Time for the first week's resume. Issei had to admit, Kuoh Academy was quite the place. He had been using his [Observe] skill constantly on everyone there, gauging out and finding who was and who was not a Devil. As it turns out, the entire Student Council was made up of Sona and her peerage, but that was no shocker by this point. At rest, no one drew his attention. His skill did level up, and he unlocked a new tutorial about rarities.


Time for you to learn about Item Rarities! From now on, those will show on the items you acquire, and make sure to keep them in mind! Items of various rarities can also be found in the shop, but those both cost and are sold for a price equivalent to the rarity of the item! The system has broken down the rarities of items into multiple categories, as well as included the Rank an enemy must have for dropping said item.

C (Common)

E Rank - 50%
D Rank - 55%

C Rank - 60%
B Rank - 70%
A Rank - 80%
S Rank - 95%

LM Rank - 100%


UC (uncommon)

E Rank - 45%
D Rank - 50%

C Rank - 60%
B Rank - 65%
A Rank - 75%
S Rank - 90%

LM Rank - 100%


R (Rare)

E Rank - 30%
D Rank - 45%

C Rank - 50%
B Rank - 65%
A Rank - 75%
S Rank - 90%

LM Rank - 100%


VR (Very Rare)

E Rank - 10%
D Rank - 25%

C Rank - 40%
B Rank - 65%
A Rank - 75%
S Rank - 90%

LM Rank - 100%


UR (Ultra Rare)

E Rank - 0%
D Rank - 0%

C Rank - 10%
B Rank - 45%
A Rank - 70%
S Rank - 90%

LM Rank - 100%


SR (Super Rare)

E Rank - 0%
D Rank - 0%

C Rank - 0%
B Rank - 10%
A Rank - 15%
S Rank - 75%

LM Rank - 100%


MR (Mystical Rare)

E Rank - 0%
D Rank - 0%

C Rank - 0%
B Rank - 0%
A Rank - 0%
S Rank - 50%

LM Rank - 100%


To give an example, your Enchanted Steel armor and weapon are of R-Rarity, while your Mystical Moonlight Blade is an SR-Rarity item. Your two rings are both UC-Rarity items. However, the last rarity, which is MR, is quite unique. Because that is what this rarity means - unique items the likes of which only ONE exists out there! No duplicates! But at the same time, this rarity also applies to custom-made items, more or less, since said items are also unique in a way. But then again, said Custom Items can be of any rarity. More information on the subject of Custom Items later! For now, enjoy your experience further!


Safe to say this was interesting, to say the least. He continued to use his [Observe] skill on pretty much everyone, even outside of Kuoh to try and grind up the EXP to level it up to MAX. It took him the entire week, but he was able to do it on Friday.

[Observe] (LVL MAX): This Skill allows the Gamer to observe and see various bits of information about the ones they are observing. It works on both beings and objects. Cost 1 STA per use. This Skill can allow the user to see their target's entire stat page, including perks and title, but not their skills. The capabilities of the skill on items are unchanged; only the Name, Purpose, and Durability.

That was very, very nice. He planned to use it on every one of interest when he got the chance, but for now, he had other things to take care of. Namely, Ingvild. Whenever he and Kuroka flirted with one another while she was present, she always seemed to get flustered, and even Kuroka noticed. It didn't affect his Relationship Points with her, but he could see she was gradually growing more uncomfortable, which was an issue.

She has also been working hard on her sacred gear, trying to master it as much as possible. They discovered some limits to it, however, namely that she can only control salt water with it. Namely the ocean, making her gear useless since humans mainly make use of freshwater. However, they did discover that she had a natural talent for Water Magic in general, and she already knew some spells. He might be able to train with her to grind his Water Magic a bit.

And that brings us to the current issue. Issei did want to get stronger and level up more, but with all dungeons defeated and Stray hunting not being that efficient, especially since they had school now to attend, they needed a new angle on things. A new place. Sure, the house in Mei was always an option, but it'll look suspicious if they kept vanishing on weekends, going miles away and returning in record time.

