Anyway, this is a new DxD story, and no, it won't replace like a devil. I just felt like writing something new. Also, for now, this is purely a dxd world, but I might add minor crossovers. Mostly Blue Archive characters, but we'll see.

The urge to write a BA fic is ever-growing

Also, I may or may not have borrowed Shiro's gacha thing for the start. Tell me if you want that to continue or if it should only be a one-time thing. He actually rolled for the powers while I tweaked them to be more balanced.

Edited by: Priapus, Bluwuh, Marethyu

"Enough joking around," I say, a little annoyed at the absurdity. "What are you after?"

The young boy behind the desk sighs deeply. Looks like a teenager, around sixteen to eighteen. Blond. Unusual red eyes. Expensive white suit, likely a designer brand—one I've never seen or heard about. Who is he? And what does he want?

Whatever it is, he's put considerable effort into this 'prank' of his, if we can call it that. I woke up randomly in a white room, and the only things in it were the chair I was on, the desk in front of me, and the boy behind it.

And I can't quite remember what I was doing before it. I know I was coming back from a business trip and was on my way home. The most recent thing I actually remember was getting out of the limo. After that? Nothing.

All I can tell right now is that I've been somehow kidnapped by either a rival politician because, of course, they'd try that after I had the entire world by the balls for several decades. Or this was the work of some idiot who wanted revenge on me for one reason or another.

Considering how the boy in front of me looks and how he holds himself, I'll guess it's the former. This can't be some random mook getting the jump on me somehow. I'm not so easily caught off guard.

Regardless, I'm firing that incompetent bodyguard.

"I'm telling you, man." The young blond boy behind the desk sighs again. "I'm not after anything. You're already dead."

"Is it money?" I ignore his stupid claim. "Revenge? I can assure you, you're not getting either. I'm not giving you a damned cent, and killing me will get you nothing but the electric chair."

"Uh-huh." The boy, uninterested in my warnings, picks up a pen next to the ledger on the desk and twirls it around. "Sorry to tell you, but I don't really care about either of those things."

"Then why am I here? What does kidnapping me do for you?"

"Dude, for the last time, I didn't kidnap you. You're dead." He reiterates. "Hired sniper. Shot straight through the head with an anti-tank rifle that blew up your skull. It happened too quickly for you to notice or remember."

"You think I'd believe that?" My eyes narrow. What a sick joke. "You do realize that my death, sudden as this, would cause the collapse of the entire economy? Nobody would be dumb enough to try something like that."

"Yes, that's why it was years in the making. It wasn't some impulsive moron trying to get the jump on you." He responds. "What? Do you think you're the only person in the world that can make plans? Get over yourself, buddy. You're mortal, just like the rest of them."

"It doesn't matter how much they plan." I scowl, getting more annoyed by the second. Mortal? What is that supposed to mean exactly? "I made sure I was untouchable. I made sure that everything would crumble with my death."

"Yeah, until you had a son." He snorted. "You're right. You were untouchable, but only from your enemies. Turns out little Ethan was just as ambitious as his dad and wanted everything you had. Sad, isn't it?"

"Ethan would never–"

"Yes, he would. He was getting sick of how controlling you were and knew he was being manipulated. Eventually, he conspired with your worst and deadliest enemies because he wanted to take the throne a little early." The boy says, making me feel a pit in my stomach. "Your mistake here was raising a powerful and intelligent son while forgetting to actually nurture him like a real father. You created a monster you couldn't control, and that got you killed."

"You're blaming me?"

"Yes, I'm blaming you. You never even hugged him." The blond scoffed. "Not one 'I love you' or 'I'm proud of you'. Kids need that type of attention, you know? Without it, he would obviously grow to resent you."

"I–"

"And it's not like you tried any other method. You didn't make him too dependent on you to do anything on his own. No type of real surveillance besides the basics. You're smart, Mr. Williams. I'll give you that, but man, did you drop the ball with this one." The boy said, flipping through the pages of the ledger in front of him and reading its contents. "It's like you suddenly lost all your wits and instantly grew senile. What the hell was that about? Seriously, everything was absolutely perfect until it started to revolve around Ethan."

I stay quiet for a moment, feeling strange dread. How does he know any of that? Have I been careless? No, whoever this boy is— whatever faction he's part of, they're extremely dangerous to be able to monitor me without me ever noticing.

