh, my bad, guys. I guess I got too excited about Irene." I sheepishly laugh, scratching the back of my head awkwardly. What is going on? I don't think I even knew I have this side. I guess... It's the Alastor genes making its way?
"She pretty. Makes sense." Tasha chirps, picking a small white lily from her bouquet and waving at me. For that, I wave a slap to her direction with a mischievous face. I'm not interested in her like that, silly! Although she is a pretty girl.
"Honestly, Rina, you have to better control your servants. This one is always out of control!" My blonde friend Raven exasperates to Tasha's crude joke, coming closer to me to avoid approaching my dearest first bishop. Once distant enough, however, she nags my side with her elbow and sharpens her eyes to me, as saying for me to pay attention. "That aside, you really looked cool back then with Ai-chan. Very few people can talk back to her like that! Just don't go crying when she gets angry!"
"Angry? She didn't seem angry at all." I say back. Rei-chan wide her eyes in surprise, leaving me a bit confused. Irene didn't seem angry or anything, she looked even quite happy to hear me challenge her. I wonder why she thought otherwise. The one to comfort me was again Aria-nee, ruffling my hair a little.
"You're strong, Rina-chan. And strong people usually get along, especially children of devil kings such as yourselves." She replies. Oh, that makes sense! Like Irene herself said, we understand each other because of our blood. Neat! Suddenly, she flicks her finger on my ear! Ouch! "Of course, we're not here to appoint a date for now, let's go see Nemesis and see if she's okay. You can talk with your soulmate later."
"Geez, aria-nee. It's not like that, you dummy~!" I whine a little as everyone laughs. I don't like girls that way! I don't like girls that way at all! Besides, I'm way prettier than her and I already have a soulmate! … I think. Hah~, I think I'm blushing now~.
This is what being in love feels like? It's not bad, but somehow, I feel a bit icky. Must be the weather, Noin-chan did say it can change one's mood...
The second to last room on the third floor, the second to last room on the third floor. The place Nemesis rests after her surgery, one of the most comfortable and modern rooms available in the Beelzebub hospital courtesy of said doctor. Doctor Mary was always nice to us even with her rivalry with our father, wonder why is that, doing favours such as this without we even asking, she does spoil us like a single aunt. Turn left, turn right, walk a few steps and we finally reach said room. Everyone is here, we prepare our gifts and stuff, and ever so gently I knock on the door once, twice. No response.
"Nemesis, we're coming in." I announce without an answer by the other side, reaching for the handle and sliding the door open, being greeted by a sudden cold gust that blinded me for a few seconds alongside the whiteness of a medical bay.
"Oh, Rina. You're here. Hello." And when I could see through the utter blankness, my first view was my sister doing a pose: her upper back on the hospital bed while her lower half and legs were up in the air, her arms on her sides to hold that position in place. She turns her face to us to then lower her legs and put herself sit on the bed, adjusting her pink pyjama to greet us.
"H-Hey, sis. You seem... Healthy." I mutter, trying my best to avoid touching the subject of us catching her in a rather compromising position. She doesn't seem to mind though, she just blinks tiredly now. She let out a serene but bored sigh. I wonder if she even noticed the place full of flowers around her.
"I have to, otherwise I'll have to stay longer in this eerie place. No matter how luxurious this room is, it's still a hospital bay." Her complains are typical, and honestly I couldn't agree more, maybe because I have... A bad time in places like this. Instinctively, I clench my right prosthetic arm. This stuff still gives me the creeps~. On another note, my sister, tilts her head and notices the group behind my back. "Huh, and I have visit as well. How is it going?"
"It's incredible how you take no mind for the fact I was worried sick about you, you dummy." Aria-nee stuck her tongue out and practically shoved her bouquet and basket onto Nemesis. However, not even a second later, she dragon lady smiles and kisses Nemesis on the lips, patting her on the back. "But then again, you're my Nemesis! I can't stay mad at you, otherwise you would be buried six feet under a looooong time ago!"
"On the other hand, I knew she would be able to put it off. That's Nemesis we're talking about." Nii-sama laughs, also offering his flowers and biscuits to my beddriven sister and kissing her cheek. Nemesis' expression softened even more as she reciprocated the gentility. "Still, I'm so glad to have you back, Nemesis. Sometimes, you're too much, you know that?"
"Huhuh. I'm so sorry for that, but this is only my duty as a Gremory." My sister laughs. Did she hit her head going to the surgery room? Or did Doctor Beelzebub drug her too much? I've never seen my sister this... Nice. But then again, being on the epicentre of a war does stuff to people. Soon, we all came closer to her and gifted her with our presents, flowers and some pies to eat, lemon pies of course, her absolute favourite. Now, her bed was flooded with gifts and petals, and while it took half of her resting place, she didn't seem to mind. "My, oh my, so many flowers. Thank you very much, everyone. Those Phenex ones are particularly the best."
"Of course they are, Lady Nemesis! The everlasting light of the Phenex can only produce equally bright flora! And for the daughter of the Lucifer, anything less is unthinkable!" Rei-chan's nose begin to grow like a tengu's for that one boast in her ego, but once that was done, she offered her basket and placed a few pies and tarts on her table. "I also brought some delicious pies and confectionaries alongside everyone else. Mother says that she wants lady Nemesis healthy and moving once again. Rondoc and Raven also wish you well."
"I see, I see. Lady Drajeena sure is nice." Nemesis comments taking a small bite out of her pie and munching on it like she's bored out of her mind. She has been always the type that doesn't like to be confined between four walls, so her foul mood is a given, even with visit. In the end, however, she sighs to herself, turns to us and bows. "In fact, I'm glad for all of you to have spared a moment to visit me in such deplorable state. I, Nemesis Gremory, am both honoured and ashamed to receive your attention and I apologize to show such myself in such miserable form. Thank you very much."
"C'mon Nemesis, don't be like that~. That's so embarrassing~." I joke, laughing a little to her little show, but I notice a few seconds later that she was dead serious, her face tightened in a pained expression and her bow goes deeper and deeper. "H-Hey, Nemesis, don't be like that! Look, we're all alive and well! And in the end those vampires know their place now! No need to be upset!"
"Still, I was the one responsible to organize the conference, and if I were a little more careful, maybe a bigger crisis would've been avoided. And for that as well, I apologize, deeply." She continues, making me feel even more guilty as tension rises between us and her. Is she blaming herself for what happened back in the conference? Why? We're all alive, that's what that matters in the end! "In the name of my Gremory name, I humbly apologize for my hubris and shortcomings and promise I won't commit the same mistakes ever again. I shall gracefully accept any form of scorn and hatred my way, and I will make up for any trauma or scars my arrogance has brought upon you all. This is the least I can do."
"H-Hey, sis! C'mon, don't be like that, what are you even talking about!" I started to wave my hands in the air futilely trying to dismiss the heavy aura that was contaminating the whole place, my peerage and Rei-chan also doing their best to cheer her up from her doom and gloom. It's not working~! C'mon, don't say those things, Nemesis! That's so depressing! "See, everyone is with me, you did nothing wrong! Cheer us, sis!"
