Chapter 17

A little over four hours later, Junichiro re-entered his home to find Azazel, Mittelt, and the Yokai woman all sitting in his living room and sipping on sake. A dozen empty bottles littered the low central table with a few more fallen to the floor. He had no idea where the alcohol had come from. As much as he enjoyed his herbal smokes, so different from the tobacco cigarettes he'd liked in his last life, he wasn't a big drinker. Though he did enjoy the process of making his own alcohol and drinking it on occasion in his last life. Perhaps he should look into making magical booze, that could be a bit of fun.

As he approached, he caught the attention of the three individuals chatting and drinking. When he was closer the yokai looked at him expectantly, "Is it done?"

Junichiro nodded and held up a rather large loop of silvery metal inlaid with golden filigree that hid a plethora of runes, "Yup."

She narrowed her eyes at the large loop. A bracelet would normally only be a half a dozen centimeters in diameter. The one Junichiro was holding up was at least two dozen centimeters wide, almost looking like a miniature hula hoop than a bracelet. Seeing what she was probably thinking, Junichiro explained, "It will shrink to fit perfectly once you place your hand through it. In order to fit the runes that anchor and power the enchantment required more surface area than a standard bracelet has."

In all honesty, Junichiro was mentally berating himself for forgetting he could just shrink items that were too large for their intended purpose. Sometimes having too much knowledge and too many ideas could be just as hampering to a person as having no ideas. If he'd run into a situation like this sooner, he could have modeled his current prosthetic arm to be the size of an adult's and then simply shrunk it down to match his current size. After that it could slowly unshrink until it matched him as an adult. Instead, he now had the far more expensive and difficult to use Blood Iron. Oh well, something to remember when he thought of a better arm to make in the future.

The soul eater took the large hoop from him and stuck her right hand through it. The enchanted item slowly shrank down, as everyone watched, until it was an appropriate size that snugly settled onto her wrist. She continued to eye the item, which was actually quite beautiful, with a small amount of suspicion, "I don't feel anything."

Junichiro just shrugged his shoulders, "It's a very minor effect. It's not meant to turn you into a full on empath and let you consciously feel people's emotions. It's meant to emulate how you feed. I doubt you feel a person's emotions while digesting them right?"

After she shook her head, he continued, "In the same vein, there was no need for you to feel people's emotions while wearing the bracelet. I suggest that both you and Azazel head into the city for a bit. The more people you are around the faster you will feed yourself. If it helps, think of it as if the bracelet is taking an extremely tiny piece of someone's soul and giving it directly to you. Though it does no such thing. In a decent crowd I expect you would feel full in minutes, if not faster. Maybe think about going to crowded emotionally charged events like music concerts."

He'd suggested Azazel go along because he trusted that the man would make sure he got his payment and not let the woman take off and gyp him. After all, the Grigori leader had been making sure Junichiro got all of his payments promptly for the last hundred or so deals that had been brokered. Why should this one be any different?

The two looked at each other before Azazel offered his arm to the yokai. Why would he argue with the kid over having more time to silently ogle the busty woman? He was also very curious to see if the kid's solution to her issue was correct and would work. If it did, it was just another piece of the puzzle that was Junichiro. He currently had some theories about where the kid got his information and was hoping this would provide yet another clue to help him zero in on the truth. Sure, he could just ask the kid, but where was the fun in that? It was rare for him to come across something new and he didn't want to spoil the mystery!

After the pair left, Junichiro joined Mittelt on the love seat she'd taken for herself and gave her a smile. Over the year they'd gotten to know each other they'd become good friends, good enough to try a date, so there was no need for small talk. Rather than force conversation, they sat in silence. Mittelt picked up a fashion magazine from the table while Junichiro closed his eyes to think.

Junichiro currently had a variety special orders waiting to be fulfilled and the next in line was a special order from a middle eastern Djinn. The Djinn had placed an order for a new lamp to live in. Despite his previous belief about Djinn, or genies, granting wishes, that was not how it worked in his current world. Djinn were more akin to elementals with magical power. They did pretend to be genies and mess with mortals using magic to think they granted wishes, in the past. However, with the current secrecy around the supernatural, they just tried to live regular lives. Part of living their lives was living in lamps since they had no fixed size and they, as a species, found lamps comfortable.

The Djinn that had placed the order was asking for a lamp with all the modern amenities and the ability to move itself while the Djinn rested comfortably inside. It was mostly an enchanting job requiring very few, if any, actually magical materials. Gold would be the most expensive material, as the request wanted the entire exterior to be golden. Mostly, it would be time consuming to make magical equivalents to modern...

