I'm gonna be real with ya'll, this chapter was a pain to write. At least two docs worth of written content was cut, and I've also realized that I've introduced one too many side characters.
That's just how life is, I guess.
On the other hand? The chances of getting one or more stories centered around these side characters are very low but not zero.
Anyways, for those of you wondering where I've been, don't worry. I am just a slow writer. Sinner in Night's Shadow and Grimmworld will be updated sometime in the future.
"What's the matter, worm boy? Something on your mind?" Matilda said as she pulled up a chair and a notebook up to the couch in Kuraima's living room, with full intent on going into therapist mode.
Said Astral Champion was laying on the couch, with a nice comfy lap pillow courtesy of Helenski, while Mochi, in the form of a wyrm, had curled up on Kuraima's chest and fallen asleep like a little puppy.
"Well, y'see…Rias...apparently she had an arranged marriage with some other devil family. And since I'm a human, I can't do anything about it."
"...Ah. I see." The Desert Scourge said, scribbling random doodles across the notebook's pages that had nothing to do with the conversation.
"Although from what I can tell, Rias did try to...go pretty absurd lengths to try and break it off."
[Flashback]
"I can't believe I got cockblocked!"
"Good god, Issei—"
"Ow! Kuraima-san!"
"—Get some sleep, will ya? Sounds like you're startin' to see things."
"But I'm serious…."
[Present day]
"...I think it's best we don't talk about it in front of the kid, though."
"Mmn, fair. Probably best not to talk about it in front of our fourth in command over here." Matilda replied, nodding her head in Champ's direction where she sat on a nearby recliner. "She's givin' me the stink eye. Again."
"I have a name, you know." The Slime God's wielder responded with a scowl on her face. "And I would much appreciate that you at least address me in a way that allows me to retain my dignity, thank you very much."
"Pretty sure you lost it the moment you underestimated a woman," Kuraima remarked. "And no, you're not exempt from that just because you're a woman too."
Champ narrowed her eyes at him.
"I gotta ask, though. Where the hell did you get all that money?"
In that suitcase, Champ had left on that table, was exactly JP¥1,000,000, which translated to roughly USD 9,262.95.
Champ sighed. "I was…in a situation not unlike your devil friend's."
Wait.
She'd been caught up in an arranged marriage too?
"This pompous...mage discovered that my rich family's homestead rested upon a fairly powerful leyline. So, he hypnotized my parents into letting him marry me."
Kuraima abruptly shot up, startling both Helenski and Mochi, the former yelping and the latter squealing as she rolled off of him, only to be caught by Champ's red slime maid who…
…there are more important things to discuss right now than the reasons why a slime-girl was under the couch.
"He WHAT?"
"Exactly. So I ran away. Eventually, I picked up...my associates, most of which you…"
"They started it."
"...I can see that. Anyways, the money...I have...a few investments. They're legitimate, I swear."
"...Yeah...nothing says 'legitimate' quite like making a hard-living doing crime. Okay, look. Forget about the money, for now, you paid up, so that's that." Kuraima said, standing up. "Honestly? Yeah, uh, pretty impressive that you made it this far only to get your…" He glanced over at Mochi, who was trying to devour the [Rubrum Slime] maid. "...rear end handed to you by me and Sola-san. It's surprising you didn't get dunked on any sooner."
"He's right, ya'know." Matilda quipped. "You've got an entire group of people who wield never-before-seen Sacred Gears. No less than ten. Ten! Twelve if we count all three of yours, triple-wielder. Yer the luckiest, considering that your little gang of troublemakers hasn't caused enough of a fuss to get on the radar of some unsavory Devil."
Champ kept her mouth shut at this, idly glaring at Matilda, before sighing in resignation.
"So, uh…" The third-year student began, "I guess we oughta work on that? Rias and her gang left to go train for their...battle, something called Rating Game. Who's to say we can't do the same?"