"I... I just want to make sure I am clear in my goals from now on." She mutters, lifting her head to take a deep, tired sigh, hugging a bouquet of flowers. "Such disgrace for someone like me... My arrogance truly knows no bounds, and everyone else paid for it. I am deeply sorry."
"C'mon, sis..."
*BITE!*
"Hm~?"
"There is nothing wrong to search for self-improvement or constructive criticism, but you shouldn't dismiss people saying that you did nothing wrong, Nemesis." Nero-niisama came to our rescue, shutting his king up with a piece of tart and taking a place beside her on the bed. Nemesis now dumbly munches on said tart and turns her head to him. "You did your best for what you had, trusted your better judgement and was able to arise victorious from such messy encounter; no causalities, no lasting injuries or broken ties with the vampire empire. It was a success in all ways, and while you might face it as a failure somehow, the fact that others see it as otherwise isn't enough proof that was at least a successful event?"
"Hm-hmh..." My sister continues to munch on bread until she spits it out on her hand, pouting a little for nii-sama. "I am a King and the headmistress of Kuoh academy, the next heiress of the Gremory clan as well. I should also strive for the best, otherwise I can't call myself any of those, let alone the descendant of the Demon Lord of the Grandmaster Devil."
"Hah~, hah~. So temperamental~. Stop doing that or else I'll pull a prank on you, dear Nemesis~!" Aria-nee singsonged, coming closer to my sister to hug her head into her bosom and play with her head childishly. Ruffling her head, the blondie toys a little with my older sis. "There~, there~. Why so serious, dear Nemis? Like Nero said, if everything's okay, then everything's okay. Don't wrap your head too much about it. You did a good job, and everyone is happy for you, so stop being such a joykiller. I bet even Nero gets tired sick of your constant whining~!"
"You know that I don't, Aria."
"Hm~." And now I see my sister finally loose her stance, taking a tired yet soft hum to herself and pull her two favorite servants closer in an embrace. Huh, when you think about it, she and Ichijou have so much in common... Which means I know now how to deal with little tamtrums: lots and lots of spoiling! "Thank you very much, Aria, Nero. I love you both."
"Heheh~. Me too, Nemis. Me too."
"Likewise."
"And... Thank you all as well." And now she turns for our little group, smiling softly at us. Ah, my sister's smile, it has been a while. "For the flowers, gifts and presence, I am immensily grateful for them all. I truly have... Such wonderful, precious acquaintances and servants. What else can I feel but blessed?"
"Haaaah~. Nemesis-san is complimenting us~! I don't know how to feel about this~."
"So this is the charm of the Gremory. Such dangerous weapons..."
"Don't we all have pretty lilies for everyone today. Heheh."
"You're welcome, sis. After all, we're family, right?" I smile back. There was a pause, and then she nods.
"Yes. We're family, Berolina."
And just like that, everything was fine for now. All was well.
"Well, we still gotta visit our ninja on another room, and I guess nobody here wants to be a third(fourth?) wheel around, so we're leaving for now. Take care, Nemesis." I wave her one last goodbye and as always she reciprocated, against being embraced by her two pieces as they shared again spoiling and pie. It must be nice, can't wait for my own date with tarts and tea~. Oh, am I thinking like mother? How strange. As we exited the room, I hear some steps coming from the corridor, and turning my attention there, I saw a figure walking away from the room. Wait, I know that maid attire! "Hey, Lucrezia! Did you come to visit Nemesis too? Come here! I bet she'll be happy to...!"
But before I could even finish my sentence, the maid simply dashed away, no words or response, she ran away from sight with nothing else. I lowered my head a bit. Oh no, did I mistake her from another maid on duty here? But I think I would've known that azure hair of hers, and dignified stance. How come?
"Huh... That's weird. Maybe it's another maid visiting her master or something. Man, what a gaffe, I'm glad nobody saw that one." I laughed sheepishly for my own mistake. A gremory forgetting how her own servant looks like, how disgraceful, for both me and Lucrezia. However, coming next to me, Tasha blinked a few times and turned to my direction with a dead serious expression.
"No, you right. That maid, Lucrezia." The witch spoke, and for that my nervousness turned into confusion. Wait, what? Was that really Lucrezia? And she really ignored me? But why? Tasha poked me a few times to get my attention. "She was here. Looking through the window. Spying on us. Didn't even say hello."
"Huuuh~? How strange." I Wonder to myself. Spying on us without saying 'hello', and dashing away even after I called for her. This is not your usual Lucrezia, the super headmaid. Maybe she's just tired and wanted to go home, that's the most logical explanation for that. Oh well, what can I do about it? I shrug to myself. "Well, she's probably too busy or found herself a new duty to do. We can talk to her later. Now, let's see how Annie is doing!"
All my remaining pieces cheered while Rei-chan rolled her eyes, not even hiding her discontent. Well, she is still my Evil Piece and I shall accept her as such, plus, after I heard that Ichijou wrecked her face even more, she needs some nutrients and a good mood for her next surgery. I should remember to not comment on her face though, if what Whis said is true and she almost died being punched by the red Dragon...
And off we go. Wonder what Lucrezia was doing right now, though...
"..."
"..."
…
"Is there something bothering you, Hong Long? You don't seem the type that would meditate with your usually display of passion? Not that I dislike your company."
"I just... Needed some time to think. Ryuubi-sensei was already meditating, so I thought I could sit down and clean my head a little too. I feel... More at ease when you're around."
"I see, I see. Such a delightful presence."
"Yeah."
And I take another deep breath. We're now at the courtyard of the Gremory manor, Ryuubi-sensei and I sitting on a zazen position as we let ourselves meditate and calm down, at least me for now. So many things happened since morning, I just want a moment to settle down and rethink all that has transpired ever since I met the maid known as Noin Abraxas.
Two maids down, a few more to go, and for that I got two rings of commitment from Haen-san and Vivanie-san, whatever those mean. I think I'm doing pretty great, and even if Noin-san doesn't accept me as one of her for now, I only need to keep fighting until she does, hoping that I won't have to kick her frilly saggy ass in the process although it would be cool otherwise. She doesn't accept me, and for a good reason for that, the ghost of my past actions haunting me even now... But like Faust-san said, she's the exception.
I am... Still a servant of the Gremory house, I'm still Berolina's dearest Queen, and even if she doesn't accept me as such, others will. Aunt Alice, Nero-san, Nemesis-san, Aria-nee, Faust-san; they all cherish me as one of them own, and for that, I'm so grateful... And that's why I'm taking those trials anyway. To prove Noin-san and myself that I can and will reciprocate those feeling in full.
"Oof~. Zazen is not for me, my legs are getting kinda sleepy, too." I said, dismissing my crossed legs to spread them out and get rid of the sleepiness now over them. I hear sensei laugh besides me, and a sheepish smile is drawn on my lips. I'm not over there yet, I lack a lot of discipline to even meditate, but maybe she's right, I am not the type that finds peace in zen. A few minutes massaging my itchy legs and then I turn to my rook. "Hey sensei, I know this might sound weird, but, uh, do you think I'm fit to be a servant of Gremory?"