This is concerning.

"You know, thinking about it more, you weren't abusive toward him either. Just kinda… ignorant? You didn't know how to handle him, and it's weird because you're not the type to half-ass anything." He continued before pausing. "...Unless you actually like him? That'd be a twist."

"Enough of this nonsense," I growl, getting up from my chair. "I don't know who you are or what you're trying to do, but I'm having none of it, so if you don't mind, I'll be leaving."

The boy blinks.

"And go where?"

"Home," I respond. "You'll be hearing from me very soon, by the way."

"Right, right." He rolled his eyes. "Well, I don't want to alarm you, but I don't know how to get out of here either. I'm actually stuck here, you see. Serving a sentence after 'causing some mischief'. Mischief, my ass. Ain't my fault that Crimson is a massive dickhead…"

I stare at him as he whispers that last part, bemused, making him sigh.

"First of all, there's no door." He says. "Also, you're dead, as I have stated multiple times. You can only leave once you've acknowledged it, and we finish the rest of the procedure."

"And if I haven't made myself clear already, I don't believe you, so no, I will not acknowledge such absurdity." I sneer. "The way out, please."

The boy stares at me silently for a few seconds, and after another sigh, he suddenly starts floating towards me. I flinch and back off in surprise, eyes widening once wings made of fire start forming on his back.

"I don't like doing this, mind you." He says. "But you're really not leaving me a choice here."

Faster than I could reasonably react, the boy puts his hand on my head, and I'm shown graphic yet very clear images of my own headless corpse bleeding on the sidewalk—a vision— no, a reality so frightening, so real that I can't even try to deny it.

Why? What? How could this happen? Am I really dead?

"Yes, you are. That's what I've been trying to tell you." The boy says, pulling his hand away as I gasp, returning to the white room.

"I-I'm dead," I mutter to myself. "I…Ethan, why?"

All the things I've done for that ungrateful brat, and this is how I get repaid? All the tutelage, funding, advice… and in the end, I get shot in the head. Not one word of gratitude. That bastard of a son. How could he? How dare he?

Does he not know that this will only get him killed? Does he think all the enemies I've made throughout five decades would be satisfied with my death? This fool. They're going to crucify him next and then destroy everything I've built. Everything.

…I should've had him killed at birth.

"Decades of hard work. Thousands of hours of planning. Countless killed. Everything I've ever worked for…" I say quietly, feeling numb. "Gone in an instant."

I feel empty. I never imagined this was how I'd die. By my own son of all people. I don't know if I should be laughing or screaming right now, but neither of those choices sounds appealing. Utterly pointless.

What a disgrace.

The blond… angel thing says nothing, floating quietly back to his desk.

"...I see." I sigh, slowly getting back on my chair while feeling defeated. "Stupid boy. You've done nothing but make yourself an easier target."

"I thought you'd be a lot angrier at him." The angel says, looking surprised. "Honestly, ou're accepting this entire situation pretty quickly."

"I am angry at the boy, but I was also in my seventies. I was prepared to die from a stroke at any second." I scoff. "Kicking and screaming about this would be pointless. Death by assassination or natural causes makes no difference. There's nothing I can do."

The blond blinks a few times before chuckling.

"I was really referring to how supernatural this is from your perspective, but yeah." He agrees. "That's true."

I've always imagined there would be nothing after death, so this is a nice surprise, all things considered.

"More importantly, you should've started with this… vision thing first." My glare sharpens. "And saved us time."

"I used to do that, but more often than not, people started losing their minds, so I stopped." He shrugs. "You're one of the few people who shrugged it off. First one that did it so quick—"

"Save your praise." I cut him off. "Why am I here? To be judged? If yes, then send me to hell and be done with it."

Though, this place doesn't look like the afterlife from any religion I've read of.

"Would it hurt you to be nice? You realize I'm like, way older than you, right?" At my unimpressed gaze, the angel boy groans. "Fine, fine. Whatever. Long story short, you just won the afterlife lottery, and you're getting a second chance."

"A second… chance? At life?" I frown thoughtfully. This is… interesting. I certainly didn't expect it. "Will I be reincarnated?"

