Note: I'm currently experiencing technical issues with , as I cannot view the uploaded chapter on either my computer or my mobile device.
Update: Turns out is doing some really weird stuff on my end. I just posted the previous note and then I was able to actually view this chapter.
Update 2: Finally figured out what everyone was talking about, fixed the double post.
Sorry for taking so long, I got caught up in writer's block, work on SiNS, college, and Rimworld.
Chronos0305 - Okay, so I know I responded to you with private messages, but here's for those who wish to know as well.
There will be both monsters and monster gals, a few who are in a weird middle area, and maybe even a bit both monster and girl working together.
However, monsters likely won't appear until after the Kokabiel Arc.
PadriacZzozrian - Glad to see that you're really into this.
If anything, the Harpy Queen was mostly a coincidence. Other mod content will mostly be more of a Sinner in Night's Shadow thing.
[Somewhere, in some other plane of reality…]
"YOU WHAT?!" The woman in the Godslayer armor yelled at her team of scientists.
"W-We lost the Devourer clone...she slipped out because L-Lord Red's latest experiment shorted the power…"
She pinched the bridge of her nose. "...Ugh. Go find it."
"Y-Yes ma'am!"
"And keep working on upgrading those Anti-Astral nanomachines!"
[Monday, at the Occult Research Club's meeting room]
Kuraima nervously scratched the back of his head. "Hey, uh, Rias? I think we need to talk."
"Oh?" The redhead asked, looking up from whatever paperwork she was doing. "What is it?"
"It's...about my girlfriend. She wants to join the ORC."
[Earlier that day…]
"Ku-san!"
Kuraima was pleasantly surprised to find Helenski standing at the gates of Kuoh, wearing its female school uniform.
"S-Sola-san?! What a-are you doing here? Don't you have a job at the cafè?"
She looked at him, twiddling her thumbs. "W-Well, my dad said it's f-fine. He said that being with you apparently helps with my...s-self confidence…"
The Astral Champion did some thinking. "...So he enrolled you in this academy...mid-semester."
"...Yes."
…
…
…
"Well, Sola-san, glad to have you at our school! I've got a couple of friends to introduce to ya, as well as a couple of familiar faces!"
[Present]
The Astral Student leaned back on the couch as he remembered that morning's events.
A lot of death glares were received that day.
"Hm, I see. She's...a Nephilim, right?"
"Yeah. Is...is that gonna be a problem?"
Rias had a bit of an unsure look on her face. "I hope not. As long as her parents' identities aren't revealed, I'd say she'll be fine."
Then, she smiled. "Besides, I've always wanted to meet a Nephilim."
"Yeah. Plus, y'know...there's the whole Providence thing…" He looked up at one of the shelves, where the round white bird was building a nest.
"Hm? Who has spoken thy divine name?"
"You're anything but divine, Provi."
"E-Excuse me?!"
Rias giggled at their antics. "A goddess using the body of a Nephilim. Now that's something you don't hear of every day."
"But of course. She was the perfect vessel for me."
"Whatever lets you sleep at night, milady."
"You little…"
"So anyways, Kuraima." The buxom redhead interrupted. "What exactly...happened after Koneko got you out of there?"
The third-year sighed, leaning back on the couch. "Well, uh, I'm not sure what high and mighty…"
"HUMAN."
"...did, but apparently, I...uuuuh…"
He glanced around.
"I apparently have shared control and ownership of a gang...one with a lot of Sacred Gear users."
Rias dropped her pen.
"What?"
"Yeah. And get a load of this; they're all equipped with some of those new Sacred Gears." He opened his backpack and pulled out some folders. "I knew you'd want to know about them, and I requested some info about them. I...didn't actually expect them to write this down."
Note: The list of Terrarian Sacred Gears that have appeared up to this point and their abilities will be added as a separate chapter.
"Seriously?" Rias asked. "What are these names? Ai Sore? Like, Eyesore?"
"Wait until you read the red brain guy's name."
The redhead flipped through more papers and found what he was referring to.
"Smar...tass…Smar Tass. What kind of…" She trailed off, then the realization set in.
Rias began to giggle profusely, to which Kuraima joined in. The giggle-fest quickly evolved into a full-blown laughing fit.
Once the laughter died down, Rias and Kuraima made some idle talk, discussing things such as recent animes, western internet memes, and the surprisingly plausible theory that Jar Jar Binks is actually a Sith lord.
As of now, Kuraima was leaning back on the couch, reading the latest book in the Halcyone series.
While he read, his other hand was busy giving Providence a few good scritches beneath the chin, the small white bird cooing like a pigeon.