"Hm~? Why is that, Hong Long? After all this time, you still have doubts?" She asks me back, an open eye peeking at my direction and not breaking her zen pose. I shrug, and her reaction was again a small chuckle. "I have no place to judge when I'm just another piece in Milady Berolina's peerage, therefore her decisions and thoughts outweighs mine. If she believes in you, then so do I."
"Hm~, okay, I guess." I said, laying my back on the ground so I could stretch my legs even more. Not the answer I was expecting, but then again, it's still a good one. We are a group, after all, so we must trust each other. But still. "Well, I trust Ryuubi-sensei, like a lot, and she is the most suitable to be a servant, even a King someday. As a fellow servant, a friend or disciple, I wholeheartedly would die for you."
"I see. I'm glad to hear that." She chuckles again. "Really, Hong Long, is there something bothering you? You can believe in me when I say I shall help in any endeavour you might be having, or lend a helping lap for you to rest."
"..." I turn to her, bending my legs a few times and pillowing the back of my head with my hands. "It's really nothing, sensei. I'm just wondering to myself, just that. I have been meeting so many people with so many different opinions about me, I just needed someone to ground me a little and say I'm worth something. I don't think... I'm strong enough to have that much confidence about myself. Ah, sorry if you had to hear me ranting about stuff."
"I do not mind. It's healthy to let out your doubts and stress once in a while, instead of letting them consume your mind." She reassures me with a peek from a side, still not breaking her pose. "Hong Long is such a doubtful dragon, even though he lots of strengths, he doubts his own worth and tries to make up to them. You should cherish the positive you have more on the other hand, red dragon, otherwise you're insulting those who believe in you."
"You're right." I respond. "Thanks for it, Ryuubi-sensei. It's just so hard to take compliments nowadays, I get lost easily in them. I promise I'll try to change that as well."
"It's not a bad habit, you see. It's oddly adorable." She smiles, turning now to me. I was so overwhelmed by the sudden warmth, I turned my head away, embarrassed. That on caught me by surprise, and for that I paid the price. She knows how to strike a nerve as well, empress of the three kingdoms. "That is another thing you should cherish. That oddly endearing side of yours, that is not malicious or wrathful, but sensitive and understandable, it's what I think makes you you, red dragon. Indeed, that side of yours... I love it very much."
"..."
…
"Excuse me, what?" I slowly shifted my attention back to her, my body a bit shaken by her sudden words, which I think I didn't hear it correctly. Wait, what did she say? "Ryuubi-sensei, could you repeat that?"
"Hm~? Didn't you hear it? Very well, I shall repeat it." She coughs a bit, and smiles to me. "I love that side of yours, red dragon. It's quite endearing."
"..."
"..."
…
Siiiiiiiiigh~. I really, really envy her strength, both physical and mental, to say something like that... She didn't even blink to say something like that, what a woman. She is really worth all the praises she receives. I let out a defeated moan, confusing her even more, as I mask my own face with my hands...
"Not fair~. Ryuubi-sensei is way too strong~. That's just not fair~." I whine and whine in frustration, feeling like crying and almost comically doing so. Master doesn't understand what was going on, so she only chuckles to herself, again probably finding my display of misery quite hysterical. I continue to whine and cry for a few seconds, and when I finally calm down, I fall down to earth and gasp for some air, finally on my right mind. "I will become just as strong one day, too. I want to be just as strong as you, sensei."
"I know you will, Hong Long, and grow even stronger than yours truly. I believe in you." She concludes, returning to meditate and hum softly as I'm left on the floor to think about myself. She's strong, very strong, and I want to be just as strong, not only in body, but mind and soul too. "But for now, if youre feeling troubled, just relax your troubles away. You might not gain much, but you'll lose a lot as well."
"Yeah." I sigh. I guess I understand senpai a bit more now...
*POMF~!*
*POMF~!*
"Ugh~!"
"Such comfortable cushion. I guess dragons indeed make the best materials, y'know."
"Ufuu~. Clearly, whatever put this pillow here must be more careful next time."
"Hmmph~. Haen-san! Vivanie-san!" And out of nowhere, two shadows came from the skies to land right on top of me, in such a way that it was almost impossible for me to get up since they were right on the centre of my body! The brunette maid, Vivanie-san, was sitting perpendicular to me on my stomach, while the honey blond maid Haen-san was sitting on my chest, coming closer to poke my nose.
"Hewwo, Sekiryuu. We're here to inform you dearest that Master Noin already decided on your next trial and wanted us to tell you!" The blond maid shouts, showing her toothy fanged smile at me. I was about to say anything for that, but then she shoves something inside my mouth to shut me up. I munch on It a few times. It's cherry pie this time. "In the meantime, munch on this. Dragons need a lot of energy, y'know!"
"Hmm~...Muh-hm-mh...!" I respond dumbly, divided between answering and munching on the sweet treat in my mouth. Delish~. I flinch when I feel something poking my side, and from the corner of my eyes, I see Vivanie-san stabbing me with her long, gloved fingers.
"Indeed, indeed. You lack so much meat in your body, and your scent is quite feminine, yet I can say for sure you're quite masculine. I ask how." She continues to poke and fiddle with me, her hard, incessant assault tickling and bothering me to no end. When I finished my treat, I let out a warning groan, making her pink eyes turn to me and stop. "Ufuu~. Brute. As expected from a dragon, after all."
"Hey! That was mean, Vivanie! Y'know!"
"I know, hence why I said it. Ufuu~."
"Friends of yours? Unsurprising." I hear master call for my attention, and she was really looking at me with confused yet amused eyes. I let out a groan to make the maids know I wasn't going to do anything else, and accordingly they removed themselves from me.
"You have no idea." I now stand sit on the courtyard, dusting my clothes a little and shaking off the dazzling feeling of two cute maids and their soft butts on me. Once out of my jazz, I turned to them. "By the way, thanks for the treat from earlier, Haen-san. They were delicious..."
"Of course they were! I was the one who prepared them, after all! To serve the best dishes is my pride as a Gremory servant, y'know!" Haen-san smiles, letting an easy chuckle escape her sharp fangs. Like Yagura said, if there's anything bigger than a dragon's power, is their ego. Well, at least she's happy. I stand up to turn to the other one.
"How about you, Vivanie-san? Are you okay now? Sorry for that little slip from early. I should've known better." I clapped my hands together in an apologizing gesture. The succubus maid however waved her hand away, and instead bowed herself.
"Ufuu~. Aside from my typical low blood pressure, there is nothing you should be worried about, Ichijou-sama. But I do appreciate your concern." Vivanie-san blinked pensively, coming closer to me, so close I realize that she smells quite nice. Once close enough, her pink eyes scam me from bottom to top, and once our eyes meet, she pulls her mask down to the lower half of her face. I notice she has a beauty mark near her lips. "Do you desire a kiss from me for being such a nice person? Of course, I won't allow you to have such luxury."
"Then why offer it in the first place..." A murmur came from my inside mouth, Vivanie-san lowering her mask but giving me a wink instead. Shit, even knowing she's a succubus, falling for flirting is so easy. I shake my head to get rid of those salacious mindful, and turned my attention to the task in hand. "Anyway, you girls are here to guide me to the next trial, yes? Let's go then. Noin-san will probably scold me if I'm late..."
Although knowing her, she'll scold and belittle me no matter what I do...