"Kind of." He responds. "You won't have to go through being a baby again, but you might end up getting a new body."

Oh? With this in mind… Things might not be so pointless after all. I can rebuild— I'm willing to rebuild, and with my several decades of experience alongside a new, younger body, things will not be as difficult as they once were.

And those bastards will not know what hit them if I return with a different body. I'll know all their weaknesses while they bang their heads against the wall trying to figure out mine. It'll take them far too long to figure out the connection. Assuming they're even wise enough.

"That'd be appreciated." I nod. "These old bones aren't good for anything anymore."

How is it possible that I still feel back pain even in the afterlife?

"It's not a guarantee, but we'll see." The angel says, flipping through the ledger again. "Now that you've acknowledged your unfortunate demise, next is… oh, this is my favorite part. Getting a perk."

I pause.

"Perk?"

"Yes, like a superpower or magic. Trust me, you'll need it where you're going."

Cryptic. Perhaps I won't be sent back to my world, hmm? That would be a shame. That stupid boy needs to be disciplined and punished for that trick he pulled. Assuming I get to him faster than my enemies can.

Still, I won't turn up my nose at the possibility of learning new things and experiencing different worlds. A world where I'd need superpowers… Sounds intriguing. I used to wish for such things as a child. Will I be able to return to my previous world, though?

Suddenly, two black envelopes with gold outlines appear on my lap, so I curiously pick one up and examine it closely. I throw the angel a glance as he starts explaining things to me and what these envelopes do.

"These things hold completely random powers that even I don't know what's in them." The angel explains rather unhelpfully. "Tear them open. Let's see what you get."

I stare at him suspiciously for a few moments. This is… too good to be true. Does he expect me to believe that he's not acting maliciously? Giving me a second chance at life is one thing, but to provide me with 'superpowers' as well?

"What's the catch?" I question. "Am I expected to pay you back for this? Work for you?"

"No catch, bro. Like I said, I'm serving a sentence here. If anything, I'm in a worse position than you." He answers tiredly. "At least show some trust."

I squint, keeping eye contact as I tear the first envelope in my hand. Inside is a black card with golden writing, which I look closely at. Interesting…

[All-Consuming Presence] – Legendary

You project a passive aura that drains the powers and energy of nearby enemies and grants them to you. The closer the target, the stronger the drain effect becomes. Drained powers are only temporary and will wear off quickly unless targets are 100% drained and killed with this perk

"Oh, a legendary perk. Lucky." The blond hums. "That's probably going to carry you far if you're smart."

I ignore him and see what's inside the other envelope.

[Nah, you take it] – Rare

You can transfer up to 50% of the damage done to you to other targets. Activated via touch.

Ridiculous name aside, there is decent synergy between these two powers, as both require me to get close to enemies. This could end up being terrible if I'm not careful, but very rewarding if I know what I'm doing. I don't know what kind of foes I'll be facing in this new world, what kind of weapons or powers they use, but I should stay sharp. I did not get far in my past life by underestimating my enemies.

"A high-risk, high-reward set." He notes. "Interesting."

"It'll do," I respond, not bothered with what I've got. "It's how I've always worked. This will not be any different."

"I guess not." The angel snorts. "So then you ready?"

"One question," I reply. "What kind of world will I be sent to? What should I expect?"

"Dunno. That's random, too." He shrugs. "Though, with your power set and prior experience, you should be fine in most places."

"I don't like working with assumptions." I sigh. Annoying. "But very well. I don't care if you're being truthful about your lack of knowledge or not, but it's clear to me that I can't force you to tell me anything. I'm ready."

"I don't have any reason to lie to you, but whatever, man." He frowns. "Good luck, Mr. Williams. Don't die again too soon."

The angel boy snaps his fingers, and a wormhole appears beside me—a portal to another universe. I get off my chair and stare at the menacing phenomenon, pausing for a moment before asking one last thing.

"What is your name?"

"Hm?" He blinks. "Why do you care? I doubt we'd ever see each other again."

"You know mine. It's only fair that I know yours."

The angel boy stares at me silently for a few seconds before giving me an answer.

"Icarus." He answers. "And no, not the Greek figure. I'm just named after him."

"I see. For what it was worth, it had been a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Icarus."

With those farewell words, I walk through the portal, almost immediately feeling my consciousness slipping away.