At that time, the rest of the club showed up, Helenski included.
"Ah! Sola-san!" Rias greeted her, "Glad to have you in our club!"
"A-Ah…thank you, Gremory-sama!" She bowed. "M-My name is Helenski La Sola. P-Please take care of me."
—
Once the full club had gathered, Rias announced her plans.
"I have decided that it is time for the newest members of our club to get their familiars."
Familiars, as you might guess, are a pretty big part of the supernatural world, especially in Devil society.
Besides being just really exotic pets, they had many uses including combat companions, scouting, bragging rights, etc…
Kuraima really, really liked the sound of that. At the very least, a familiar wouldn't smuggle highly illegal things in your basement.
Unlike a certain Desert Scourge, who somehow managed to smuggle a Panzer Selbstfahrlafette I für 7,62-cm-PaK 36(r) auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf. D1 und D2 into said basement.
That's a Panzer II, in case you were wondering.
"I disagree with this notion! I firmly believe that my vessel has no need for a 'Familiar'!"
Everyone looked at the small, angry white dove on the coffee table.
"Aaaw, did someone get their feathers ruffled~?!"
"HUMAN! I WILL BURN YOU UNTIL NOT EVEN ASH REMAINS— fuaah!"
Providence's wrath was quickly extinguished by a boop to the head. "Stop that!"
This caused everyone to giggle.
But then, the door suddenly opened, to reveal…
...Sona Sitri, the leader of the other local high-ranking Devil Clan located in Kuoh!
Oh, and her peerage was here too.
"I'm afraid your plans will have to wait, Gremory-san. You see, we plan to take our newest recruit to the Familiar Forest!"
Everyone kind of just stared at the newcomers.
But...there was something Kuraima just had to know.
"How...how long were you waiting behind the door?"
"Wh-What?"
"How long were you waiting behind that door? You...you were clearly waiting for the perfect opportunity to barge in."
"...That's…" Sona's face flushed as she squinted her eyes at the Astral Champion. "...for me to know…"
Kuraima shrugged. "...suit yourself."
The interloper's pawn, named Saji, immediately strode up to Issei and Kuraima. "Oi, you the other pawns around here? Nice to meetcha. I took four whole pieces!"
"Uuuh, that's cool. Issei here took all nine."
…
"What?!" Saji sputtered. "Then who're—"
"Just a friend of Rias."
…
"Oh, okay. That makes sense."
"None of this makes any sense."
As of right now, Kuraima was seated outdoors with Helenski, watching as the two clubs played a competitive round of tennis.
A very public round of tennis. With a large number of high schoolers present.
Aaand he was pretty sure they were using their powers.
"Aw, come on, Kuraima-san, lighten up!" Issei said, taking a moment to stare at the bountiful bouncing assets of these women. "The view here is amazing!"
The Astral Student squinted his eyes at the pervert, scooting closer to Helenski.
"I'm good."
"Wait, for real?" Someone in the crowd asked upon hearing this. "Sola and Kuraima-san are dating?"
Uh oh.
Thankfully, before the rumor mill could gain traction, there was a loud snap as all the tennis racquets being used all simultaneously gave out.
…
…
…
It was a tie.
[The next day…]
"Dodgeball?" Kuraima looked at Issei with a weird look on his face.
"Yeah, we're doing dodgeball! So I made these Team Rias headbands for the club!"
The Astral Student took one of the bands and felt them up. "Holy shit, you...you actually made these? All by yourself?"
"Yup!"
"That's...actually impressive." He said, stretching one out and putting it on his head. "Have you thought about doing commissions for these?"
The hopeless pervert looked at Kuraima as if he'd just told him the secrets of the universe.
"Y-You're a genius, Kuraima-san!"
"...I am?"
"Of course you are! I never would've thought of that!"
The Astral Student shrugged. "Well, if you say so. Listen, uh, I've got a doctor's appointment after school, so I don't think I'm gonna be able to attend the game."
"No sweat, Kuraima-san! We'll win it for you! Mark my words!"
Surprisingly, they actually won.
Issei actually didn't jinx it.
"You should've seen it, Kuraima-san! The balls were flying so fast that it tore their clothes off!"
"Really? Wow." The 3rd year responded, trying not to form any lewd mental images in his head. "That sounds dangerous."
"Aw, come on! Don't be such a prude!"
"I-I have a girlfriend, Issei!"
…
"Oh yeah! That's right! I forgot that you were the type to find the one for you!"
Did he just…
"You...understand me, Issei?"
"I think I do? But I mean honestly, you do you, Kuraima-san! I'm still gonna become the Harem King(™)!"
One step at a time, I guess.