Junichiro grinned broadly as an idea came to him. Rather than making a bunch of magical appliances, he could just make a magical electricity generator, shrink modern appliances, and be done with that. It would also allow the Djinn to shrink upgrades, replacements, and other things in the future. Sure, he'd lose out on being able to charge the Djinn for replacements for broken stuff, but he didn't really care about that. Making magical appliances wasn't exactly fun or super interesting. Frankly, making the Djinn's lamp wasn't all that interesting. He might've declined the work, if the Djinn wasn't offering an ancient Grimoire containing spells that hadn't been seen in about a millennium as payment. That was one thing all Djinn had in common and why they hid a lot of the time, they collected treasures like a dragon.

As he was planning how to make the lamp and what features, runes, and other things to add to it, Azazel and the Yokai woman returned to the house in a flash of teleportation magic. When Junichiro focused on them, he noticed that the woman looked a little green and was clutching her stomach while groaning. She reminded him of a cousin from his last life that liked to overindulge during the American Holiday Thanksgiving. The way she shuffled over to a nearby chair and carefully lowered herself into a slouched position increased the similarities, "I take it, it worked?"

The yokai woman looked over at him and gave him a look that any man could translate as 'it's your fault.' Junichiro just smirked, "So, maybe a concert might be a tad too much then?"

Just the idea caused the woman to groan. He just smirked, "Well, at least you can take it off whenever you like and just put it back on when you start to get a bit hungry."

"I have never been this full before. Granted, I ate not that long ago and I'm not exactly voracious, but I honestly didn't expect this to work... at all."

She let out a sigh and gathered the medallion that represented Sword Birth and held it out toward Junichiro, "A deal is a deal. With this I will never have to hunt down someone to eat again." She shuddered a bit, "You have no idea how truly disgusting the souls of serial killers taste." She tilted her head a bit as she seemed to be trying to find the right words to explain her new experience, "This method... there's no taste. I just felt myself quickly becoming full and then overfull. It's..." She smiled brightly, "A novel experience even if it's not entirely pleasant."

Junichiro just nodded. Like a majority of American's could attest, he was fully aware of the feeling that came from overindulging on delicious food. Especially in the company of friends and family. He made his way over to collect the medallion of Sword Birth and held it in his hands with a smile. He had only gotten a cursory glance at it before, but seeing it up close let him notice further details.

The medallion was circular, as he'd noted before, with a sword on top of a background. Now though, he could see the background up close and more details on the sword. The background looked like layers of sword blades in geometric patterns. Each blade was different from the others, each unique in their length and design making no two even remotely similar. The main sword standing out in the middle looked like a standard long sword but sported an embellished dragon head for the pommel of the sword.

Seeing the dragon head made him wonder if draconian materials were used in the creation of Sword Birth. His conclusion was that yes, draconian parts had been used. Both of the users he knew of with Sword Birth and the Blade Blacksmith had dragon related abilities from their sacred gear. Jeanne of the hero faction could use her Blade Blacksmith to summon and manipulate blades into the shapes of dragons. Meanwhile, Kiba in Rias's peerage could summon Dragoon Warriors. Granted, that wasn't a straight dragon like Jeanne, but it was dragon related.

With his external examination done, he looked at Azazel, "How do I use it?"

"It's not that complicated. Just place it against your chest, over your heart, feed some magic power into it, and it will bond with you. It's the same process with all Sacred Gears that have been extracted in one way or another."

Junichiro nodded at that and filed the information away for later. At the same time, he stuffed the Sword Birth medallion into his pocket. No way in hell was he going to immediately stuff it into his body! He wanted to scan and study it first. This was his first encounter with a Sacred Gear in person and there was no way in hell he was going to waste the opportunity to study it!

Seeing the action only brought a smirk to Azazel's face. It's exactly what he would have done in the kid's position. He was very excited to see what the kid would come up with after studying one of his pop's creations. Azazel had been studying them for centuries and he still made new discoveries on occasion. He was also really close to developing his own artificial Sacred Gear. He estimated it was just a month or two away from testing thanks to Fafnir being so helpful.

Junichiro glanced at Mittelt, "The contract for her to sign is in my office."

With his part in everything done, Junichiro turned around and just walked out of the room and made his way to his workshop. He was going to run every scan he could think of on Sword Birth before adding it to himself! His plan was still to steal Boosted Gear from Issei, but as powerful as Boosted Gear was, it lacked the sheer versatility he could get out of Sword Birth. He figured with everything he had planned, he would become exceptionally powerful and well rounded.