"Nolan, wake up."

I grunt in response, eyes opening wide at this odd feeling of getting 'reincarnated'. I, for whatever reason, expected a much longer process than this. This was… instant. One second, I felt like I was losing my grip on reality, and the next, I…

I scan the strangely familiar room I'm in. My room. It's a simple, modest bedroom with white marble floors and walls, a golden chandelier hanging from the ceiling, a dresser and a mirror opposite the bed, and a chair beside the open window where I'm sitting.

"Nolan?"

But beyond all of that, I… feel a rush of memories coming into my head. Memories I never experienced, all jumbled up with the ones I did. Quickly, I realize that these new memories are from this new life, so I take a moment to process all of it slowly and carefully.

Of course, this isn't very easy as, at that exact moment, I feel a terrible migraine, the overflow of information of two lives making it challenging to focus. And while one was more than twice as long as the other, my face scrunches up as I rub my temples.

"Nolan, are you okay?"

"I'm alright, Griselda." I wave off the priestess' concerns. "Just a nasty headache."

"You should stop staying up so late." She scolds. "This is the fourth time this week that you've randomly fallen asleep during the afternoon."

I glance at the woman standing next to me. A very beautiful lady in her mid-twenties with platinum blond hair and bright blue eyes, wearing a typical nun attire seen everywhere in the church. Usually worn by noncombatants, Griselda is anything but.

"Let me worry about that, yes?" I reply with a light-hearted tone, rubbing the bridge of my nose once I take my glasses off. "We don't want a lady like you growing any wrinkles so early. It'd be a waste."

"You and your honeyed words. You're a man of God, Nolan. Act like one." Griselda huffs, playing along. "But you're right. I have enough kids to take care of."

Yes, the Nolan Williams of this world. A high-ranking exorcist in the church, one of many supernatural organizations in a world where all kinds of monsters run amok. It's not quite a background I would've liked, but I can't complain. A second chance like this doesn't happen often, I'm sure.

More importantly…

I glance at the window, see my reflection, and nearly smile. It is me— how I was in my past life, but nowhere near as old. I look like a much younger man, in his twenties, in fact. Blond hair instead of white, hazel eyes, and no wrinkles or signs of old age anywhere on my face.

Truly, there is nothing to complain about. I would've traded most of my wealth and power for this anyway.

"I suppose you have," I respond with a chuckle. "So? I'm sure you aren't here to say hi."

"Unfortunately." She frowns. "You're needed in England. A powerful stray devil has been spotted there, and you need to take care of it."

"Me? Hunt down a stray devil?" I raise a brow. "This is more of David's Forte, yes? I'm not as good at fighting."

"David and everyone else appropriate for the job is busy with their own assignments," Griselda says. "Dulio isn't responding, even though I'm sure he's somewhere in Thailand bothering the locals, and I'm needed someplace else. That leaves us with you."

"How troublesome." I sigh. "Fine. What am I dealing with?"

"Not much is known, I'm afraid." She shakes her head. "Only that it's a reincarnated Devil. A Yokai, to be more specific."

So that's the possibility of a Senjutsu user, guaranteed a Youjutsu user. What a pain. I'd rather face a regular, powerful devil than anything with wacky surprises like a Yokai. Not knowing what type makes it worse.

"What's a Yokai doing in England?" I blink in slight surprise. "I'd imagine they would rather return to Japan or China."

"We don't know." Griselda gives me a negative answer. "You're getting a bonus if you manage to capture them alive."

"I will not." I decline the kind offer, standing up. "I won't take any chances with a Yokai."

"Probably for the better." Griselda agrees. "And if you don't mind, I have a favor to ask of you."

"What is it?"

"Could you take Xenovia with you?"

"Absolutely not." I reject her. "You want me to compromise my chances by taking a highly inexperienced child on a dangerous mission? Have you lost it?"

"I trust you, Nolan. I know she's not in any danger with you around." She disagrees. "But she's just been acting so restless lately. She's been having trouble focusing, is losing her temper more often, and rarely sleeping properly."

"We call that puberty, Griselda." I remain firm in my decision. "She'll get over it soon."