Thankfully, the system reminded him of something.

Quest Received!


The Dragon's Lair

Main Objective: Use the Dungeon Seeds you have received over your journey to create your own personal dungeon for your needs!

Main Objective Reward: 100K EXP, 1 Additional Quest, Title: Dungeon Master.


By making it a quest, the dungeon made it clear what he had to do now.

"Alright girls, gather up!" He announced, getting the attention of both Kuroka and Ingvild. "As you both know, I have this kickass power, right?"

"The Void System." Ingvild said, being the first to reply. "You told us it lets you live life as if it is a video game!"

"Nya! And due to it, you picked up plenty of skills, magics, and so on so far. And thanks to our RP tab maxing out, you also gained the ability to use Youkai techniques!" Kuroka said, which only boosted Issei's pride a bit.

"Indeed, but there is more!" He said, then he reached into his inventory, pulling out the Dungeon Seed. "I got this item a while back, and I have two of them now! It's a Dungeon Seed, meaning I can use it to make my own dungeon!"

"Nya! Really?" Kuroka said in amazement. "How does it work?"

"No idea!" Issei replied, which kinda took the wind out of everyone's sails. "The system has not given me much information on those things other than their main purpose. So I don't even know how to use it."

"Maybe you plant it? Like a seed?" Ddraig suggested.

"Somehow, I doubt that is how it works, old friend." Solomon added.

"Maybe you need to activate it?" Ingvild suggested. "What if you focus and a screen pops up?"

"Is it that easy, nya?" Kuroka asked, and Issei looked at the seed in his hand, trying out Ingvild's suggestion. Sure enough, a screen did in fact appear before him. "It is that easy!"

"Huh?" Ingvild said in confusion. "Is something happening?"

"Oh, sorry, I forgot you cannot see it yet." Kuroka said. "A screen popped up, nya!"

"Really? What does it say, Ise?"

"It asks me if I want to create a dungeon, as well as warning me that once I accept, there will be no turning back. I can only make one such dungeon, so location is key. Location is key…Hmmm." Issei thought for a bit, pondering over his words before a large grin extended over his face.

For coming up with a genius idea, you were awarded 1 INT!

"I know that face! You got an idea!" Kuroka called out, pointing at him.

"Yes, but it is to be seen if it works." Issei said, holding out the seed. "Ok…here we go." And then he pressed enter, making the screen vanish. "Huh?" Suddenly the seed began to shake, jumping around in his hand. "Woah, what the-" Then it jumped out of his hand, jumping around the house from wall to wall, forcing the girls to dodge.

"Careful!" Ingvild said as she ducked, dodging the seed together with Kuroka.

However, the seed eventually embedded itself into the wall, above the front door. Then, in front of Issei, an options screen appeared. "Dungeon options." He read the text above, looking at it. He began to scroll through, seeing multiple styles available for his dungeon. However, looking at it, he came across a button that said 'Custom', and he pressed it. When he did, however, another screen opened up, followed by another.

Thank you for choosing the Custom Option! Here, you can describe to the system how you wish your dungeon to be! First, please describe the way to enter the dungeon.

Looking at the screens in front of him, Issei noticed it had a keyboard of sorts. He began to type on it, and when he was done, the system processed the command. Looking at where the seed lodged itself, Issei saw how it vanished, and his front door glowed. Good. A second screen appeared.

Now, please describe the first room!

Entering the details for that one as well, the screens suddenly vanished. "Ok…What now?" Issei asked himself, then, suddenly, he began to feel a drain of some kind, making him kneel on the ground. Ingvild and Kuroka rushed to him, worried, but then the system put up a screen again.

Do not worry, the system is simply using your Mana to create the dungeon! What, you thought this was going to be free?

