The Devil You Know (Inside an Adult Game As A Former Hero - Chainsaw Man SI Chapter 2)

"Cloud, are you sure?" I sighed as I asked for the second time. I was messaging my temple as we argued on this point for a few minutes now.

I didn't even imagine that right at the start of this new life, and my first Contract, I'd start to feel regretful.

"Y-Yes!" Cloud said hesitantly, but still resolute. He then got this adorable pouty look. "You said you'll go with my decision. The Contract-"

"Yes." I said with exasperation, making Cloud flinch. I took a deep breath and relaxed.

My Contract with Cloud was thus:

[I will lend Cloud strength and aid to fulfill his dreams. I will never lie to him while we're alone and not being listened to in any form.

The form of strength will be as someone fighting physically by his side, and an increase strength and speed in Cloud's body, as well as a vastly greater amount of EXP from fallen foes. Cloud will also gain eyes that allows him to see the deceit and weakness in the world. And more if I desire.

The form of aid will be advice that would result in a positive outcome for Cloud, as well as a friend that will be there whenever he needs.

I will carry out Cloud's will, but in return he must genuinely listen and consider my advice, and I can try to persuade him to change his mind on a decision he has made. If he's resolute in it, I will work with him on said choice.

As payment, every week Cloud must do three cruel things. Things are unspecified, just that those actions or their result must be cruel. If something impressed me enough I can considered it to count as 'two' or all 'three', thus elevate him from needing to do three cruel things.

The Contract can be rendered void should either party finds this partnership to be harmful.]

Is this Contract massively in favor of Cloud? Yes, but it's my first Contract. It's like getting a million dollars, and wanting to splurge a bit.

Or when you order a three large pizzas because you're feeling hungry, only to eat half of one, and realize you got full way too fast, and probably should have just gotten one medium.

Yes there was the exit clause but that was mainly for Cloud's peace of mind, and just in case so neither of us get screwed over on a technicality.

Problem is Cloud's first request was to 'win his party back'.

Just...why?

I went to take a look at the girls and...seriously he should just give up on them. I then spend the past ten minutes just trying to convince him to just ditch them.

But noooo. Cloud decided to get his hero determination on for this.

"Yes, Cloud, I know what our Contract says. I get the chance to change your mind on something I think you're being stupid about, you have to actually listen." I said, making him flinch, look away, before he sigh and just looked at me like a sad wet dog.

...God dammit. I patted his head before realizing I did. He blushed, but didn't push my hand away, so I kept it.

"I... I know that you think they aren't trustworthy or redeemable." Cloud began to argue.

"Yes. Me. A Devil is telling you to start over with a new party." I said.

"I get that, but!" Cloud said. "They're not just...any people. Ophelia was like a older sister, or even more. Someone I felt calm next to. Someone I can talk to and feel the day get brighter. Eri is someone who despite how harsh she seems, always made time for me to talk to me. To explain things, to help me. And Neria..." He paused his eyes watering a bit, before he rub them clear, and continued. "She's always been there. Right from the start. She's my childhood friend, my first crush... my first love. She was there when my parents were gone, and the villagers badmouth mom and dad and me. She told me I wasn't abandoned, they she wouldn't abandon me." He looked back with a earnest yet sad smile. "How can I abandon them? Can you honestly tell me that them wanting to leave is completely not my fault? That I couldn't do something better?"

I removed my hand from his head-man, his hair is fluffy-and put my hands on my hips as I sighed.

"In nearly any relationship, you can't just say one party is 100% responsible. But you can easily point out where majority of the blame lies, in obvious cases." I told him.

"Your power," Cloud touched his brow. "My eyes can now see when people are hiding something, and what they are trying or not trying to tell me. Eri is leaving because of me, and because something Lorian can provide her, but I can't see what it is. Ophelia is leaving because I haven't been paying attention to her in a way she wants. And Neria...she's afraid of Gis, but leaving because of him. ...What does that mean?"

"You'll grow into using your eyes better." I said reflexively. I didn't want to hit him with the logic of this world all at once. Because holy shit, I'm pretty sure it's an NTR world.

Which is probably why the girls, all three, were planning to leave him. Excuse me, being 'stolen' away from him.

Oh, unlike Cloud, I could fully see why.

The saintly Ophelia? A sheltered girl that got a taste of the sex, and went full slut cowgirl wanting to ride that horse.

The studious, tsundere Eri? Selfish self-important twat, that wanted to both be loved and praised by people close to her, her friends and family, and have her name made songs of.

And Neria? Well...

...Cloud is a little bit dumb, isn't he? He really can be too naive...is what one would expect to say.

But looking at me, and really seeing into this emotions, the truth is more obvious.

He doesn't want to realize it. To acknowledge the possibility that his friend might have been coerced by the other Hero into sex sleeping with him. That Neria had been raped, and he didn't realize, had a pity party and tried to kill himself over it.

I sighed one last time. My first Contractor is troublesome.

I grabbed his head, pulled him into a hug and rub his fluffy head a few more times.