"Is it too late to back out of this? I forgot about the part where I had to stand in front of a bunch of people who are more than likely justified in hating me."
"You'll be fine, Ku-san!" Helenski tried to encourage him. "You're their new boss! T-They wouldn't try anything, w-would they…?"
"YOU!"
One of those who had gathered inside the abandoned factory, in the ghost town that was once known as Kuoh's industrial district, pointed at Kuraima, screaming.
"You're the fucker that put me in the hospital!"
"...me?"
"Yes, you!" He said, as a pair of arms with crab-shaped claws made from fungus-like materials formed from his backside. "Now, I can finally exact my revenge—!"
"You. Do not threaten. Our new leader." Champ sternly got into the strange man's face as he began to cower. "Do you understand?"
"Y….Yes! Please forgive me!"
Champ crossed her arms, glaring at him. "Push-ups, now, until you drop. No powers, either. Then, I'll consider it."
"Y-Yes ma'am!"
Champ turned to the other, quite colorful members of the gang, including a few members the third year had never seen before.
"This goes for all of you. Our new leadership paid us mercy, and we best not squander it. Do you hear me?
"MA'AM, YES MA'AM." They called out, standing at attention like a bunch of rookies in boot camp.
"Good."
'Bloody hell...so this is the serious side of the freeloader who's been eating my food?'
She walked back and forth, hands behind her back. "Now, we have gathered here today because you couldn't even beat three high schoolers. Well, you should feel lucky, because our new leaders have agreed to train us."
…
…
…
"What do we say to them?"
"THANK YOU."
"Good."
"Ah, um…" Kuraima began, unsure of how to move forward with this. "Will those who I fought a few weeks back please move forward? I'd like to give…constructive feedback, I guess."
With their heads hung low, four of the many individuals present moved forward; Laye Z, Perfa, Smar, and Eatah.
"First up, Eatah. Hey, so, uh, before I tear into you— verbally speaking, uh, how's your jaw?"
She didn't expect him to ask about her well-being, it seems. "W-Well, it's doing a lot better! Like nothing happened at all!"
"Alright, good. Now for constructive criticism…" He thought for a moment, then sighed. "First of all, don't explain your goddamn powers to the enemy. This isn't a manga, where the inability to be animated means that you have to outright tell the audience what the hell is happening. Show, don't tell."
A moment of silence, before Kuraima decided he had one more thing to add. "Also please actually check who you're attempting to take hostage. And please treat said hostage with respect. Just…"
He glanced over at Helenski, who for once did not hesitate to narrow her eyes at Eatah.
"...Seriously. You're lucky you only got away with a broken nose and a dislocated jaw. Next!" He finished, moving onto Perfa.
"You picked a fight with a short person."
Skipping past her…
Smar Tass and Laye Z. 'To the parents that named these people, who hurt you?'
"Aight, to start, you two need names that people will take seriously. I get that there's the whole psychological aspect of warfare but…are you guys even trying?"
Kuraima sighed and shook his head. "Anyways. You two probably would've won if I hadn't unlocked that Balance Breaker. I mean, once the two of you started working in tandem, you guys weren't half-bad. However…"
The Astral Student turned to the man in the red trench coat.
"For beginners, you're an obnoxiously arrogant "intellectual". You're trying to be Jimmy Neutron but instead, you're being the "You have to have a high IQ to understand Rick and Morty" guy."
Seriously, who the fuck actually thought Rick and Morty's humor was subtle? Do people look at the sapient fart cloud episode and say "Yeah, that's pretty subtle."?
"Furthermore...have you ever heard of "clear before clever?" It's a piece of writing advice, but I think that can be applied to the way you...ahem...the way you verbalize, which comes off as not only arrogant and as if you were looking down on others with utter impudence when you perceive their astuteness to be lower than yours, but withal because it's lengthy when a few simpler words could get your point across."
"...Huh?"