"Please. She needs this." The priestess insists, taking my hand in hers. "She might not be of much use to you during the mission, but you're getting more than a week to hunt down the stray devil. She's been sheltered here most of her life. I think it's about time Xenovia saw the outside world."

"Any reason you can't take her with you?" I argue.

"Well…" She shuffles awkwardly, which is highly uncharacteristic of her. "I hate to admit it, but she… seems to like you more than me."

Interesting. Xenovia looks like she tries too hard when I monitor her progress in training, so it's expected. And the girl is also deathly afraid of Griselda in comparison. Though, I never thought I'd hear her surrogate mother admit it.

"Is that envy I hear, dear Griselda?" I snort. "How unvirtuous of you."

"Don't start with me." She scowls.

"Oh?" I raise a brow, not at all intimidated. "Is that really the tone you want to take with me?"

Even though she's much stronger than I am.

"I-I…" The priestess sighs in defeat. "...I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry for what?"

"...For being rude, Mr. Williams." She adds. "Please answer this lowly nun's selfish request and take Xenovia with you."

"Giving up so readily, Griselda?" I smile in amusement. "And here I thought you'd show some resistance. I'm disappointed."

I can see her blush as she tries to hide it by lowering her head. A part of me thinks she enjoys it, but that couldn't be true, as funny as it sounds.

"But fine." I accept, knowing that teasing her too much isn't wise. "Xenovia will come with me. If she ends up dying, however—"

"She won't," Griselda responds confidently, finally letting go of my hand. "I know you'll make sure of it."

Too much faith in one person isn't smart, but this entire religion relies on lots of faith, anyway. Though, with angels actually existing in this world, I don't know how true that is anymore.

"If you say so." I don't argue. "When will I be leaving?"

"Tomorrow. Early morning." She answers. "You have one week to finish the stray off. Or capture it. If you're done early, you may enjoy the rest of the week as a vacation."

"I see."

As if. Yokai are notorious for their ability to hide in plain sight. Finding one that doesn't want to be found is incredibly difficult. I might need more than a week, assuming the stray is aware of us immediately.

And whatever they're doing in England, they must know that the church will be hot on their tail relatively quickly. We control most of Europe, with only very few regions and countries under other jurisdictions.

What could they be doing? Sure, avoiding devils would be their top priority, but what's the point of that if they'd just come to regions under the church's rule? That's almost worse since we never take devil prisoners unless they're politically important. A stray devil would be immediately killed at best and tortured at worst.

For how warm and kind those angels act, they sure are ruthless when it comes to their archnemesis, to a point where I feel that their merciful nature is merely a front they put on to trick the believers into thinking they're better than they actually are.

If true, I applaud them. Seeing billions of humans believing in them is a testament to how well they've played their part. Pulling off such a thing is not easy. I would know.

"You better go to bed early this time, Nolan." Griselda frowns. "I don't want you missing your flight."

"I won't." I wave off her concerns. "I'll be at the airport a few hours earlier."

"Good." She nods and then smiles. "Now that's out of the way, how about lunch together? There's a nice restaurant that opened up recently. A five-minute walk from here."

"Sounds lovely." I accept her offer. "I'll see you near the front gate."

"Wonderful." She waves, her smile widening. "Don't be late now~"

With her out of the room and the door closed, my smile drops. I look at my right hand, clenching it tightly. So besides the… 'perks' I got from Icarus, I'm also far stronger than a regular person, and I even know some human magic.

With a few simple calculations in my head, I cast a fire ball in my hand, dispelling it once I close my fist. Yes. The fruits of this Nolan's training didn't simply vanish the moment I took over— or rather, fused. It's there. Everything. My decades of experience in combat in my old life combined with the supernatural power and talent of my new one. All of it.

I'm sure it doesn't amount to much, as I know how monstrous people can be in this world. Dulio is the best example I can think of– the most talented exorcist in the church, if not in its history. Even so early in his career, he's already surpassed me. He's merely fifteen years old.

Then again, with this [All-Consuming Presence] perk, I might be able to close the gap relatively quickly. But power isn't only physical and magical. After all, if I can control the church, then I can control all of its powerhouses, including Dulio.

But the church is merely the first step. This world is big, far bigger than my old one, with significantly larger players, and I won't be satisfied until every inch of it belongs to me. Angels, devils, yokai—it doesn't matter. I've conquered the world once.