"Just as I was starting to like this system more…" Issei said, then he checked his stats.


HP: 6650/6650 (1HP/Min)

STA: 4615/4615(1STA/Min)

Mana: 0/6680(1 Mana/Min)


"It used up all my mana in an instant!" Issei said, which answered Kuroka's and Ingvild's questions as to what happened to him as well. Granted, the confusion didn't last long as suddenly a key appeared in front of Issei, who picked it up and checked it out.

[Dungeon Key]

[This is YOUR Dungeon Key, created per the details you introduced! This is the only way for you to access your dungeon!]

Grabbing the key, Issei had a constant smile on his face as he got up. "Despite the fact I could have used a warning about the mana being drained, it was all worth it." He said, then he went to the door, inserting the key. The girls watched as it glowed, then he opened it, revealing something other than the outside world. "After you, my ladies."

Kuroka and Ingvild walked inside the dungeon, marveling at the entrance. Issei followed behind them, closing the door behind him. Looking back, they saw they entered through a fancy door made of what looked to be dark oak decorated in gold. But looking around, they noticed the place they were in.

It was an intersection that extended into three separate hallways, but currently, all they saw them leading to is solid rock. The walls of the place were made out of beautifully decorated marble, with arches marking the entry into each hallway. "This is amazing…" Ingvild said, looking around. "But it is just an incomplete hallway."

"For now." Issei said, bringing up his other dungeon seed, which caused another screen to appear before him.

Note: Since you already own a dungeon, from this point on, Dungeon Seeds will only act as a free voucher, allowing you to add an additional room to your dungeon!

"All I needed to know." Issei said, then he looked at the three hallways, choosing the left one. "Watch out, girls!" He said, then he activated the seed, watching it glow. A screen appeared before him, and he typed out the desired room before the seed flew from his hand, striking the rock. However, what followed was the rock slowly fading into particles of light as the hallway extended before their eyes, all the way until it ended. Then, to their curiosity, light began to be seen from the outside.

Sure, the hallway was illuminated by lamps on the walls, but that was the natural light they were seeing! So heading there, they all came out of the hallway and the girls gasped seeing the place. "Nya! This is amazing!" Kuroka said as she ran ahead, checking the place out. Before them were an entire field with salt water and a fresh water pond next to them, stretching far and wide for what Issei hopes is a good amount of miles. Above them was also a perfect replica of the sky, with the sun moving in accordance with the sun outside, allowing them to keep track of time. "Issei, what is this place, nya?"

"A place for us to train without the need to worry about being detected or causing damage." He replied, then he got the notification that his quest was now complete. He'll collect in a bit. "As I said before, I gained some new abilities and I wish to start grinding them. If I cannot out-level people like Rias yet, I might as well overpower them using a superior arsenal."

"Very well said, Issei." Solomon said, bringing himself to attention."However, with that being said, I think it is my time to shine once again! With your permission, I'd like to formally begin Issei's magical training."

"My magical training?" Issei echoed, looking confused. "Wait a minute, you mean you could have taught me more magic all this time?!"

"Yes, and remember we tried when you were younger. But then the system came, and we found out you had a low affinity - which thankfully grew - which made me put it off more. However, the process is not easy. Remember the time I taught you how to create that extraction spell?"

"Yes?"

"The cost of the spell was high, which made me rethink some aspects. I came to the conclusion that if I teach you my method of handling magic and you develop using that, the result will be spelled with a higher mana cost than those commonly used today." The old king explained. "But seeing how much your mana increases every time you level up, and seeing your stats rising, has put my worries at ease, and now I am confident we can truly begin some training with your magic!"

"Nya! What about his Ki and Youkai-based skills? The system said he should be able to learn things like Senjutsu as well!" Kuroka argued.

"Forgive me, Kuroka, but I ask for priority regarding his training." Solomon said, but then his attention turned itself to Ingvild. "While I train Issei here in the arcane, you can aid Ingvild's growth."