"So, we're going to this familiar forest tonight?"
Issei fist-pumped the air. "Hell yeah, dude! I'm gonna get a familiar with—"
Bonk!
"The only place you're going to is horny jail!" Kuraima playfully interrupted the pervert, pulling a rolled-up homework assignment out of his backpack and bopped Issei on the head with it.
"—agh! H-Horny what?!"
"Western meme, you wouldn't get it."
Bonk!
"Ow! Ow! Stop! Please!"
"Nah."
Kuraima was ready for the forest.
"Get da ze!"
"Gah!"
But he was not ready for their guide; an old man who wore the iconic hat of Ash Ketchum on his head.
He couldn't make this shit up.
"Welcome to the Familiar Forest, newcomers! It's a pleasure to meet you once more, Miss Gremory!"
The redhead curtsied respectfully. "Pleasure's all mine, Zatouji-san."
The Pokemon-Master-Wannabe walked over to Issei and the other, non-peerage members of the ORC. "So! You lot must be the newbies! Heard that two of you were close friends, but hey! No problem! Non-devils come here all the time to make familiar contracts!"
"Y-Yeah." Kuraima nodded. "That'd be me and Sola-san. We...figured we'd tag along since we're members of the club."
"Oh, I see! In that case, I'll do my best to help ya out! So! Whaddaya want?"
"I want something sexy!" Issei blurted out, with absolutely no shame or hesitation whatsoever.
An awkward silence followed after that, broken only by the sound of crickets.
"...Well, you certainly don't beat around the bush, young man. Let's go!"
Turns out, Zatouji was pretty energetic for his age, taking the lead as the group followed him at a pretty brisk pace.
He led them to a large lake, whose surface glistened in the moonlight.
"Here, you'll find the most beautiful creature that nature has to offer; the Undine! They're as fierce as they are gorgeous, and—" The water began to ripple.
"Oh! Here comes one now!"
"Yo, dude! This is great! I'm gonna get a water elemental! She's gonna be so—"
From the water came a disturbingly buff woman with the manliest of chins, complete with the classic tsundere twin drills haircut.
"...beautiful…" The pervert finished, the wind having been taken out of his sails.
…
…
…
"WHAT?!" He exclaimed, "I'll pass!"
Their guide spitefully narrowed his eyes. "You youngsters have no appreciation for the fine arts. Why look! Here comes another!"
Another equally buff Undine menacingly approached the original, and the two started to aggressively flex their muscles at one another.
"Pass! Pass!"
"Okay, fine then. Be that way."
This whole time, Kuraima was thinking…
"With...all due respect, I...might pass as well."
He thought about it and ultimately decided that teasing Issei with it was not worth the effort.
"I see…" The old man seemed a bit...downtrodden.
While this was happening, Helenski was kneeling down by the water's edge, picking at something beneath the water.
"Ku-san!" She exclaimed, pulling two very round glowing orbs from the water. One was a vibrant yellow, the other a dull cyan. "Look at these cute little glowing stones!"
"Oi! I'd be careful with those! Those could be—"
Their glows intensified, becoming a shimmering light that blinded the onlookers!
The lights faded. In place of the two stones, a pair of young fish children, laying in Helenski's very confused embrace.
They both opened their eyes.
"Momma?"
Helenski's face went absolutely red in embarrassment as the two little mermaids(?) snuggled up to her in her arms.
One was covered in pale green skin with deep emerald hair, with a pair of cute little orange horns sticking up into the air.
The other little cutie was blue-skinned with equally blue hair to match. Her scales were a dull gray, shimmering in the moonlight.
"Momma!" They both squeaked.
"Mom...momma." Helenski whispered, registering what just happened.
The Nephilim spun around to face Kuraima, with sparkles in her eyes. "K-Ku-san! I-I'm a mom!"
…
…
…
"Y-Yeah! You sure are!" The Astral Student sputtered out, scratching the back of his head nervously.
"Papa!" The little gray one called out towards the Astral Champion
Kuraima's legs nearly failed him, causing him to let out a garbled yelp.
"Ohohoh! A most strange turn of events! Why I have never seen such strange yet adorable little creatures before!"
Everyone gathered around to swoon over the younglings, save for Kuraima and Issei, who kinda just stood there.
"Well….that just happened." The pervert stated as he turned to look at Kuraima.
The third-year looked back at him and shrugged.
So now, the group was walking through the forest, looking for a familiar for Asia since getting Issei a familiar was clearly going to take some time.
What did Asia want? Why, she wanted something cute, of course.
As they traveled, Kuraima suddenly felt a small weight land upon his head.
"Priiii!"