I can do it again.

"Here's your coffee, sir." The flight attendant puts the steaming cup on the holder next to me.

"Thank you," I say, eyes on the newspaper.

"And here's the orange juice for the lady." She giggles at the blue-haired twelve-year-old, who is glued to the window.

Xenovia doesn't even acknowledge the lady's existence, too mesmerized by the view outside to say or do anything. I find it adorable, of course, and I can't expect a highly sheltered child like her to understand proper etiquette, but manners are important.

"Xenovia."

"Yes, Father?" She whips her head at me, spotting the flight attendant and blushing. "S-sorry…"

"It's quite alright." She giggles again as Xenovia takes the glass of juice. "Be sure to tell me if you need anything else, sir."

The attendant leaves the cabin, and Xenovia quickly returns to the window, sipping from the juice in her hand. I glance at the girl, noting her amazement at a view I've seen thousands of times. This would've been expected if Xenovia hadn't always been relatively quiet and apathetic to her surroundings.

Lucky for her, the church paid for a first-class flight experience, which is why I'm showing leniency, considering her excitable attitude. She's my subordinate, so having her embarrass herself is out of the question, regardless of age.

"Enjoying the view?" I ask, returning to my newspaper.

"Huh? Oh, um, yes." She nods, looking nervous. "I-I'm sorry, Father Nolan. I've just never been on a plane before—"

"Relax, girl. No one is prohibiting you from having fun." I snort, taking a sip from my coffee. "Besides, you'll grow tired of it once you're older, so enjoy it while it lasts."

"Oh, okay." Xenovia gets back to her seat. "T-thank you so much for letting me go with you, Father. I promise I'll do my best!"

"I'm sure," I tell her, blandly. "Make sure you always stay by my side unless told otherwise."

"Yes, sir."

"And remember what I told you," I add. "This week, you're—"

"Xenovia Williams. Your daughter. I remember." She nods. "It's because we're undercover, right? That's why we're not wearing our usual church attire."

She points at her blue blouse and white skirt combo. This idea is mine, of course. Neither I nor Xenovia are known outside the church, because I don't go on typical hunting missions very often, and she is merely a child. Quarta, however, is a well-known surname.

Going to such lengths to avoid detection might not seem very necessary, especially considering how a yokai could easily detect us if we get in range of their senses, but it's better to be safe than sorry. We don't know what we might encounter there.

Taking precautions like this is only natural.

"Correct." I ruffle her hair, making her smile. "It's a simple mission, but no matter how easy it looks, we can't let our guard down. If things can go south, they will."

We also made sure to smuggle in our equipment. An enhanced, state-of-the-art light gun and sword that Griselda handed to me before we left, and Xenovia's beloved Durandal, which she's able to wield even at her young age.

Of course, the girl is highly talented, but I still don't think bringing her with me is a good idea. She may be able to use a powerful holy artifact, but she can barely hold her ground against middle-class enemies, and whatever we're facing is either high-class or above.

I'd rather not bring her into battle. I can understand where Griselda is coming from, but couldn't she simply take Xenovia on a vacation of her own without the excuse of a mission? I can't be putting such talented youth in danger, not when she could be of use to me.

What a pain.

"Understood." Xenovia's eyes sparkle in admiration.

Children are too simple.

…I hate to admit it, but Icarus was right. It's a wonder how I failed Ethan so terribly.

As that thought crosses my mind, a loud, growling noise comes from Xenovia—specifically, her belly. I raise a brow at her as she blushes brightly, gulping her orange juice in an attempt to hide her embarrassment.

I can't help but grin at the sight.

"Are you hungry?"

"N-no…" Her stomach growls again. "Maybe…"

I know she is. Griselda mentioned that she skipped breakfast in her excitement, even with her guardian's insistence on taking something with her.

"You may ask for food from the flight attendants." I give her permission, flipping through the newspaper. "Or wait an hour until we land. We can stop by anything you'd like in the airport."

Xenovia hesitates about her options before asking me with a very quiet voice.

"...U-um, may we have McDonalds?"

"Of course."

"Then I'll wait!" She decides excitedly.

I hope she follows everything I tell her to do.

That will be her only chance at making it out of this alive.

Chapter 3 of the konosuba story has been posted on the money site.