"Are you going to do some fun activities with those lovely ladies? Mind if I join?" And before we could leave, Ryuubi-sensei jumped from her zazen position and landed right next to us, putting some weight on the palm of her feet probably to get rid of the numbness on them. Lovely ladies? You can say that. Fun activities? Err, almost.
"Sure! The more, the marrier as they say, y'know!" Haen-san was the first to manifest herself, opening her arms in a welcoming way and asserting her openess to my rook. Vivanie-san didn't faulter much behind, a hand on her temple yet with an assuring nod.
"I guess we can allow one more individual to participate in the trials. Ufuu~, master always says that team work is also essential for a Gremory servant, anyway." Sighs the succubus maid. Ryuubi-sensei beams in excitement, and I facepalm, knowing exactly where and how this is going to get down. But like always, there is no way for me to stop it, and while I don't want to drag her into this whole mess, she might become essential in defeating this new maid. Oh boy. "Well, shall we go? Master Noin likes punctuality."
"Whatever..." I followed now the two maids into another corridor in the Gremory manor, my pink-haired master by my side as excited as always, not knowing what shenanigans might sprout from this entire ordeal. I know she'll forgive me for doing that, but doesn't mean I won't feel bad anyway.
Left, right, step by step, I follow quietly the two cute maids who are probably just one or two years older than I am, into the unseen conflict my arrogant ass dragged me into. No regrets at all about these, though. Also, unlike Noin-san, those two, between this close, seem to not mind me. I wonder if they dislike me like their master do...
"So, uh, I never asked this before, but what kind of people Noin-san is?" my words came more like whispers to them, and without stopping, the turned to me, Haen-san tilting her head to look at me while Vivanie-san stared from the corner of her eyes. "I mean, I didn't have the best impression regarding Noin-san, but I think it's because its just me (and her), so tell me, what kind of person is Noin-san, usually?"
"Master is, well, she's really something, y'know!" The dragon maid smiles, and while her words didn't answer my question in the slightest, I think I wait a little more to get some. "She's the oldest living maid serving the Gremory, and she taught us everything we know, y'know! She's strong, and fast, and intelligent, and cult, and very talented. She's sometimes scary, like almost sometimes, but she can be nice when she wants to! She's, like, the super maid, y'know!"
"Uh-huh." I nod.
"Master Noin is the epitome of the family we serve, Ichijou-sama." Now it was time for the succubus maid to speak. "Her behaviour the reflection of the Gremory clan, and thus its most endearing attribute. She didn't mind our background, or specie, or state. We wanted someone to serve either indefinitely or temporarily, and she and the family accepted us wholeheartedly. It is only natural for us to have a high opinion on her as our master, leader and mother. She taught Haen how to use her strength and skills in a safe and productive way and and I've learnt how to better control my urges and nature, something that others would've taken advantage of otherwise. Even if we have divergent opinions and visions, we would still think highly of her, no questions asked. She is... Both strong and beautiful."
"I see, I see." Was my only response back. Noi-san really adored and loved among her peers, and even Aunt Alice and Faust-san somewhat think highly of her. If Lucrezia-san is anything like her, then I have some sorts of idea of how talented she is. Brr~, it's almost frightening. "What about me? What do you girls think of me?"
"Hm? Ah! Sekiryuu has its charms, and while he can be quite feminine, he's very manly, too! I feel like biting you until you cry, y'know. Weak males are hard to come by, so I think we can play a little if you feel like it, y'know."
"Ufuu~, you're the type of man my mother would love, so easy to play around and smells like a virgin. I guess we can talk and have some treats with each other, and if you like, I can sit on you again."
"As a fellow servant, I mean as a fellow servant!" I corrected myself, but the damage was already done, as they both stopped on their tracks and looked at each other, without any qualms in not facing me while doing so.
"Oh... Well, I think Sekiryuu is quite nice too, I guess..."
"Y-Yes, indeed. Defeating two Gremory maids, that's... Quite an accomplishment, yes."
"..."
"..."
"Oi..."
"Oh Lord, better be going before master gets angry, y'know! Even when calm, she can be very scary! Right, Vivanie?!"
"Indeed, indeed, Haen! We're going ahead, Ichijou-sama! Ufuu~, please don't make dear master wait!"
"Oi...!" And they escaped from my sight, running away deeper into the manor not even looking at me! Seriously, what the hell is wrong with those girls?! I feel like crying already. Haaaah~, maybe I should stop coming to the Underworld altogether, this is getting too much for my brain.
"Hohohoh~. The charming Hong Long claims again more maidens into his grasps." Ryuubi-sensei lightly taps my shoulder to find a way to comfort me, but honestly, after that one, I don't care if she accidentally crushes me under her hands. I wonder if senpai ever felt that way back in the day.
That aside, after a few seconds of walking with us catching up with the duo of hormonal maids, we stopped in front of a door larger than the others, coloured a deep scarlet and with golden knobs on each side, similar to a gate. They said nothing, only stopped on each side of the said portal and offered me to enter. My rook was still clueless about everything else, but with too much ado, I simply nodded at her, mutely indicating to trust me, and pushed the door to face my destiny, covered in the darkest shadows and lights.
'ALRIGHT, EVERYONE~! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AND DEVILS OF ALL AGES, ARE YOU READY TO RUUUUUMBLEEEEEE~…?!'
"Yay~."
"What?" And what greeted me by the other side wasn't as epic as I was expecting: Entering the room, I was instead taken to a darklighted, flashy and loud dancing floor not unlike a club you see in Roppongi, with led lights everywhere and the squarish tiles on the floor changing colour for every musical beat around. On one corner, there was a podium in which a masked young lady was scratching several floating light turntables while tuning on her headphones, and in the dancefloor, a single figure shaking and moving in accord with the music. It was Noin-san, of all people! "Errr, Noin-san...?"
"Hello again, Ichijou-sama. You're earlier than I expected. Perhaps a goodwill come your way to display such noble quality. Oh well, wait a minute." And said maid just turned her head to face me while continuing to dance with some killer moves and no expression at all in her pretty face. The stone-faced servant just keeps acting like a dancing queen and whispering fake cheers to the sound of music, and I honestly think I'm done with this whole ordeal. "Did you know, Ichijou-sama? Besides facial expressions, several cultures in the world and beyond have dancing as a recurrent phenomenon. Either as a celebration, a rite of passage, a form of punishment, swinging your body at the sound of music has always been a staple of sapient beings. Isn't this a marvellous idea? We rely nowadays on speech, text, signals and charades, yet the form of dance is still imprinted in not only our knowledge, but instincts as well."
"No, I didn't know that." I answered, Noin-san finishing her little display of hip action as she ends it with a vogue pose. The music stops, the flashing lights grow consistent, and now she turns to me, still holding her hands around her face.
"Well, at least you've become wiser after that, haven't you?" Her tone is stoic as ever, yet with such idiocrasy between her stance and words couldn't let me take this seriously. Anyway, she looks at me with bored eyes, recovers her stance to walk away from the dancefloor, putting herself right next to me and signing for me to look at the podium by the other side of the room. "As for the reason as to why I called you here, it lies by the other side."
"Huh...?"