First, his Artificing gave him the ability to make just about anything as long as he had the proper materials and the time. He included the necessary magical power as a material. Sword Birth gave him further utility but took away the time requirements that Artificing required giving him a more rapid form of adaptability in combat. Boosted Gear would give him all the power he could need to make his creations. Just imagining the possibility of combining things like an elemental sword from Sword Birth with the Boosting ability of Boosted Gear was inspiring and terrifying.

That didn't take into account his plans to be turned into a devil by Rias still. Despite his budding relationship with Mittelt, he was still determined to see that through. Though his reasoning had changed slightly. If things with Mittelt worked out like he hoped, then his mortality would become an issue. He had solutions for that, but all of those solutions had limits and costs. Nothing was EVER free, after all. For example, a Philosopher's Stone to make the Elixer of Life? He'd have to sacrifice the lives of one person of every age he could find from age one to the oldest living human he could find. So, at least eighty or more individuals starting with innocent children. He might have few scruples but even he wasn't monster enough to do that just so the Stone would have the magic to de-age him properly.

Naturally, he could make a phylactery, but that way just led to badness all around. If anyone ever got a hold of it they would have control of his soul. He was also concerned with the implications of the soul in this universe compared to others. Sacred Gears proved that souls contained the memories and minds of the beings they belonged to. Ddraig still 'lived' in the Boosted Gear. That didn't even include thoughts on his reincarnation. So, if he pulled his soul out and stuck it in a phylactery, would he even be able to control his body anymore? Could he use a Sacred Gear through a puppet body since the item was located within his soul? So... yeah that idea was a complete nonstarter for many reasons.

The point was, of all the ways he knew to preserve his life for hundreds to thousands of years, none of them were risk or cost free. Being turned into a Devil by Rias though? Rias might official be his 'master' but aside from some small things here and there, she was a complete cinnamon roll. If he saved her from Riser's clutches? He would be able to do anything he wanted and would be her servant in name only. That didn't take into account how she was the ultimate waifu in the entire series that supported and stood by a shit stain like Issei through everything.

In exchange for being her 'servant' and saving her from that pissant Riser, he would become a devil capable of living for thousands of years without having to do anything special to maintain his lifespan. He would gain access to the easiest form of magic in the DxD universe. He would have the support and protection of Rias, and thus Sizechs Lucifer. Then once he became a recognized High Class Devil he could gain his own Evil Pieces and make his own Peerage. He was also pretty certain that once he had those pieces, he could turn Rias into his Queen and thus balance their relationship. They would both be master and servant to each other, equals in other words.

That didn't even really touch on the political power of being with Rias. Even if he became Gremory Junichiro, it would be worth it.

Once he was a member of her peerage, he would also finally be able to use his Essence of the Blank. He would refused to use it until then for the simple fact that if he did use it, it would be impossible for anyone to ever change him into a devil. Since the Evil Pieces worked based on potential, limitless potential meant limitless conversion cost. Simple as that.

Once he could take it though, he would stop holding back on making himself as strong as he could. Knowing that Rias would be moving to the human world soon meant he could find a way to meet her soon and join her peerage then. He would have at least a full year to get to know everyone, work with them, and then he could crush Riser. He'd already started creating things to help himself grow stronger, not using them was actually starting to annoy him so the sooner Rias turned him, the better.

He was not looking forward to talking to Mittelt about his plans to become a devil.

Azazel watched Junichiro leave without even saying good bye to himself or the guest. He looked at Mittelt and raised an eyebrow in question. She scoffed, "He's got something new to look at. As soon as he got his payment he was done."

Azazel let out a chuckle and shook his head before he focused on the other person in the room, "We need to go and sign that contract before you can head out, Meridia."

Meridia, the ex-soul eating yokai, nodded her head and carefully climbed to her feet. She was still feeling stuffed to the gills and honestly couldn't decide if she loved or hated the feeling. Either way she'd definitely gotten her monies worth in the exchange. Signing some binding paperwork to protect the kid's anonymity wasn't a big deal.

Once the paperwork was done, Meridia took her leave and went back to her life. Azazel, meanwhile, made his way back to the living room and sat down across from Mittelt. He gave her a small smile as he asked, "So, how have things been?"

It'd been a full year since he'd dropped in but it'd only been a week or so since Mittelt had last been to visit the Grigori base and report to Azazel. Mittelt eyed Azazel for a bit before she sighed, "Juni asked me out on a date. I accepted."

