Chapter XI

It was just his luck that they all happened to have powers like him.

Powers they almost used on him had the gorgeous redhead in a bathrobe not called them off before lightning and swords started flying. Like, how cool was that? Actual magical swords and lightning. Now don't get him wrong, he still thought Dusa-chan's power was the coolest, but just like with oppai there was nothing Issei had against window shopping magic.

"So, um, sorry for just walking in… again."

Issei rubbed the back of his head, feeling a bit awkward about what happened. Sure, nobody got hurt but he most likely did something very rude coming in like he had.

"It's my fault but uhh… shouldn't you guys lock the door?"

Swallowing, pretending his cheeks weren't still burning, Issei focused on his tea. That, at least, was safe to stare at.

"Thank you." Forcing his spine to straighten, the young man, after a few moments of forcing himself to think about ceiling fans, managed to face the president of the occult research club. "Is it okay if I ask some questions? Like, you all seemed to have special powers so this isn't some kind of secret society kinda thing, right? And as silly as it may sound, well, I have powers too."

Surprisingly, his classmate didn't seem annoyed, confused, or disbelieving. Just like she hadn't gotten angry at him for seeing her like that.

Instead, she was confused.

Opening her mouth then closing it again, it took his upperclassmen two or three tries to actually speak.

"Let me talk with my friends. Ok?"

"Sure!" Issei smiled. "And again, please let them know I'm really, super sorry for just barging in like that. It was rather rude. Eheh…."

"I will." She smiled back, if thinly, and rose with a single, elegant motion. "Just a moment. And enjoy the tea and cakes."

It left Issei a moment to appreciate the upperclassman, though he found she seemed a little different than before. A little less bold, dare he say, and that seemed confusing.

Perhaps, he figured, it had to do with being embarrassed.

But right now she was dressed in the rather extravagant girl's uniform, the only exception being that her hair was wrapped up in a towel to dry, but the outfit seemed to sit a little less… finely. As if the redhead wasn't declaring herself to the world. Almost like she was afraid. But that couldn't be the case, especially if she wasn't bothered by him seeing her body like most women would be.

'No, maybe I'm just overthinking.'

After all, there was nothing about him that could scare anyone… not like the poor girls he'd killed.

"Well, maybe that is scary."

At the very least it was sad.

'And now I'm feeling guilty again.'

And he definitely was gonna have to call Smith after this. Sure, yesterday he asked her to explain things to his parents and get all the paperwork settled so they wouldn't worry about him. But why didn't she tell him that the other magic people in town were going to school with him?

How cool was that?

'And I totally blew my chance at a good first impression.' Wrecking their place and then showing up uninvited the next day. Sighing, the young man wasn't paying attention when the door behind him which had been left slightly ajar opened with a soft squeak and an unknown presence decided that it was time to make itself known.

"Senpai!"

Slender arms threw themselves around his neck and the Campione reacted with a small cry, but surprise turned to amusement and joy when he found the blonde girl from his last fight safe and sound.

"Hey! It's you! Are you ok? I'm glad you made it out. And sorry about not finding you after, I, um, well, I'm ok now! What about you?"

She nodded and then frowned and poked him in the chest.

"You got stabbed! You got really hurt. F-For me!" Small tears formed at the corner of her eyes. "And then I couldn't help you at all. I'm sorry. I really am useless."

Launching forwards, the blonde girl started quietly sniffling and Issei simply began patting her head - feeling more than a little guilty for making her cry. That seemed to be something that was happening more and more often since he got his powers on that ship.

But that was okay.

This one he at least managed to save.

"There, there. You did good."

Leaning into the head pat, the poor kid settled down and Issei pulled her into his lap. It was strange how miserable she seemed, but he supposed that the whole affair was rather terrifying. Doubly so if she was connected with the definitely Occult Research Club.

"Ah, thank you, Senpai. My name's Gasper."

"Gasper-chan, then."

There was a small shift from the blonde.

"...Please don't be disappointed."

He frowned.

"Why would I be disappointed with you?"

She looked down.

"It's… kun. Gasper-kun."

There was a brief pause as Issei's brain rebooted.

"Wait… what?" He blinked once… twice… thrice…

Yup, this day really wasn't turning out the way he expected.

"Buchou what are you-"

Rias ignored the question, raising a finger to her lips as she closed the door to the annex behind her, shooting a meaningful look at her Queen, who nodded, and with a few hand gestures, placed a floating sigil over the door - not only physically locking it but keeping any sound from leaking out.

She breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Akeno."

The dark haired girl nodded, lips flat with worry as opposed to her usual teasing demeanor. Really, the fact she hadn't teased or laughed at all yet meant she probably understood the amount of trouble that just walked through their door and sat on their couch.

Really, they might as well have a bomb ticking away in the club room.

"What… was that?" Koneko asked sullenly, eyes aimed at the door. The girl wasn't the most expressive, but Rias could tell by her wide blown pupils and curled fists that the middle schooler was completely overwhelmed.

She couldn't blame her or Kiba.

The plan had been to explain things to them and formulate a strategy this afternoon about how to deal with their new… neighbor. But now said neighbor completely caught them off guard by walking through the door.

Seriously, how bad could their luck get?!

"Buchou?" Kiba repeated with a worried look.

Rias pinched her brow.

She really wasn't on the ball lately.

"Sorry, I was lost in thought. But really, to think he would show up right after class. Talk about rotten timing." She couldn't help but grouch. How did he even know they were here? Heck, who had even told him about the ORC?

"Who is that student?" Kiba, ever dutiful, was quick to pull her back from going into another rant.

"Issei Hyoudou, a young man with… special status. I'm sure I told you two about this before. Apparently he was the one who saved Gasper yesterday." Of course, she avoided saying that he was also the reason why the incident from yesterday happened in the first place.

That would just complicate things.

"Special status?" Kiba latched on that, taking the conversation in a direction she really didn't want.

But she would roll with it.

"I'm sure you two remember when we just moved here, and I explained to you two the reason why devils work within territories? Why couldn't we just take jobs from across the country without getting into trouble."

Koneko caught onto it.

"Protection. Nobody messes with us. We don't mess with them." Because Japan was famous for having all sorts of incidents and conflicts happening in the shadows. Onmyodo, Yokai, monsters of all shapes and sides, warriors of divine heritage wielding priceless regalia.

To this day the island was stuffed to the brim with all these factions. Thus, any devil trying to find work would need to request permission to set up shop or risk being found out and attacked by whoever was in charge of the land. Be it human, yokai, or anything else.

"Yes, that's right. That's why, normally, anyone looking to move here would need permission from us, Sona, or from the Yokai faction who originally owned the land."

The blonde Knight frowned.

"And that boy? You looked surprised to see him."

Yes, surprise was certainly one way to put it. Spooked also worked.

"He is what we like to call an exception to that rule. Without any regard for established conventions and pacts, marching to the beat of their own drums. Regardless of what we, or the landlords say, that boy is the sort of existence that can't be rejected lightly."

Akeno picked up the explanation, looking as dejected as she felt over the inescapable truth of their situation. Doubtlessly she was thinking of the same fight Rias was.

They'd been left hanging out to dry side by side, after all.

"Having successfully defeated the calamity known as Heretic God, he is a human who usurped their powers, becoming what is called 'Campione'. Known throughout the world as Demon Kings, they are the tyrants who rule over humanity from the shadows."

The two younger devils paled.

"Demon King? That kid…"

"Didn't seem like much."

Rias agreed, but only up to a certain point, giving Koneko a reapproaching look.

"He might appear mundane, but even then the three of you reacted instinctively to his presence. Without knowing who he was or what he was, his presence still drove you to prepare for a fight or to run. It's not something anyone can accomplish. Rather, the fact he could walk through our defenses without being noticed marks him as the type of threat that cannot… should not be ignored."

She let the words hang in the air for a few moments. The looks of confusion and fear on her Knight and Rook's faces were like daggers to her stomach. Really, it must have galled them to realize that there were people out there Rias couldn't do anything about.

She was sure they logically understood that the world was a much larger place. That there were strong people no matter the time and the place.

They probably didn't expect something like that to happen here.

Nor did Rias, really.

Which is why she'd been caught flat footed not once but twice in the past week.

"Unfortunately, now that he is here there isn't much we can do to get him to leave. No matter how much Sona thinks she can do it."

The trio absorbed her words in rapt attention.

"Was he… related to yesterday's incident, Buchou?"

"He wasn't the cause behind it. Rather, we believe he might have been the target that the culprits were aiming for. Campione have mortal enemies and rivals, and those don't care whether a whole city of innocents gets dragged into it or not. All things considered, we were lucky the damage was so limited."

An entire street was wrecked.

Their building was ruined.

"And that might be exactly what we need right now."

Smiling, gently, she gathered her two beloved servants in her arms. Kiba was stiff and surprised, like he wanted to bolt, while Koneko buried her face in Rias's chest. A bolt of shame crawled through her gut at both reactions.