'MASTER NOIN, MAY I ASK WHOM THIS BOY SUPPOSE TO BE?' By the other side came a booming feminine voice in autotune for some reason, and said podium lowered a bit to show the one standing on it, the masked maid with dark hair with light blue highlights, a single piercing on her left ear and wearing a crimson Japanese maid outfit, although her haori was wrapped like a cape on her shoulders. She was also very pale from what I could see, since her demonic-looking mask was blocking my view.
"Indeed I can, dear Larken: Meet this afternoon's opponent, Ichijou Tsukino, the sekiryuutei." The older maid waves a hand at me to properly present me, and I bow to the younger one by the other side. "Ichijou-sama, the one before you is the entertainer of the Gremory house, Larken Cielo. She's a musician, DJ, dancer and overall talented devil, and now, she's your dear opponent Good luck, you will need it."
"Uh-huh, as always." I sneer at her, and with that, she walks away besides the other maids and sensei. Focus, I need to focus. Well, let's start with presentations, being polite is always the way. "Good afternoon, Larken-san. My name is Tsukino Ichijou, and I'm the red dragon."
'HMMM~. AS EXPECTED, YOU ARE... UNDOUBTLY BELOW ME, RED DRAGON~!' Those were her words of response. Wait, what? She scratches her floating disks a few times, and my gut started to tingle. I jumped back from my starting point only to have it crushed by a planet-shaped sphere that came out of nowhere! I turn my attention back to her, and she laughs. 'HOHOHOHOHOH~! WHO GAVE YOU THE PERMISSION TO CALL MY SAINTLY NAME IN VAIN, I WONDER?! I, LARKEN CIELO, SHALL PUT YOU IN YOUR PLACE AND SHOW YOU THE TRUE MEANING OF POWER!'
"You..." I groan, cleaning up my sweaty forehead for that attack alone. A surprise attack, how unladylike, wonder if Noin-san has anything to say about that. "So, Noin-san, what are the conditions for this one? Same as always? Retrieve the commitment ring or surrender?"
"Same as always, yes. But I must add, there is a second condition as well." The older maid lifts a finger and then another to sign her conditions. So it's not unlike the other trials, I just need to snap that earring from her and do whatever fancies this old hag. Okay, shot, I'm ready for anything at this point. "The following condition is: you have to make Larken laugh. And by that, I say please refrain from making a fool out of yourself, that won't count."
"Not even trying to hide your contempt now, are you?"
*VOOOSH!*
"Yikes...!" And again, I dodged an unidentified flying object that looked like a light translucid swordfish! Now what?! I faced that blasted dj back, and like before, she was scratching her floating disks on her turntables while tuning her headphones. I bet she's enjoying this as it looks!
'MAKE ME LAUGH?! WHAT AN OUTRAGEOUS CONDITION! NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU TRY, THIS LARKEN WILL NEITHER CHUCKLE OR BE CAUGHT BY YOUR FRIVOLOUS ATTEMPTS! TRY AS YOU MIGHT, RED DRAGON, YOUR DEFEAT WAS DECIDED THE MOMENT YOU ENTERED THIS PLACE!' Her echoing voiced boomed once again, her disks going back and forth as light showered the place once again, and the tilts under my feet would flash and change colours. An entertainer, she says? Neat, although that attitude of her is really pissing me off a little. 'BUT FINE, THIS LARKEN SHALL HUMOUR YOUR BASELESS ATTEMPTS AND STRUGGLES, AND MAKE YOU DANCE ON THE PALM OF HER SICK BEATS! TO ENTERTAIN AND BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY WITH MY SPECTACLE, THIS IS MY PRIDE! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TODAY, SIMPLETON?!'
"Very well. On your marks." And Noin-san claps her hands, indicating the start of the trial. "In the name of Gremory... Begin!"
*CLAP!*
*UNZ UNZ UNZ UNZ UNZ...!*
'TAKE THIS, YO!' And she went for the kill, using her arms to scratch her disks back and forth! From the rhythms and rifts they caused, I saw small cloudy balls emanate from them, only to take shape of fishes and whales and charge at me! Wait, what?! I jumped back and dodged them on time, but one silly mistake and one fish drifted right next to me, ripping a few scraps of my shirt! Whoa, they're not illusions at all! 'NOT BAD...'
"What the hell...?" I pass a hand on my ruined clothes, and it was no illusion, that mercurial sardine did rip my clothes!
"Yoohoo~, time out. Let me fix that rip of yours, Ichijou-sama." And to my surprise, coming to the dancefloor, Vivanie-san help me in place as her slender, talented fingers began to wrap and stitch that little rude rip on my shirt. Like before, she did it so well it was almost impossible to see the stitches unless you pay close attention. She tapped me on the shoulder a few times. "Ufuu~, a little heads up, Ichijou-sama: Larken's turntables are actually magical weapons that produce a polymorphous substance not unlike mercury, and she can shape it as much as she wants with it. This trial will become a lot easier if you deal with them first."
"Huh, noted." I nod back. So, this trial's gimmick is not a different species or a one-shot kill, but instead a literally mercurial weapon and techniques. I thought changing the vibes and tones of a setting was discouraged so that players wouldn't get intimidated or bored by it. The succubus maid now walks away from the place and next to her master, and as for me, I turn to Larken-san. I have an idea, but I wish that I had a fan. "Hey, Larken-san, have you heard about the story of Toki-udon?"
*VOOOSH!*
*PAFT!*
"Sensei...!"
"Larken-dono, is very rude to interrupt someone else's performance!" I saw another planet-shaped mercury ball coming for blood, but in the nick of time, a pink flash cut through the dancefloor and smashed it to pieces! Ryuubi-sensei was the one who came to my rescue, that assaulting planet turning into mush and then disappearing. Master looked a bit confused at her fist. "Oh, interesting. The moment I touched your forms, it dissipated not unlike a soap bubble. It weights significantly less than expected as well."
'BUT OF COURSE! AS AN ENTERTAINER, I, LARKEN, SHALL NEVER TRY TO HARM THOSE WHO PRAISE AND DANCE TO MY SONGS!' Larken-san scratches again, and her floating mercurial clouds start to take shape yet again. First, they were amorphous blobs flying around, but then took the shape of silver fishes in large schools, then of beautiful dancing women, then stars and planets. There was no end to their forms, they would change every time! 'HOWEVER, UNDER ORDERS, I WILL OPEN AN EXCEPTION FOR YOU, BOY! WHICH MEANS THIS LARKEN WILL HARM YOU LIKE A LOT! REJOY, BECAUSE THIS LARKEN DOESN'T OPEN SUCH EXCEPTIONS SO SPARINGLY!'
"Well, don't I feel special?" My face contorts with that new information, and in another second, Sensei and I dodged another clashing whale to our direction! It was created, hurled itself against us, and then splashed itself out of existence in an explosion of silver liquid!
*TAP! TAP! TAP!*
"You can do it, sekiryuu! Go forth and kick Larken's ass, y'know!"
*TAP! TAP! TAP!*
"Ufuu~, I won't forgive you if you lose. Never surrender, never back down."