"Huh? Mine?" Ingvild pointed at herself.

"Yes. I will draw up a training plan for you, child, which you can follow to possibly increase your gear's power. From my understanding, given your heritage, you should quickly develop the water-based abilities of the gear, but the dragon-controlling ones might take some training together with Issei there. While it may be a slower process, I bet my name and crown that the results will be more than worth it!"

"You sure sound pretty cock sure about it all, Solomon." Ddraig commented. "Are you sure Issei can handle it?"

"Ddraig, I am not sure, I know he can! So Issei, prepare yourself! It is time to begin your magical training!" Solomon declared.

"Awesome! But first, can I claim my latest quest?" Issei asked.

"Sure, why not."


The Dragon's Lair

Main Objective: Use the Dungeon Seeds you have received over your journey to create your own personal dungeon for your needs! -Complete

Main Objective Reward: 100K EXP, 1 Additional Quest, Title: Dungeon Master. - Unclaimed.


"And done!" Issei said, taking in the EXP. No level-up, but close. However, he also got a new quest which should be active.

Quest Updated!

He knew it.


START HAULING ASS!

Main Objective: Now that you have a place to train and a plan in mind, better start getting to it! This is a Daily Quest which resets every day, and you will benefit from it until you hit level 30! You will train until Solomon tells you to stop!

Main Objective Reward: 100K EXP.


"Not bad." Solomon said, looking at the quest. The EXP reward was bound to help them level up at a good pace. But there was more. "Check the Title, Ise."

"Alright." He replied, opening up the title section of his stat page to check the title. And what they saw shocked them.


Dungeon master

You have established your own dungeon, the place where you alone are master off. While inside your dungeon, your stats are increased by 25% their current values, and you gain a 50% EXP boost when gaining EXP from any source while within the dungeon.


Before Ddraig or Solomon could tell him, Issei had already switched out his Stray Hunter title for this one, knowing just how powerful it currently was. If he combined that with his daily quest, the EXP gain would be 150 EXP per day! This was HUGE! On the bad side of things, he will level up fast, and the quest stocks around only until he reaches level 30, but who cares?! This was a game-changer right here!

And he was about to make full use of it.


In the meantime, while Issei and the girls were busy with their training inside the dungeon, Rias called a meeting with her entire peerage to discuss some things. "Alright, now that Kuoh has opened its doors, I expect everyone to work hard. But that is understandable." The redheaded heiress of the Gremory house said. "The main reason you are all here is to discuss the next step of recruitment."

"I have been keeping an eye on the clubs that are more physical in nature, like the kendo club. There are a few people in there who are not too bad, and could make for a decent knight." Kiba was first, offering his first suggestion.

"I didn't find anyone of particular interest." Akeno said. "Well, apart from the two people of interest we met on Monday."

"Indeed." Rias said. "Ingvild and Issei Hyoudou, who claim to be siblings, but I think Koneko here says otherwise, right?"

Koneko flinched a bit, nervous but trying to hide it. She has not visited Issei and Kuroka in quite some time, so she didn't know a lot about Ingvild, but Rias did order her to stalk them to confirm if they were indeed siblings. It also helped that she was also in 1-A with them. But then Akeno giggled. "Indeed. After all…She has been a bad kitty."

Koneko's breath hitched. "H-how?" She asked, realizing that the worst-case scenario came to be.

"During the first week and due to the fact Akeno here met Issei before. We both tried to sense anything from him, but found nothing, which made us curious." Rias said, maintaining her calm. "You told us you knew him, but that fell through once we did some digging and found out he has not been living in Kuoh for well over a decade. He only recently returned a couple of months ago."

"Looks like the little kitty is out of the bag." Akeno said. "Koneko, we realize you lied to us."

"I didn't…I had to." She replied. "Issei…He is not a bad person."

