Never would Issei have expected this. He had expected her to be courteous, pretty strict even. Never would he have expected her to be… this.

"Whyyyyyyy Lord Odin? Why did you exile me?" Rossweisse drunkenly wept. She had a barrel of beer, too much. Yes, barrel. So now she was a weeping drunk in Issei's lounge. A Valkyrie really had high alcohol tolerance to be able to down three barrels of beer before she felt the effects.

"Fufufu," Akeno, the Fallen Angel, laughed on the other side of the lounge. She refused Issei's offer of alcohol and just drank a cold glass of iced tea.

"By the way, aren't you underage?" Rossweisse asked suddenly.

"I am a citizen of the Underworld so it's fine," Issei waved off the concern.

"I see," Rossweisse took a sip from the barrel.

"By the way, Rossweisse-san, how old are you?"

"It's rude to ask-ask a lady her," she burped, "age." Rossweisse slurred. "I'm just 19," she sniffled.

"O-Oi, don't cry now," Issei said. "I'm going to take care of you."

Rossweisse wiped her tears. "You are?"

"Yes, yes."

"Pat my head."

Issei patted her head in a comforting manner. He stroked her white hair and hummed to comfort the older woman. In a few moments, Rossweisse was sleeping on the couch. Issei draped a blanket over her sleeping form and took the other end of the long couch. He took a sip from his whiskey.

"So, how is life here so far?"

"It is pretty enjoyable. I like the antics that go around here," Akeno said and crossed her legs. "I especially like Sir, Bear, and Rus! He's such a cute pup."

"He is a gift from Hades. We requested for a girl so he won't get lonely but we were a week too late," Issei said with a smile.

"Is that so?" Akeno asked. She downed her tea and waited for Issei to finish switching off the lights. Issei came back to the lounge area and sat down to sip his whiskey. "You seem to have a lot of friends in high places, Hyoudou-kun."

"Does it look that way?" Issei asked with a wry smile. Akeno nodded. "I guess it does look that way. I am married to the sister of Lu, the Lord of the Underworld has given me a puppy, and had a nice talk with Azazel."

"That's my point," Akeno said.

"It's a long and complicated story," Issei scratched his head. "It's sad but has a good ending. Do you still want to hear it?"

"If you are willing, Hyoudou-kun."

"Well," Issei laughed softly. "I don't mind. I'm just asking you if you want to listen to it. It is," Issei checked the clock which showed how late the night was, "Quite late."

"If you would then. Tomorrow is a Saturday anyway. I think we have time," Akeno said.

"Would you like more snacks then?"

"That would be nice."

"Alright, please wait here as I go get us some snacks then," Issei got up and walked to the kitchen. He opened a couple of uncooked chips and nuts, before roasting them with his fire breath from his fire dragon genes. He took a bottle of whiskey from the pantry and froze it with his ice dragon ones. He came back to the lounge after five minutes and set the food on the table. "So, where shall I start?"

"Would the beginning be a good place to start?"

"Mmm, the beginning," Issei rubbed his chin. "I was kidnapped I guess."

"How are our guests?"

Voices.

"Nearly ninety-nine percent of our subjects have died."

"And the ones that live?"

"The ones that live are still living are, as you had calculated, venerated-"

"Skip the flattery."

The lesser man cleared his throat. "Yes," he cleared his throat one more time, "Test subjects 4, 13, 17, 39, 666, 3888, 4394, 4444, and 7734 have succeeded expectations and are showing phenomenal growth. Their bodies reacted well to the mRNA and DNA. Around two dozen more have survived but are on the verge of death."

"Which genes have they responded to the most?"

"They all differ in the genes they respond to the most."

"I see, I see. And which ones have they responded to the most?" impatience dripped from the voice of the superior as he repeated the question.

The assistant stammered an apology. "666 seems to be taking in the genes of the Devils quite well. 4 looks to be showing signs of turning into a Grim Reaper and Cerberus; we have taken precautions. 7734 is releasing holy energy."

"Any among them that have shown signs of divinity?"

"So far, none yet."

The superior clicked his tongue in annoyance. He banged the glass capsule that contained Issei Hyoudou in a fit of anger. He breathed out, calming down rather quickly. "And how about this one?"

"He hasn't been affected by any genes so far, negative or positive effects don't seem to be showing up."

"Number and name."

The assistant flipped through their papers, tracing his finger downwards. He landed on the name of the boy. "Hyoudou, Issei. Japanese. Number 69."

"Hyoudou-san," a very warm and very soft body closed onto Issei's back.

"Who? Ah, Rossweisse-san," Issei said. He was unable to turn around and look at Rossweisse due to her holding onto his shirt from behind. "What can I do for you?"

"Please, forget what happened last night," she said with a blush.

"I'll try to," Issei said. "But it's hard to forget such a cute girl last night," he teased with a grin, not that Rossweisse could see it though.

Rossweisse's face turned beet red and she swore not to get drunk again. She kept that oath for the rest of her day. Later that night, she would go through another three barrels of beer.