"Do I have to dumb it down for you? Fine. 'Why waste time say lot word when few word do trick'? There! You speak The Office?!"
The resulting silence was interrupted when Perfa abruptly slumped over as her meathead brain was unable to comprehend these words.
"Movin' on'...yeah, Laye. You need to improve your work ethic. That's all I can say to you."
Shrugging, he paced back and forth for a bit. "Aight, you four are dismissed for now. I would like the others to come up."
The four, save for Perfa who was mentally rebooting, looked at each other before they too moved back, allowing the rest to move forward.
"Now, I've read up on you guys, but let us get a refresher, for those of us who haven't."
First up was a woman in a jet-black suit and tie, who formed an eye-like shield and a sword in her hands. She had an eyepatch over her right eye.
She knelt much like a knight would, stabbing her sword into the ground.
"My name is Ai Sore, and I am a warrior of Eden's Sinners and wielder of [Oculus Intitum]. As long as my boss is here, I will serve this clan to the best of my ability."
…
What's the word they use in Japan?
Ah, yes. Chuunibiyou. Kuraima was getting some serious chuuni vibes from this gal.
Either that or going from the whole aesthetic of her gear, she was just really into Library of Ruina.
…Maybe it could be both?
'I need to try that game some time…'
Moving onto the next person, well, judging by their appearance, they seemed at least somewhat competent...
"Ugh. Fine. Just to get it over with…"
...if not a little jaded.
"Name's Tim Roman. My Sacred Gear is [Carcer Cranium]."
They wore a big orange scarf, which contrasted greatly with the dull, brownish-grey clothings.
They seemed to also have heterochromia, with...their left eye being…
...bright cyan…
….Wait.
"Are you…."
"Go ahead. I've heard it all."
"...gonna give me a bad time?"
"...Perhaps, if I hear one more joke about this "Sans Undertale."."
Heh.
Then, he turned to the last two members.
"T-The name's Cru Stai-on. I-I'll be good! I p-promise!"
Ignoring the poor fungus crab man, Kuraima looked down…
"Champ." The Astral Student began. "Why is there a literal child in your gang?" It was the same child the former mob boss had brought with her when she babysat Mochi.
At no point did he actually question where he came from, until now.
"What else am I to do? This world may be cruel and unforgiving but I am not going to let some kid get screwed over if I can help it."
"...Suit yourself. Anyways, all of you, as you know, have been brought here toda— ah, screw it, ya'll know why you're here. Training. That's it."
The group of Sacred Gear users all looked at each other.
"Now, let me tell you. I have no idea what kind of training the previous boss put you through. But…"
Kuraima racked his brain, looking for something he could pass off as a "motivational speech".
"...Just look at people next to you, alright? Forget about fighting for the honor of your boss— though the ego boost would be much appreciated. That stuff comes second."
The gangsters looked at each other, feeling a little uneasy.
'Maximum bullshit, go!'
"You're fightin' for the people around you. I've read up on all of you, and I'm not going to sugarcoat it: I do not know what it's like to be rejected by society."
"With that being said, being rejected is not an excuse to avoid making allies. I know it sounds like some stupid "magic of friendship" thing but, y'see, it's not stupid. This stuff has potential. For those of you unaware, Sacred Gears are affected by your desires and emotions."
"So, y'know…" Kuraima spread his arms out. "Perhaps fight for each other. Be someone your buddy can be proud of before you focus on making me proud. Channel that desire!"
Champ watched on with interest as her "new leader" seemed to motivate her crew with a rousing speech.
'...Have I really been doing it wrong this whole time?' She thought to herself.
She'd always worked under the assumption that this world was full of people who'd use and abuse you.
She'd always push her gangsters away, for...their own safety. No point in getting attached to someone if you're gonna just split up. Right?
'It's so that they'll be able to fend for themselves.' That was always her excuse, the one she told herself. She'd never planned to stick around as long as she really had.