Using the Astral student's cranium as a launchpad, a little blue dragon shot up into the air and landed on Asia's head, peering over her forehead to stare into her eyes.
"Wh-...Wha?! H-Hello there!"
"Oooh, how amazing!" The old man suddenly exclaimed, "For a Sprite Dragon to willingly approach a devil...up until now, such a thing has been completely unheard of!"
"Eh? Why is that?"
"Sprite Dragons are repulsed from Devils due to their naturally impure hearts! Even then, they can only be tamed at a young age, for they're fairly hard to control as adults!"
'Good god, Asia. Why the fuck…
...ARE YOU SO PRECIOUS?'
"Lemme see it! I wanna see!"
As Issei tried to get a closer look, he was immediately blasted with an arc of lightning.
"Oh, yeah, that's right!" Satouji piped up. "Sprite Dragons hate the male gender!"
Huh.
"Is there...a particular reason why, or…?"
"No clue, honestly."
"So, we still need familiars for these two lads, eh?"
The ones still without familiars were Kuraima and a slightly charred Issei.
"I'm not sure what I want, honestly." The Astral Student admitted. "I was hoping for something a bit low maintenance."
"Oh, well, we got plenty of such potential familiars to go around! Though between you and me, kiddo, you oughta aim a bit bigger, y'know?"
Kuraima shrugged. "I already have a housemate at home, and another one's decided to move in...without asking, might I add."
That's right.
A local former mob boss decided that she would set up camp in Kuraima's living room, mooching off of his supply of Maruchan™ Chicken Flavored Instant-Noodles (not sponsored).
"I see! Worry not, there are many creatures that don't require physical forms of sustenance!"
"Hungry…"
The Champion of Earth looked over at Helenski, raising an eyebrow.
"Didn't we just feed those two?".
"T-That wasn't…" Currently, the two fish kids were fast asleep in Hel's arms
So if that wasn't the little ones, then...who said that?
And….why was everyone staring at him?
He followed their eyes, and it turns out, they weren't staring at him specifically.
Tugging at his shirt was a little girl, staring up at him with sleepy eyes. She wore lightly worn clothes made with deep purple fabrics, a much deeper shade compared to her hair which was a bit closer to lavender.
"Big brother, I'm hungry."
Kuraima felt his blood run cold upon seeing her, for she reminded him way too much of the Great Devourer that had torn through Astrum Deus.
There were the colors, but most importantly, it was the energy she gave off that even he could now detect. His [Stella Dominus] materialized as he felt something pulse within his veins, primal fear of sorts.
"Brother…I want food."
"Oh my gosh! Ku-san!" Helenski suddenly spoke up, "I didn't know you had a little sister!"
'Me neither.' Kuraima thought.
"What's her name?"
Overloaded with the information of the current scenario, the Astral Student struggled to respond.
"Uuuh, um…"
"Mochi, brother." The little girl responded, clearly wanting a specific type of food.
"Mochi! What a cute name!"
"Are you and Argento-san animal whisperers of some sort? I've never gotten that little gremlin to cooperate with me!" Satouji exclaimed.
"Eh?"
"You see, I found her a few weeks ago, eating the yolk of a dragon egg! A dragon egg! She must've rolled that thing off of a cliff several times to break the shell!"
Kuraima looked down at Mochi, his face taking on a look of bewilderment.
"She was this little serpentine thing, a Wyrm of some sort. You hardly see any of those around here, y'know? So anyway, I bought her some clothes from the human world, but she refused to wear anything that wasn't purple!"
The Astral Student once more turned to look at the young girl, only to realize that she had transformed into a serpentine worm creature covered in bright silver scales and was now slithering up his arm.
Making yet another surprised yelp, Kuraima tried to shake her off, but to no avail, as she moved even faster to coil around his neck, much like an actual snake.
"She also kept getting into my bag of snacks whenever I wasn't looking, eating all of the mochis I had brought with me!"
As if to prove a point, Satouji tossed a piece of rice cake in Kuraima's direction. Mochi suddenly lashed out, snatching the treat up with her fairly large mandibles. With a few sharp flicks, she got the mochi into position and tore into it with several smaller mandibles.
Kuraima was rather unnerved, opting to look away as best he could. At this point, one could not mistake the uncanny resemblance to the Great Devourer.
Moving gently, the student tried to pry the wyrm off of him, only for Mochi to hiss lightly, startling him into letting go of her.
"I don't think you're gonna get rid of her that easily, kiddo. Might as well make a familiar contract with her!"
"How do I do that?"
"Well, you just ask!"
…
…
…
How the hell do you ask a little girl to become your familiar?