"I'm afraid I've been a terrible King and a worse friend. Depending on your borrowed strength, strength I took for granted, might well have consigned you all to a fate that I could have prevented. So, if you three are willing to forgive me, then I'll make one more gamble. And perhaps give us a chance to accomplish something extraordinary."

Because they now had in their hands an opportunity to turn things around.

Here was a Campione, one of the few beings considered to be of the same weight class as the Four Satans and most gods. The ones who despite all odds managed to achieve the impossible feat of slaying a Heretic God.

'And we have a chance to see one live.'

What could be gleaned from this opportunity? Could Rias learn now what was the true gulf between her and that despicable goddess? The one who dared endanger her beloved servants, destroy her city and make a mockery of the Gremory name.

What was necessary to kill a Heretic?

She wanted to know. Rather, she needed to learn. And failing that, she couldn't help the vindictive thrill that ran through her body at the thought of pointing that power towards the abomination and her oversized pet spider when she saw them again.

But good things came to those who waited.

"For now, let's worry about properly welcoming our guest. We wouldn't want the name Gremory to be tarnished by poor hospitality, no wouldn't we?"

Her peerage rallied.

Yes, she was proud of their bravery. Proud that she was still worthy of that loyalty despite the shame she endured the past day. With her determination rekindled, Rias undid the seal on the door, unlocking it with a click and a deep steadying breath.

She was ready to face him, the Demon King of Japan.

"Come on, yell it from the top!"

"PLUS ULTRA!"

"No, not that! The other thing!"

"OPPAI!"

"Again, my disciple!"

"O-PPAI!"

What she wasn't ready for, was to see said Demon King standing by her Bishop, egging him on as the blonde yelled about cleavage.

"What in the Underworld…?"

She blinked, confused. Today just wasn't going the way she expected, at all.

"OPPAI!"

"Heh." Issei patted the boy's head. "Good. You're learning. We'll make you manly in no time, Gasper! As your teacher it'll be my duty and honor!"

"Yes sir!"

The blonde boy looked up at him with such bright red eyes. that shined with so much admiration and hope, that Issei felt… something. Something he assumed was a bad sandwich he felt for lunch and absolutely nothing else. So he gave the kid a thumbs up.

"Good! Starting tomorrow, I'll bring you along with me for - ah, you're back! I'm sorry, I didn't see you guys there."

Not only did his senior still look a little confused, but the rest of her friends, too, seemed a bit… flabbergasted. Like what they were seeing just did not make the tiniest bit of logical sense.

"Gasper? You are… out of your room?" And just like that, the red head was back in control. She walked over to the now suddenly far more nervous boy and smiled at him. "You are, of course, more than welcome to stay. How are you… feeling?"

"I… um… well…."

Seeing his poor underclassman struggling, Issei clapped him on the shoulder, though carefully not enough to knock Gasper around.

"If you mean the magic eye stuff, he's told me about them! We were trying to get him hyped up and see about getting those under control. Apparently he got in some good practice helping me deal with Dusa-Chan's sisters. I'm immune to that stuff, but he managed to stop those two for half a second or so! Now that he's got a little experience, it's easier. So long as you stay manly, right, Gasper?"

"Yes, senpai! I'll control them in no time flat!" With a nod and a flush of shame, the young boy ended up somehow on Rias's lap with his eyes screwed shut and the heiress looking fondly exasperated.

The younger boy seemed to really like laps, huh?

He could approve of his kouhai's ambition!

"Hey, hey, it's ok. You're not trapped in there. I'm proud of you for coming and greeting our guest." She turned to Issei and smiled, his heart skipping a beat when a single dimple formed, the European girl's eyes seeming to shine with a genuine care when she turned to him. "And thank you for protecting Gasper. He's our beloved junior and you saved his life."

"He probably got dragged into trouble because I was there, but everything is alright now. Somehow we managed it." Rubbing the back of his head, Issei felt a bit awkward. Suddenly aware that his own cheeks were heating up.

Getting thanked for stuff… he'd have to get used to stuff like that, huh?

"Gya-kun was in trouble, and you helped. Thank you."

The usually silent white haired girl said, walking over to sit besides the redhead and blonde boy, though she looked exasperated by his crying instead of annoyed. It would seem like Issei had his work cut out for him if he wished to guide him on the road of maturity!

'Although there's nothing wrong with petite, either.'

In all things, one should aim for variety! That was the spice of oppai!