Except…
...was there some merit in Kuraima's way of thinking?
He himself had just admitted that he'd never been an outcast of society. Not like the others. Those who had been rejected for things beyond their control. Namely, their Sacred Gears.
Champ didn't ask to be born with a Sacred Gear, let alone inherit those of her late sisters.
Perhaps…?
'No,' She shook her head. 'It's still too early to start questioning it. I'll have to wait and see how they turn out.'
For their first training exercise, he'd had them fight each other just outside the abandoned factory, shielded from the public with several magic fields he'd bought off of Sona from the student council.
After all, what better way to improve oneself than a friendly spar?
"Whew! The boss never let us let loose like this before!" Eatah exclaimed as Helenski's healing flames washed over her, patching up both wounds and clothes alike.
"Yeah, that tends to happen when you risk revealing your powers in public." Kuraima's mind idly wandered over to the night they fought. 'Where'd they get one of those magic fields, anyways?'
He thought for a moment, a new question coming to his mind. "Say...are you and Perfa…?"
"E-Eh?!"
"Pretty sure you gazed longingly into her eyes more than a few times during your fight."
"...Y-Yeah. We're a couple—"
Perfa shoved Eatah aside, smiling gleefully as Helenski nearly jumped at having her healing process abruptly disturbed.
"A couple of besties!"
The strangled moan that came out of the purple-coated girl's mouth was one of mental anguish.
"...I see who owns the brain cell in this relationship," Kuraima commented. "Just...don't let it be a problem during training, alright?"
The worm wielder looked surprised for a moment, before smiling. "Yes boss, I promise!"
"Since that's now sorted out, I want you and Perfa to take a few minutes to recover before you start letting the fisticuffs fly. And try to switch up partners, just to spice things up. Got it?"
"You got it!"
Champ looked at the Astral student, then sighed. "Well. They warmed up to you quickly, I'll give you that much."
"If it helps you sleep at night, just pretend I'm some corporate higher-up trying to be witty and relatable to the laborers."
The former mob boss gave him a funny look, to which Kuraima just shrugged.
…
…
…
"So, uhh...what now? Do we just stand here and watch them fight, or…?"
Champ sighed. "I don't have much of anything to say to you right now."
"Okay."
…
…
…
"Were you actually gonna follow through with that whole thing about referring to me and Helenski as 'master'?''
…
…
…
"I'm going to take your silence as a yes."
That definitely got through to Champ as she spun around to look at him, her face red as she sputtered an undignified response.
"W-What?! Why would you—?!"
"You would not believe how long that question was on my mind."
"But you ask that only now!?"
"I was busy with schoolwork, y'know? But seriously. You need to lighten up. Sola-san told me that you cried a little when your goons came to save you. I don't think you have much of a reason to keep up this whole charade. Maybe, I dunno, be a little more honest with yourself?"
"...Huh?" Champ raised an eyebrow, her intense blush having been reduced to a mere faint tinge of pink.
"I mean, don't take this as me flirting with you or anything. I already have a girlfriend. But you should try smiling. I bet it'd look good on you."
"...Would it?"
The Astral Student slinked his shoulders. "Hell if I know. I'm just absolutely bullshitting right now. Or maybe Matilda's rubbing off on me— in the right ways, mind you. I'm gonna go grab a drink. Do you want anything?"
"...Some water will be fine."
"Okay, sure. I can do that."
As Kuraima left, Champ thought about his words.
…maybe she could at least humor him.
[Now stopping at Kuoh Town. We wish you safe travels!]
The intercom on the train announced its arrival as it came to a halt next to one of the station's many platforms.
Among the fairly decent number of passengers getting off, one, in particular, was a somewhat strange-looking man.
He ignored the odd looks that many of the locals gave him before they just shrugged and mentally wrote him off as a foreigner.
The man looked out across the town and smiled.
"I can sense it...the person my master so desires..."
"...I finally found you."