"I can see that." Rias replied. "Koneko, I am not mad with you, just disappointed. I won't punish you for your lie, but I need the truth. Issei and Ingvild, first of all, are not siblings, are they?"

Koneko shook her head. "I don't really know who she is. I have not visited Issei in some time."

"And along with him, Kuroka, right?" Kiba said, surprising Koneko. "No offense, but you are not the ablest social out of all of us. Plus, you have been more open to your Nekomata abilities, and we all know you refused to use them due to your sister."

"And by that extension, since Kuroka and Issei Hyoudou are living together…He is him, isn't he? The Red Dragon Emperor." Rias said, eyeing Koneko closely as the girl was caught red-handed. She had not covered her tracks well enough, it seems.

"Y-yes." She replied, confirming Rias' suspicion. "But he doesn't wish to join us in any way."

"It is barely his choice." Akeno said. "With so much attention around Kuoh recently, it is only a matter of time before another faction finds him and tries to recruit him. Or worse."

"They will fail." Koneko said, quite certain of it too. "Issei is strong. He can defend himself."

"And if push comes to shove, he'd even use the Juggernaut Drive." Rias added, making Koneko flinch. "That is something that confuses me. We have felt him trying to release it once before, and then he threatened Sona with it. What do you know about that?"

"I don't know much about the first time, but during both times I am certain he has been bluffing." Rias snorted hearing that.

"So, the smart Sona fell for a bluff." She muttered. "Well, if your relationship with your sister is better, that changes things quite a bit. But then there is the other issue…"

"His growth." Kiba remarked. "His power, arsenal, and overall capabilities. It's unnaturally quick. Forget about him being some kind of protegee, this is beyond that! We know he is some kind of magician, but digging into his past revealed no relative who is aware of the supernatural or related to it."

"I know nothing about that. All I was told is that Issei has a strange ability…And there is something else. A presence." Koneko began to say, recalling the one time she caught a better glimpse of it. "I felt it before too. Old, powerful, and dangerous. When I sense it, it's like a part of me screams to run away."

"That is indeed strange." Akeno remarked. "Are you sure it was not the heavenly dragon within his gear?"

Koneko nodded. "It was not Ddraig. I even talked with him."

"Hmm. I could press on and ask where they live to try and corner them…" Rias said, making Koneko even more nervous. "But I will leave it at that. Koneko, I dislike the fact you had to lie to me, even if you had your reasons. When Issei does find out you told us, I will make sure to take the blame."

Koneko didn't reply, instead, she only remained silent.

"That being said, I can see he is indeed as good as you say." She continued. "Judging from your change in behavior, he helped you fix things with your sister, correct?"

"Yes, Rias."

"Not to mention he revealed his identity to you. However, it seems he still keeps secrets, which might be either due to not enough trust being established or him simply being careful." Rias continued. "Do you know what kind of abilities he has?"

Koneko shook her head. "He never told me the extent of his abilities."

"What a mysterious dragon…I would love to have a taste of his power." Akeno said.

"For now, the following moves we take will be critical." Rias said, starting to hand out her instructions. "Tell me, Koneko, what did you tell him?"

"I never acted like a spy." Koneko said. "He never asked me to do anything other than keep the secret. All I told him was about our current, impending issue."

"You told him about Riser and my engagement to him?" Rias asked, being quiet and on edge about the subject. However, Koneko seemed calmer than she'd imagined.

"He wants to help." She said, facing Rias. "He's…honestly, I can see why he gets so along with my sister. They are both thinking more with their loins to some regard. However, that being said, if I am to leave out some details and be short with it, he wishes to help. He wants to help us deal with Riser."

"Willingly?" Rias asked, and Koneko nodded. "That is…Honestly, it is great news." She smiled, glad of the news she was hearing. "So, Issei Hyoudou wishes to aid us against Riser Phenex? Does he know what he is getting himself into? If he does this, his identity as the Red Dragon Emperor will undoubtedly become known to the Underworld through Riser."