"My, my. It seems our juniors have surpassed us, Kiba."

"Indeed." Bowing, the blonde pretty boy offered up his thanks, too. "You protected Gasper with your life, you have our thanks."

"As the noble knight said. You fought splendidly and your blood was… most wonderful~"

Feeling deeply conflicted, he accepted both thanks. Such as they were. But Rias's friends seemed a bit terrifying. At least now they weren't threatening him.

'Thank you Lord for having her bow so deeply!'

The poor, unfortunate boy had nowhere else to possibly look.

A tragedy, indeed.

Thanks aside, the members settled into their club room. Akeno, the black haired beauty, stepped into a small kitchenette, next to the fully furnished bathroom, and began preparing tea in some of the finest porcelain he'd ever seen. While both the white haired girl, whom he had not met, and Kiba, the pretty boy knight, set to preparing food.

Small cakes and sandwiches respectively.

And it gave him the time to actually just take the place in. Gasper had, understandably, taken his focus, not that he begrudged it, and it struck him that this place was more than old - it was elegant.

The floor and walls were hardwood, the furniture was foreign and, while in a very old style, was brand new, and he was also struck by the fact that the seemingly ancient building also had clear signs of both heating and cooling! This place probably actually wasn't very old at all, at least in hindsight, and definitely not if they had a working gas stove, too.

But… was that all just magic?

"Excuse me… uh… ?"

"Rias is fine, president too if you prefer"

"Right, Buchou then. I was just wondering, but how was this place paid for? If it's okay to ask, that is!"

Pouring a cup of tea for him, it was Akeno who answered.

"The building belongs to the school, who cleans it and maintains it… normally. Yesterday was an exception and we had to spend a great deal of time and effort to put it back together with magic." She gave him a smile. "Now, milk or sugar?"

Swallowing, forcing himself not to glance downwards, Issei managed to respond.

"Milk, please."

And if it came out a little strangled, well, he could hardly be blamed for that.

"Still, you said you had questions?"

Right, right.

That was before he got sidetracked, and really, who could blame him for not focusing when in the presence of so many beauties. Really, Issei might have forgotten his own name if he stared at the club president for too long.

"Yeah, well… I'm kinda new, so… there wasn't a whole lot I could find about the magic stuff by myself."

The redhead nodded.

"Yes, that is not the kind of information anyone would carelessly share even in this day and age."

Yeah, Smith said the same thing.

"So… ahem… I thought I'd come here and see if there were any hints? You guys all seem to have powers so I guess my hunch was right." And while Smith explained a great deal about how the government and her office dealt with magic stuff, she never actually told him where he could learn more about it, or who he could learn from.

"Ah, so you're interested in background information? I'm honestly surprised someone in your position couldn't just make a request."

Issei rubbed his head in embarrassment.

"I did want to, but the past couple days have been a bit busy. I'm only getting my feet back under me now." And he wasn't even sure if what he was doing was magic to begin with. The way Athena explained it, the whole god slayer business was probably rare and since Smith said the locals couldn't handle the sisters that meant they weren't like him.

So what did that make this club?

The gorgeous redhead hummed in thought, resting her chin on her hand with a… amused smile.

"Well, I certainly don't see any problem with answering your questions..."

Score!

"For a price."

Wait a second.

"I have to pay?!"

"Usually we would draw up contracts and reach an agreement depending on what the task is. As far as business pertaining to… magic… are concerned I am usually called to help identify relics or break curses. It's not actually a cheap service, hiring me."

Dammit! He used most of his allowance on that date with Athena. He didn't have anything to pay them with!

"Uh… do you take marble statues?"

He had plenty of those.

"I think we've had enough marble in the past few days." The senior student's face twisted in annoyance.

Yeah, he figured tha would be the case.

"But it shouldn't be that much, in fact I already have the perfect way in mind for you to get your answers and us to get our payment." Leaning back, the redhead had an air of easy confidence and eagerness plus… something else Issei couldn't quite put his finger on.

But if he came all the way here, he might as well ask.

"And that is?"

Leaning forward, the redhead's smile went from soft and indulgent to mischievous with just the right amount of teeth to send a tingle down Issei's spine, along with the realization that he probably should have asked about it first before agreeing.

"How do you feel about helping us with an exercise today?"

Issei didn't expect to come back to the gymnasium this soon.

After getting saved by Kiryuu earlier the very same day, the young man was starting to wonder whether this wasn't fate or the universe trying to get him back for avoiding his totally undeserved eyeful of men in swim gear. With how bad his luck had been the past day, that might actually be the case.