"Aren't you girls having fun?" I turn to the duo of the defeated maids who were now dancing to the rhythm of the music, not a single care in the world while I dodge and narrowly escape being stabbed or crushed by imaginary animals and planets! One particular pufferfish exploded right next to me and threw me off as I jumped backwards and rolled around. Owowowow~, I never liked those, anyway! "Ah! I don't even like seafood that much, anyway!"
'I DO NOT CARE, BOY! BUT IF YOU LIKE, MAYBE I SHOULD CHANGE SOME TUNES... NEP-TUNES, THAT IS!' And her hands fly across her flying disks, and from above, a massive planet-shaped sphere forms and descends upon us! 'IT'S A PUN, BY THE WAY!'
"Yeah! Yeah! I know!"
"Heads up, Hong Long!" Sensei reacts faster than me, and with a swift kick, she slashes that mercurial planet into two, in a cut as clean as possible! Even Larken-san gasps in surprise, and honestly, I couldn't expect less from the heiress of the three kingdoms! However, in another scratch, the two parts of the divided planet started to blur themselves until they instead took the shape of two dolphins, which swam at me in high speed! "Oh no!"
"Crap!" I cross my arms in front of my body to defend myself, and braced the impact of the two silver animals at me, hitting me like a car in a splash of bright grey and tossing me backwards! They returned into a watery state after the impact, but the damage was already done, my body all sored and kneeled on the changing dancefloor, sensei landing and running to my aid. I lift myself up instead and stretched a bit. "Shit... Taking the ring and making her laugh... What kind of conditions are those...?"
"Hong Long, are you harmed?" Sensei came to aid me, looking at my body and tapping me a few times to see any further damage. I'm a bit sore, but not to the point that it'll stop me.
"Hey, Ryuubi-sensei, could you help me on this one?" I said, and she hums a curious one. Attacking or getting close to Larken-san might be a problem, so for now, maybe I should instead focus on the other part of this trial. Master blinks a few times, but then nods, a smile on her pretty face.
"Of course, Hong Long. If you have a plan, lead the way." She laughs, turning her attention to the flying DJ and cracking her knuckles, pretty awesome in her own way. Noin-san is staring, she probably thinks I'll instead rely on my rook to do the dirty work, but knowing myself and sensei, I wouldn't allow that even if I wanted to. Pride is calling louder this time, and Larken-san for all this shit wouldn't kill me... I hope.
"Thanks." I nod at her, and we stood next to each other against the dj devil maid with physical dubstep, unfortunately not the weirdest thing that I've ever faced so far. Her hands slip on the turntables, and against that, I stomp on the ground, hard this time. I draw some attention, but the rhythm continues. "Hey Larken-san, have you ever heard of the Toki-udon tale?"
'WHAT IN THE WORLD IS A TOKI-UDON, BOY?! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?! THIS LARKEN HAS NEVER HEARD OF THIS TALE BEFORE!' Her bombastic voice doesn't seem to stop, but I see now that this is a great opportunity to start. With another stop, I clap my hands, and let the show begin!
"Have you not? Well then, allow me to introduce you to it, and into the world of Rakugo(落語)!" I clap my hands and stomp my feet in synch, and sensei does the same next to me. Out of nowhere, a light shine right above us, and from nowhere, cherry blossom petals fall. "Let me tell you the passage of Toki-udon/A funny little story of not long gone~."
'BORING~! CRUSHING TIME, YO!' And then she blasts another school of silver fishes at us. I snap my eyes sharp, and without losing a beat, danced against them with sensei moving accordingly. I turn, swirl around and STOMP!, producing another echoing dry sound. The fishes tried to attack me once again, but with a barrage of punches, the pink haired rook got rid of all of them in a heartbeat!
"Eating a shop, now time to pay/Not enough cash, so gotta con it someway~!"
"Hey!" Sense clapped her hands to move it with the song, I continued with the Rakugo and with the tale of the man who tried to scan an udon shop. To think enrolling in poetry classes would come in handy in a time like this!
'NOT YET, BOY! MY MUSIC SHALL OPEN A NEW PATH!' And this time she mashed all the floating turntables, and from there, they broke like glass, only to float in mid-air and then morph into something new! This time, it became a massive translucid boombox, and with one turn on its buttons, its loudspeakers shoot two shark-shaped missiles at us! Master and I jumped away, almost avoiding the aquatic attack! Focus, I need to focus! "TAKE THIS, YO! SOUNDBLASTER ULTIMATE!"
"Tried tricking from a story into the mix/Counting – one, two, three, four, five, six...!" I continued to singsong, landing on the floor and stomping and clapping my hands again, now doing a pose as the lights landed on me yet again! A small pause, and the whistle of a flute for drama. I see, so this place changes to fit the mood, this is indeed a nice club! "Then I ask: is the time nine or ten?"
*RAP RAP RAP!*
*BAM!*
"HONG LONG...!" Shock! I couldn't even finish my little tale, from nowhere, from the ground, a massive and thick octopus tentacle sprouted, and slapped me away with its viscoelastic power, shoting me backwards and forcing me to kiss the floor, making me gasp a little. Another translucid tentacle emerged as Larken-san tuned the buttons of her boombox, but sensei was faster and instead kicked the leg away!
"THIS IS THE END FOR YOU! BEGIN SPECIAL MOVE: THE GREAT FLOOD!" Larken-san said bombastically despite the fact her autotune has dropped away.
She turned and tuned the buttons on her newly made weapon, and from instead of animals or planets, the cloudy mercury coming from the loudspeakers circled around her until they fell and splashed on her! Now she was covered completely in that amorphous silver goo, that started now to levitate and morph, going from erratic to smooth and shiny like an egg, and once it was a perfect sphere, it cracked itself open, revealing Larken-san's new form: Now instead of a eastern maid outfit, she wore a silver long dress, her skirt practically levitating her from the ground and with frills that resembled waves and sea foam in both her sleeves and skirt. Her mask now had a microphone, and on her shoulders, two silvery koi-shaped speakers.
"NOW, DROWN INTO THE MUSICAL MARVEL THAT IS THE CREATION OF LARKEN CIELO!" She announced. Ryuubi-sensei ran for her direction and jumped for a powerbomb, but the maid was faster, and instead swam to the center of the ceiling, in which she sprouted her skirt all over it and painted the upper wall in grey! From the silver sea, octopus tendrils and anemones sprouted, all pointing at us! Ryuubi-sensei adopted a fighting stance, but for that, the maid simply scoffed. "THIS IS THE END! ANY LAST WORDS, BOY?!"
"..."
"NO?! THEN SAVOUR THIS DEFEAT...!"
"His response? Sorry dear, but cashless is the new trend!" I finish the rakugo, a final clap to indicate the end of the tale, and with my remaining forces, made a -sensei snapped from her stance, and posed next to me! All lights died down, and a single spotlight came down to us!
And the rest is... Silence.
…
"..."
"..."
"Pfffft~…!"
"Ah!"
"Hahahah... Hahahahahah! HAHAHAHAHAHAH...!" And from her speakers, first I heard a small raspberry, and then laughter. She's laughing! I did it!