"I think he understands the risk." Koneko replied. "But I am not entirely sure. We would need to talk with him directly."

"Still, that is great news." Kiba said. "It means we can count on his aid."

"A Longinus such as the Boosted Gear will surely take Riser by surprise." Akeno added. "But the question remains: Is he powerful enough?"

"True, Riser is no weakling either." Rias pointed out, seeing her queen's point. "However, he is the embodiment of arrogance within Devil high society. If we simply keep the news about the Red Dragon being among our ranks under wraps, when he does meet Issei, he will likely underestimate him."

"A trick." Akeno summarized. "Making Riser's arrogance work against him."

"Would it work?" Kiba asked. "He still has a crushing numerical advantage over us."

"And we will have a crushing power advantage." Rias added, standing up from her seat. "If what we have seen so far of the Red Dragon's exploits can all be credited to them, one fight which we can all testify to in regards to his skill, is all true, then until the date of the Rating Game between us and Rises begins, I have no doubt that his unnatural growth, as mysterious to us as it may be, will aid him into becoming powerful enough to turn the tide in our favor."

Silence fell in the room for a bit, then Koneko asked her a question. "What do you wish me to do now, Rias?"

"When he returns, on Monday, we will also open our gates for new members. And those new members will be Issei Hyoudou and Ingvild Hyoudou." Rias said. "After classes are done, Koneko, you will go to them. Understood?"

"Crystal."


Down in the deepest parts of the Underworld, within a prison so mighty even a God might be trapped within, Danbooru and Leon had spent a considerable amount of time planning on how to break within without raising the alarms. Eventually, they managed to sneak in using stolen uniforms, traveling to the wing where one prisoner - ONE PRISONER for an entire PRISON WING, remained trapped within. "I don't like this, Danbooru. I know you said this guy is going to have no issues with us, but how can you be sure? Have you met them before?"

"Never." Danbooru replied to Leon. "I only know him from rumors told among veterans of the Great War and of the Civil War that followed after. He is the General of the Snake of Adam, their top leader."

"But then why is he here?" Leon asked. "If he is here, then how can he lead?"

"That, my friend, is a question I also ask myself." Danbooru replied, then the two of them noticed something. A change in the air. It was becoming increasingly hotter as they advanced. "We are getting close."

"I can feel that." Leon replied, a drop of sweat running down the side of his face from the heat. "Don't they have enchantments to progress without getting torched to death?"

"He is not allowed to have visitors, and those who usually go to his cell only do so to give him food, water, and anything else he might request." Danbooru replied."No one is meant to stay for long."

The two of them stopped, having arrived before a door. "We are here." Danbooru said, then he went to the panel next to it. It was a magi-tech door, designed by Ajuka Beelzebub himself! In fact, this entire place was designed by him, down to the very alloy this entire section is made out of. Using the code they acquired from one of the offices, the door soon opened. It was a barrier, preventing anyone from going in further. Once it dropped, the two of them advanced.

The hallway quickly made way for a bridge that connected the rest of the prison to the cage where the demon was kept. Yes, a DEMON. Not a Devil. One of the first ones, who was born demonic from his fall from grace, all those years ago, when Lucifer fought God. The bridge they walked upon stretched over an icy lake, with a cold mist hovering above it which cooled the air. But even so, the closer you got to the cage, which was a cell built on the opposite side of the large room, made entirely of the alloy and enchanted as well to reinforce the protection, maintained using special seals created by Ajuka Beelzebub to keep the monster within.

And there, as Danbooru and Leon got closer, they spotted the glowing golden eye looking back at them and heard the sound of chains as the demon moved in his cell. He stood in the back of the cell, letting the shadows shroud him safe for his eye, but Danbooru could make out their frame; muscular, yet lean, not on the massive side, and saw the black nails on his feet. The chains he was tied with went to a collar around his neck which light shone weakly upon, along with three additional restraints on each of his arms, wrapped around his biceps, forearms, and wrists.