Though fortunately the swim team was nowhere to be found.

Nor was anyone for that matter.

"Isn't it kinda… empty?"

Quiet, too quiet for his taste. The only thing missing was the ambush.

"It's still the first week, so after class activities are being kept short. Most importantly, we are waiting for the high amounts of mana from the fight yesterday to disperse. We want to avoid people becoming sick, so we asked the staff to limit student exposure. Even if the adults and those accustomed to it are less likely to get sick."

Wait, you could get sick from magic?

That… actually made sense, but he didn't know it was so bad that just going to the place where he fought could be dangerous.

"And the people in town?"

The dark haired beauty waved him off with a soft smile.

"They will be fine. The area is cordoned off while the crews work on repairing the damage."

Ah, good. That was a load off his shoulder.

"Still, I think it's about time we got down to business." Standing across from thim, the group stood on the opposite end of one of the game courts, lined up like they were about to ask him to play them.

Issei wasn't at all confident in his basketball skills. But he had a mean kick, so maybe soccer would be fine.

"So, uhh… what am I supposed to do? You mentioned an exercise but… what are we here for?"

The redhead took center, standing between him and the group.

"Well, it's pretty simple. I figured that it's only natural for us to learn more about you if you want to learn more about us. And the best way to do that is to see what you can do just as we show you what we are capable of."

He caught onto it immediately.

"So we're… fighting?"

"Not seriously, of course. Think of this as trying to see where you stand, and showing you where we stand. I wouldn't want to bore you with a drawn out lecture, so this way is more fun!" She clapped, looking like the very picture of innocence.

"Um… like the kendo club?"

"No." Kiba, the blonde pretty boy bastard stepped forwards. "Not at all." Glancing at Rias, the swordsman received a smile and a nod. "We'll be dueling you, one at a time, and while we won't be using lethal attacks, we will be fighting you."

Manifesting a long, narrow handled European sword with a black blade, the knight extended the weapon.

"Please, touch the blade? It won't hurt you, I promise."

Reaching out, the Campione hesitated for only a moment, having to force himself to try and prick his finger on the tip of the sword.

"Huh. It can't hurt me? So it's a practice sword?"

A shake of the head from Rias.

"Hardly. That's one of my Knight's most dangerous weapons."

Kiba, Sir Kiba the Lucky, Issei supposed, took the tip of the sword and slowly pushed into the ground… inch by inch… then foot by foot… until he pressed the hilt against the floor of the gym, flicked his wrist, and slashed a meter long gash in the building.

"Holy crap!"

"Unholy, actually."

"Wait? Like a demon sword?"

"Sort of." The knight smiled. "Still, no matter how hard I attack, I doubt my weapons can pierce your skin. So you don't need to fear injury."

"Ah, well, um, you know… could we start without weapons?"

Looking back at his mistress, the swordsman shrugged.

"Sure, then. Koneko?"

"Ok."

The white haired girl walked forwards, the only addition to her otherwise normal school uniform being a pair of boxing gloves.

"I'll go first."

Okay, so they wouldn't be fighting to the death.

That was… a breath of fresh air considering every other time he had to push his powers, it was because something was trying to kill him and he had to kill it back before it could.

"Alright."

Buchou quirked an eyebrow inquisitively.

"Alright? You see no problems?"

"I mean, we're already here and I kinda still want to ask those questions. So if nobody is getting really hurt… sure, let's go for it." Issei scratched his cheek.

"Though I don't really wanna fight a girl." Not for the third time, at least.

"It's ok. I won't hold back."

"O-ok." Sketching a bow, Issei dipped his head. "Still, nice to meet you! I'm Issei Hyoudou."

"Koneko." She dipped her head. "Rook of Gremory."

'Rook, like in chess?'

Unfortunately for Issei there was no starting signal, no buzzer or bell. Koneko simply rocketed forwards and brought her foot up in an axe kick. Issei, barely, managed to dodge and the vicious blow came down in an almost perfect arc coming down where he'd been just standing.

Dodging, however, wasn't enough to save him.

The heel of her foot came down like a sledgehammer, shattering the ground, sending pieces of debris flying as wood came apart as easily as tissue paper. It was all Issei could do to stay on his feet as the ground became loose and unstable, concrete cracking beneath the floorboards as a whole section of the court was pushed downwards, sinking into the ground.

Barely avoiding the small hole, Issei gawked at the herculean middle schooler.

"The hell?!"

What were they feeding people in this school?!