Seeing the smirk on Azazel's face just made her want to facepalm. Seducing the kid was not a part of her orders, but he was a good guy and she liked the time they spent together. The age difference didn't bother her. It couldn't bother her because no matter how old any human was, she would be thousands of years older than them. Same for most other beings aside from Gods. Yokai might live a few hundred to a thousand years, but no one knew how long Angels, even fallen ones, could live for. No single Angel had ever died of old age, they didn't age. They all looked the same as they day that Father had made them.

Though a few, like Kokobiel, did have some minor physical changes after their fall. That dude just reeked of evil and it showed physically.

Looking up at Azazel and seeing the sparkle of amusement in his eyes, she braced herself to tell him about the last week she'd spent with Junichiro. Though she secretly wondered how long their relationship could last. They might look similar in age, for now, but he'd eventually look like a mature adult and she wouldn't have changed even a bit. If he didn't want to gain a certain kind of reputation, she was sure he would dump her before he was thirty, if then. She just sighed and began to talk to Azazel while Junichiro did whatever he was doing with Sword Birth.

AN:

I'm sorry for not being able to write and post anything recently. I have a really valid reason though.

As you're all aware, I recently had to take in my mother to help her after some surgery on her foot. Taking care of her wasn't an issue, I'd do almost anything for her because that's what family does. Her dogs, on the other hand, are not in the same level. Especially not her German Shepard (referred to as Bitch from hereon).

I don't know what it is, or why she started it, but that fucking dog is directly responsible for injuring every member of my household. For god knows what reason, she started attacking my mother's other dog, biting her hard enough to draw blood and leave injuries. In the effort to keep Bitch from killing Snowball on multiple occasions, everyone got hurt but my mother.

For those unaware, my main fulltime job is working as a live in caretaker for two physically disabled women in their sixties, sisters named Leah and Mary. Both of whom had to visit the ER due to Bitch's attacks.

Leah, during the very first attack where I feared Bitch would kill Snowball, Leah was knocked down and landed hard on her knees. The swelling and pain became too much and a visit to the ER was required. Luckily nothing was broken, just really bad bruising.

That was also the first time in my life that I was bitten by a dog without it being something playful. Bitch bit my left hard hard enough that I have a new scar. That was only the first time she bit me.

The next attack that really pissed me off is when Bitch went after and attacked my dog. Bitch is a fully grown German Shepard, my dog is a tiny little mixed breed that doesn't weigh more than twenty pounds. Luckily she had my dog by the scruff and not the throat, still, my dog is tiny compared to Bitch. During the attempt to break up the fight I was bitten several times on my right arm by Bitch. My dog got one of the fingers on my left hand but I don't blame her for that. She could have easily been killed by the much larger dog. I damn near went to get a knife to kill Bitch myself.

Worse, during that fight Mary received a cut on her leg so bad that it required us to call 911 to have an ambulance pick her up. The wound was too straight and clean to be from a claw so we believe one of Bitch's dog tags slashed her leg while she tried to pull the dog back. Either way it was the most blood I've ever seen in my life. It scared the piss out of me and I had to hold a cloth to the wound with my arms shaking from the nasty bites Bitch gave me. I've got new scars on my right wrist that are clearly from teeth. The bruises are even still healing from it.

Mary ended up with eight stitches, though it would have been sixteen if the doctor hadn't decided to skip every other one to allow the wound to weep since they found dog hair in it and expected at least a light infection or other complications. Those complications came a couple days later. Mary got an infection and had to spend three days in the hospital hooked up to an IV drip of antibiotics.

There were more fights after that. The results of which still have my hands and arms bruised and sore. It ended up that Bitch needed a muzzle and was then either locked up in a kennel or chained up by herself outside. She was kept firmly away from anyone and everything that she could attack.

I swear to god if Bitch wasn't my mothers dog, I'd have had animal control take her away and end her.

I've only returned to writing in the last few days, even so the damage to my right hand, especially around the knuckle of my middle finger, is causing me a fair bit of discomfort and, occasionally, pain.

Anyway, I just wanted to fill you guys in and let you know why I hadn't published anything to you all before now. And fear not, my mother left a while ago and took Bitch with her. I'll also never allow that dog anywhere near my home again.

TL;DR

My mothers dog fucked up everyone in the house. I'm still damaged and recovering. I'm also writing regardless.

On a different note. While I am writing, it's not actually for this story or Fabricator. I kind of got whacked in the head with some inspiration and have been writing another story. I just finished chapter 4 today so I plan to publish chapter one here in a bit. For anyone interested, it's a One Piece fanfiction.

Love you all, even the ones who hate me.

Until next time!