He also had a bigger one around his stomach and additional restraints around his thighs and ankles. Upon seeing them, he opened his tongue. "Quis illuc ambulat in carcerem meum?"

"What the- I couldn't understand him even with the language spell, but I recognize Latin everywhere." Leon said, confused.

"It is one of his tricks, it seems." Danbooru said. "I know you understand us. Please, talk to us using the translation spell."

The demon within sighed. "No one speaks the old language anymore. Fine then. Who are you two, and what do you wish for? I can tell you are not actual guards."

"Our names bear little importance, General." Danbooru replied. "We are here to talk."

"About?" The General asked. "Although it may not look like it, I am quite the busy demon."

"We are here to inquire about the movement of the Old Satan Faction's member: Arachna Andromalius." Danbooru said, presenting his question. "But also to bring some news to you, which you might have, perhaps, been unaware of."

"Is it about my lot kidnapping Ingvild Leviathan?"

"How did you-"

"Please, as if such things could go unnoticed." The demon said, interrupting Leon. "I knew of their plans, even before putting them in action."

"Then why not stop them? Why not order them to stand down?" Leon asked, but what followed was a small wave of heat.

"Despite having not ordered such actions, and most likely never would have ordered it even if they brought the information to me, I let them proceed because I knew what it would mean." The demon said, a grin on his face. Danbooru, for his part, caught on.

"The Red Dragon Emperor…You sacrificed your troops!" He accused him. "You would let your men face the dragon's wrath by themselves? We heard what happened at that base! There are no survivors!"

"I know. And that, right there, is their punishment for going behind my back." He said, surprising Danbooru. "Everyone at that base was in on that plan. Those who had foresight backed down and received minor punishments. Initially, all I was going to do was punish them too, harshly. But changes had me remove my mercy."

"Changes?" Danbooru echoed. "What changes? You sent your own troops to the slaughter like cattle! If those changes are big enough to warrant the death penalty, then enlighten us."

"With pleasure." The demon replied, unfazed by the aggressive tones of the intruders. "I learned what they were planning to use Ingvild for. A bargaining chip, one to ensure the separation of the Snake of Adam from the Old Satan Faction. If it stayed like that, I might have considered the plan too, but then came a question; 'what after?'. Sure, we'd become free of the Old Satan Faction, but then my mind went to the poor girl stuck in the middle of everything."

"You mean to tell us that you allowed the slaughter of your troops…So the Red Dragon would take the Leviathan progeny?" Danbooru asked, but something was nagging at him. Something seemed to be missing. The punishment the general dealt was too great still, something was not right. Unless…"They never wanted to give her back, did they? The ones that originally captured her and those within the base."

"You catch on quick." The General said, then he began to explain, not hiding the disgust in his voice. "She was a sleeping beauty, monk. And the soldiers? Not many are women…Men get very lonely in the days they spend in the ranks."

"Those sick fucks wanted to keep her as some toy for their lust?" Leon asked, disgusted. However, the silence he received was an answer in its own right. "That's…revolting."

"And against everything I stand for." The General said, catching their attention. "I have nothing against my soldiers and officers fulfilling their desire, but even I have my limits. Discipline needs to be enforced, after all. A man and woman in my ranks can fuck as much as they want, but I have no tolerance for rapists. None whatsoever. And this? This was worse. Little Ingvild…I saw her when young. Just imagining what those PIGS do who knows what to her while in that sleeping state gets my blood boiling. Literally."

"I can't understand this guy, Danbooru." Leon said, not being able to read the demon at all.

"Enough. I can understand now why you punished them with death, but no crime was yet committed!" Danbooru said, then the General snorted.