"Yeah, get some!" I declare, victorious! This was the condition, right? Make her laugh, although this rakugo was all that special, typical old people's laughing show. Maybe Larken-san has a more erudite sense of humour? Who knows? Who cares? I win the side mission for this game, and now I need to snip myself another ring... Uh? Something dripped on my face? I touch my affected area and see what was it: not water, but a silver liquid. I feel more cold drips onto me, and looked up. "Wait, what...?"
"Hahahahahahah... AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH...!" And the scenario now was thus: Larken-san continued to laugh, and the louder she laughs, more and more her dress grows unstable, losing form and now returning to a liquid state! Like a grey rain, her magical wear grows thinner and weaker, and more like molten sugar, she starts to melt herself down, literally dripping herself onto us. When she stopped and snapped out of her trance, it was already too late, we were just a few meters away from each other. "Oh... Poop."
"You tell me..."
*SPLAAAAAAAAAASH...!*
And everything was embraced by the cold mercury as the DJ unleashed a silver flood onto the ground below, literally dripping herself on me and now almost drowning us into her sick beats taken shape! Waves and more waves would push us away and flood the room, until it couldn't take it anymore and instead sucked us out to the exit door, splashing us into a wall and sliding us to the floor. In the end, I was under Larken-san, barely conscious, buried into her warm bosom as she would whine and cry from above. Some things never change...
"Ah, earring, earring... Found it." My hands wandered a bit in the air since I was literally blinded by tits, but taking in consideration her form, it didn't take much for me to calculate where her head was, and then find her ear to touch a small cold ring on it. As careful as possible, I removed that little piece of jewellery, and turned my head away so I wouldn't get suffocated by breasts. I saw small shoes and hear footsteps. I see a pair of skirted legs bending over to reveal Noin-san, face stoic as ever, looking at me.
"Congratulations, Ichijou-sama. You've won this trial once again. Indeed, your tenacity has impressed me, so rejoice and bask in your victory." She spoke, but instead of a shit-eating grin I was planning, I frowned and gritted my teeth.
"You... You knew this would happen if she laughed, didn't you?" I accurse. Noin-san wides her eyes a bit, but takes a deep breath and instead draws her own shit-eating grin. "She would lose control over her weapon and almost drown us. You knew it, right?"
"Yes, I knew it." She spurts, with no remorse or regret. I groan, but let out a defeated sigh and lay my head on the floor, tired and sore.
"You... Old hag."
You gotta give it to her, though. It's not easy to make victories feel so hollow and bittersweet, not even giving me the satisfaction of seeing her defeated. She's indeed... A super-duper maid.
Haaaaah~. Nothing but a good bath after fighting against maids, especially cute ones at that. After all that mess and tears, I had to clean off that substance off my face somehow, so Noin-san offered to clean my clothes while I take a shower and have a quick dip on the hot springs. Like always, I got out revigorated, a pink towel to dry my hair and wearing a clean set of clothes. They smell so nice, too. Maybe my good mood hasn't disappeared just yet...
"Good work today, sekiryuu!" I hear a familiar voice nearby, and sitting on a bench next to the female changing section, I saw Haen-san, Larken-san and sensei, drinking bottles of flavoured milk. I wonder if Vivanie-san is absent because of... Succubus reasons. Seeing me, the maid dragon tosses me a bottle of such. "That was quite a show, y'know! Sure, it ended in a mess, but it was a fun mess, eh?"
"I guess." I say, sitting next to my rook while snapping the cap of the bottle, drinking the mango-flavoured milk up to half and then burping a cloud of smoke off my system. Phew~, refreshing. I turn to the dark-haired maid still wearing a mask, and bowed to her. "Thanks for your hard work too, Larken-san. You were a formidable opponent."
"But of course." She scoffs, crossing her legs and arms in a madam pose and laughing accordingly. She turns to me. "You weren't bad yourself, boyo. That tale of yours was the most laughable and intriguing as well. 'Rakugo', you said? Maybe I can add them to my repertoire. Of course, I shall still honour you for it, despite the fact I will definitely improve it. Hehehe..."
"Whatever." I shrug. Her voice is sweet and very soothing, even more without the autotune, but her words are harsh and coarse, and that pisses me off. An entertainer, eh? I heard DJs have that fame of being full of themselves. I take another sip from my milk.
"Hong Long possesses vast knowledge and abilities. Once again he proves he's qualified to be the Queen of someone as bright as Berolina-sama." Ryuubi-sensei laughs, taking also a sip from her milk, and suddenly some warmth embraces me, making me smile. This feeling... I can't brush off the smug attitude of that old hag, but like Rei-chan said, I should instead pay attention and care for what really matters, and being praised by sensei... Is nice, very nice.
"He's a dragon, y'know! He's pretty badass on his own right!" Haen-san smiles her fangs, giving me a thumb up.
"Since he defeated me, maybe this boy isn't such a simpleton. Be grateful, for this Larken is praising thee." The masked maid scoffs once again, but somehow, I don't feel insulted or underestimated, I know how she functions enough to know this was supposed to be a compliment. I respond with a thumbs up.
"Thanks, girls. That means a lot." I say. I pick the three rings in my possession from my pocket, and flipped them around on my hand. Three done, more to go. I feel excited, a lot! I put them back in my pocket, and then let myself rest a bit, my eyes turning to the maids now. "By the way, if you don't mind me ask, Larken-san: that mask of yours? Does it has any purpose or you're one of those DJs with a gimmicky mask?"
"Oh, this?" She points at her mask, a blank mask with some jewels and devilish scriptures written on them making it look quite demonic, and chuckles as she palms it to remove it from her face. I wide my eyes seeing her face: just like the rest of her body, it was pretty pale, and while she has very pretty and her facial structure was delicate and symmetrical, she had five scars crossing it, each running longer than the other across her skin, the one on the right side going from her eyebrow all the way to her lip, leaving a horrid gap on them while also showing a blank right eye, while the other shined a sapphire tone. She chuckles. "Don't look at me like that, I wear a mask so people wouldn't completely devote themselves to me~! I am already a genius entertainer, to show my beautiful face in public would certain and utterly make others worship both me and my talents! I bet you've already fallen for me knowing my musical talents and pretty face, yes?"
"Y-Yeah." I shift my stare elsewhere. Holy shit, her face is messed up, and a shiver runs down my spine. Calm down, calm down, Ichijou, just nod at her or else you'll hurt her, and you decidded to stop being a dick. I turn to her as she puts her mask back, and nod with a forced smile. "Y-Yeah, Larken-san... Is very pretty."
"Naturally. You're smart, boy. You would certainly get it." She laughs, and I try my best to do so too. Did she notice me cringing at her face? I hope no. Way to go, Ichijou...
"I'm pretty too, y'know!" Haen-san says, pointing at her own face.
"Yeah. You're pretty too, Haen-san." I compliment, and her face now beams with light and happiness. Ryuubi-sensei gives me a thumbs up. I know what she means by that, but I refuse to acknowledge such, it's embarrassing~. Again, I hear footsteps, and looking at the distance, I saw another maid, a genuine smile now forming in my face. "Ah! Lucrezia-san! Look, I won another trial! Isn't that great?!"
"..."
"Lucrezia-san?" But my face faults as I get no response from here. I stand up a bit to try to reach for her, but then I notice the dull shine coming from her usually orange eyes, and stop myself any further. She looks... Tired. Instead, she just walks away without even looking in my direction until she disappears behind another corridor. That was... Bizarre, perhaps she's a bit too tired. "Oh, what was that about?"