"Let me guess…Because the Red Dragon managed to work up a miracle and wake her?" This had both of them shocked to the bone, but it also confirmed something they were suspecting. Despite the intense security measures Ajuka and Sirzechs themselves designed and enforced, it was not enough. There was a leak or multiples which the demon before them was exploiting to both lead and receive information. "Those bases have security measures, but I made sure this was all kept silent. Only me, the Colonels, and a few others know of this incident."

"Such cruelty, still." Leon said. "You let all those people be killed…"

"They at least received a warrior's death." The General said. "And it will remain that way! Despite their crimes, only I will know the truth. A lie, I know, but a necessary one. Now, to answer your previous question as well with a question of my own: What sort of business do you have with Arachna Andromalius?"

"That is for us to know." Danbooru said, not sharing his intentions. "We only need their general location."

"And what makes you believe I will willingly answer?" The demon replied with a question, then continued. "Torture is useless against me. Do you know how many times Ajuka Beelzebub, that green bean, tried to force his way into my mind and the times I kicked him out? They used every known method, supernatural or not, to try to get information out of me. Nothing worked. I spat in Ajuka's face and sent him home to cry to his whore mother about it. Sirzechs? Now that was interesting, although I might have talked if he tried using his Power of Destruction. Oh well, I guess they need me alive. That new Asmodeus was too lazy to do anything and believe me, that Serafall girl knows how to waterboard a person, but she is sloppy. Damn brutal if you mentioned her sister, she was almost scary."

"I give up…" Leon sighed. "What do we need to do for you to tell us, demon?"

"Well, let me answer with what you will NOT do." The demon said, continuing. "You will not break me out of here."

"What?" Leon replied confused. "I thought that'd be the one thing you wanted-"

"He can break free at any given time." Danbooru suddenly said, summarizing the situation. "Isn't that right?"

"That's right." The demon confirmed. "And you two won't tell anyone about it, correct?"

"No. We only wish to know the answer to our question, then we will leave you be." The monk continued. "It is as you said: We cannot force the answer out of you. But something tells me we don't have to. You are the guardian of the lost houses. The houses that are believed extinct, the 40 now gone, you have protected them and allowed them to recover their numbers. It is your duty to safeguard them, to make sure the New Satan Faction, which was previously the Anti-Satan Faction, doesn't find them. Hidden, across the human world, in places ONLY YOU KNOW!" Danbooru smacked his fist against the bars. "You are a tough obstacle. One we cannot jump over, force our way through, or workaround."

"Hmm. True on all fronts." The demon replied. "Except the one about an obstacle. I am like a rock in the middle of the road, one which can be removed. I am not standing against you on intention, you simply happened to choose the path leading to me. So, allusions aside…Tell me your reasoning for searching, and we can talk more."

"We cannot tell you everything." Danbooru added. "We cannot. We also have secrets to keep for the sake of our own operations."

"Fair."

"But…We need their clan's ability. The power to mark and track, or retrieve, almost anything and anyone." The demon hummed hearing him.

"Someone has done their homework. But you know I cannot let you near her so easily, still." The demon said, not letting himself be easily convinced. "I plan to keep my role as guardian as legitimate and powerful as I can, so here is the deal: If you return her harmed, I will put a similar wound on you. She dies, one of you pays with their head."

"A life for a life…" Leon summarized, looking at Danbooru for answers.

"Very well." Danbooru said. "You have a deal."

The demon ginned in the shadows, then he spoke. "The person you are looking for has broken off from their house, surrendering their right as heir. However, I still need to spare one soldier to watch their ass. Your target is located in Europe, namely in the capital of Bulgaria, Sophia. I don't know the exact address, so that is pretty much all."

"More than enough." Danbooru said, offering a bow of courtesy. "We thank you for your aid."

"Good manners. You are very much welcomed." The demon replied.

"Let's go, Dan. We don't know how long until they realize they have moles." Leon said, but the demon chuckled. "What is so funny?"

"Oh, you have no idea…They know, but they also know not to trigger the alarm when their General is doing business."