"Yo, you talk with Lucrezia?" I turn around to look at the pair of maids, whose lights were now dead and they looked a bit nervous, making me even more confused. Wait, aren't them co-workers of Lucrezia-san? How come?
"Y-Yeah, we talk a bit from time to time. She's... A friend, I guess?" I slur a little, remembering all the embarrassing yet sweet moments I had with her, that bold and melancholic, yet sweet maid. Hearing me, Haen-san and Larken-san stare at each other and then to me, even more confused than I am. "What's that all about?"
"Huuuuh~… That's... Hard to say, y'know. Sekiryuu, Lucrezia... Is not that friendly with us, y'know." Haen-san speaks, scratching her ear a little. Wait, what? She's not 'that friendly'? How does that work? She has been sweet and kind all this time, why is that, after all? "She's usually so gloomy and quiet, she's scary, y'know, like a ghost. She's only 'nice' with Nemesis-sama and Berolina-sama, plus master Noin and Alice-sama. She's very quiet otherwise, y'know."
"No, I don't." I question her. Wait, what? Is this serious? "I don't get it. She's such a nice maid too. Aren't guys being a little too mean?"
"..."
"...?"
"Yeah, you're right. Maybe we're just being mean!"
"Apologies, boyo. Perhaps the spoils of the defeat you left on us is forcing us to misjudge others. How indecent, even for someone as grand as me!" And the two maids shift their moods and laugh at each other, swiping the subject under the rug. I didn't want to ruin the mood again, so instead I just laughed again, sitting down and enjoying the rest of my milk.
Still, what was that about? Lucrezia-san, the current headmaid and one of my closest friends here in the Gremory mansion, is only close to Nemesis-san and Rina, plus Noin-san and aunt Alice? How come? She has been always such a nice lady to me, always so helpful and kind, sweet and gentle, to think otherwise is almost sacrilegious. She is a nice maid... Right?
And she thinks the same for me, right? She likes me and finds me reliable, right? She likes Tsukino Ichijou... Right?
Right?
…
"Ichijou, prepare yourself! Let's find a cool familiar for you!"
"Excuse me?!"
Now it's mine time to say... Ufuu~. A chapter right before the turn of the year, with so many things happening, I'm glad this is the last thing I shall do it now. What a whiplash, though. And now, we got our third maid, the DJ!
Hello, DxD fandom. It seems I was able to finally finish a chapter right before the turn of the year, this extremely... Chaotic year that I hope it gets better next year. With all the chaos and evil that happened, my only wish is that it makes us realize how from here we can only go up, and that we become kinder and a bit better next year. I will try my best as always, so I can only hope things and people do the same. That aside, thanks for reading this chapter and up here, and have a nice new year!
Like always, stay safe and sound, from here on out, because we can only wait and hope. Greetings from Houki Minami and see you next year!
hahahah...
Ikkun's friends and favorite genres
[Ichijou] - Probably subtly shown, but Ichijou is a fan of the horror genre, from B-films of gore and cheap jumpscares to disturbing and psychological thrillers, probably from Shion who also loves those. He's a fan of Kazuo Umezu and Hideshi Hino. He still doesn't know why Jude told Louis about the Micmac cemetery, though.
[Shiori] - Like Ichijou, she also likes horror films, possibly on the more Psychological side like Ari Aster's films. She doesn't mind watching sugary love stories, though. Her favorite film is Titanic.
[Berolina] - She liked Tokusatsu shows ever since she was a kid, and it persisted even after she became a teenager, and not afraid to show her collection of tokusatsu merchandise. Ultraman? Super sentai? Henshin heroes? Her answer for her favorite is YES.
[Kurama] - Hystorical soap operas with a touch of supernatural, specially ones filled with betrayal, a spice of erotism and a bit of good acting. She sees herself drawn more to korean ones than Japanese ones, which is funny in a way.
[Annabelle] - Annie is a manga otaku who prefers ones of the ecchi genre, really spicy ones too and with girls which tits almost jump off the pages.
[Tasha] - You thought Erotic novels, right? She actually prefers mystery novels and shows like Columbo or Sherlock books. As for TV, she watches a lot of investigation shows, specially those with betrayal, murder and a bit of ero.
[Liu Bei] - She likes action series, and her favorite manga was probably Abara. The ending was so Gauna!
[Whiswain] - For all of her known personality, Whis enjoys a nice clean comedy, but her favorite genre is probably coming-of-age tales that has the protagonist in a pinch only to grow up and become a better adult. The also enjoys fighting games with colourful characters and funny stories.
[Guan Yu] - She likes dramas, sad people doing sad things because they're sad. She cried a little watching the Million Dollar baby.
[Serena] - She is very nuanced regarding titles, so it's unlike she likes both the Saw franchise and Un Chien Andalou. She prefers Video-games most of the time, so it's either Smash Bros. or any trendy stuff going on, although her favorite game will always be FFVII.
[Yagura] - Nothing in particular, but she has a soft spot for cute series like Doraemon.
[Lucrezia] - For some reason, she's really into romance, specially french ones.
[Irene] - Irene doesn't have a favourite genre, she likes instead to watch bad films and series to see how truly awful they truly are and have fun while doing it. For some reason, she's used in seeing Adam Sandler's face a lot.
[Raven] - As long as it is adult, she wants to watch it. She tried to watch Lars Von Trer films once... Never again. She likes manga from Naoki Urasawa since they tend to be really adult, but if you dig into her house a bit more, you'll see one or two Shounen Jump volumes around. She also tries alternative games like Bound, although she doesn't get it.
MAID FILES: Larken Cielo
- The third newbie maid. She's the second oldest after Lucrezia at 19-years old.
- She comes from a middle class devil family. She was suppose to be married to a high-class devil, but after her father's death, her mother went insane and disfigured her face in a fit. taken away from her and rejected by others, she found solace in the Gremory house, which she serves as for now.
- The entertainer, she knows how to play every kind of instrument and adapt to any genre of music, while also using her special weapons crafted specially for her for visual spectacles as well. Noin says that while she encouraged her to be an musician, Larken as a serious talent for that. The only thing she's not good at is stand-up comedy.
- She's haughty and a bit full of herself due to her talent, but she can be nice when she wants to. Also, while hidden, she's very self-conscious about her face and tries to mask it with both a literal and a personality mask, knowing that people will stop asking or pitying her if she just put up an arrogant and proud face regarding it. She'll only show it once and joke about it hoping it only has to show it once for every person.
- Her commitment ring is located on her left ear, and it also serves as an IEM to concentrate on songs while performing.
- Combat-wise, while impressive, her mercury-like substances controlled by her music is just glorified water splashes, not unlike throwing water ballons at people or soaking someone with buckets of water. Her ultimate attack is less of an attack and more of an intimidation tactic. They still hurt when hurled fast and hard enough.
- Like everyone, she looks down on Ichijou and didn't expect him to defeat her. But now she grows interested in his Rakugo thing, wanting to put something in her repertoire. She knew he would react negatively to her face, but she was glad he was nice enough to say something else.