"Eeek!" Cloud let out an adorable squeal.

"Ah, alright, alright. Fine." I said, resigning myself to having to put in effort in something I didn't think would bare useful results. Cloud relaxed in my arms, letting me hug and pat him. I could see his feeling of comfort and safety, as well as little bit of guilt at feeling like that from a Devil hugging him. He's way too emotive. One point into the 'making him a femboy' camp. "However," I said back. "If you're doing this, we're doing it my way, and you're going to follow what I saw, you understand?" I pulled him away to look him in the eyes. "I want you to promise to follow what I say to the letter. You only have one month to secure getting the girls back. So we're not going with whatever bullshit plan you might think of, into being nice to them to getting them back to you."

Cloud flinched and whined, looking away. No, I will not change my mind of this, no matter how cute you look.

Then he looked back to me, his eyes like a fierce puppy.

"I'll do whatever it takes."

"I'm serious, you're not gonna like my way, but I guarantee it will work. But for it to really work, you're gonna have to work with me, and really commit. Understand?"

"I'll do it. I won't act cowardly or run away from dangerous things anymore. So whatever scary thing you're gonna have me to...b-bring it on!" He was shaking a bit by the end. Like imaging what scary things I would make him do.

Points for effort.

A large smile spread slowly across my face.

"Good." I said, and let go of his shoulder. Cloud shuddered at my voice. "So first things first...you're going to write a letter."

"Wait what?"

Convincing Cloud to write a letter to Duke Oller was easy. He was hesitant to write that I tell him, and I had this whole lecture on politics and relationships and interactions I was gonna go through.

But Cloud derailed it...but going along with the plan, because I said 'trust me', before I could get to explaining how this would work.

I'm gonna have to teach him to actually be more observant and not just take people at their word from now on. But that's for later.

First things first, telling Duke Oller about Eri's desire to change parties to the Hero Lorian.

Cloud would write that he was informing Duke Oller of this, so he wouldn't be surprised. That he isn't upset or against this, since this is what Eri wants. It was something he supported because it makes Eri happy, and that he didn't want that action to negatively reflect on the Oller House. Cloud would write that the Duke can just say it was Eri's independent action, so he doesn't have to worry about any backlash, or look back before the rest of nobility. The letter ended by saying how Cloud was happy for his friend finding love, and for the Duke to excuse this indiscretion of youth.

The letter was mailed at top speed, as I had Cloud flash his Hero plaque to the hawk mail keeper.

That should get a response soon.

Next up, Lorian. Because of course I need him to also leave things be, and not try interact with Eri anymore. So time to take a trip to see what I had to work with.

I was in a forest.

In front of me was a pigeon, a hawk, and a shit ton of crows.

Now, this wasn't my fault. Not completely.

I take responsibility for the pigeon, hawk...and half the murdered crows.

Basically I needed to find Lorian and his party to see how I'll get him to back off. In order to do that I need to go to Lorian.

Thankfully my powers helped me in locating the guy, since he was acting in a harmful way toward Cloud. Why, even sowing the seeds of doubt and treachery in Cloud's party. Of course I know where he was.

But traveling there would be an issue.

Well, I think I can just teleport there. Maybe. Still figuring out more of how my powers work. There are too many that it's taking me a while to acclimate since I'm five hours old and all.

So, how to travel? Why, the fastest way. Through the sky.

How to do that?

Step one, get some birds and gain their trust.

Step two, betray them, snap their necks, and thus gain powers and attributes from them. Hawks for fast travel, crow for increased memory skills, and pigeons for flight paths. Also for ever bird I've taken their powers from, I would add their flight speed additively to my own.

Step three, the crow was part of a group and they decide to collectively attack me.

Step four, use my emotion manipulation powers to turn half the crows against each other, causing civil war in the crow population, where they all killed each other.

Profit?

"Well...that was something." I said to myself as I drained the birds of their blood, buried them (apparently I can manipulate the earth to hide bodies), and gotten ready to fly.

I spread my white fluffy wings and took the skies.

Holy shit, I can travel at mach speeds!

"HOW DO I LAND?"

I am in a very precarious situation.

Yes, I reached the city Lorian was in, in a few minutes at that. However duty to my landing skills needing to...exist, I ended up landing a bit roughly.

In that I crash landed through some trees.

Thankfully it was in a part away enough from the city, that no one would notice, or if they did, it would be a while before they arrive.

"By the Goddess Iris," A young woman, a princess at that happened to be training in the area I landed in. "Are, are you an angel?" Princess Lorraine, sister of the Hero Prince Lorian and massive brocon looked at me in awe, and a bit of a blush given my ruined clothes.

"...Yes, my child. Could I bother you for some clothes to cover myself?"

Fuck it, I'm a Devil mistaken for an Angel. Why the hell not.

What's the worse that could happen?

"...And by her Light, the Goddess has granted us the means to transcend our limitation so we may survive and thrive in this harsh world. The proof of the Goddess's grace and protection rests on the back of each one of you." I said leading a procession in the city's local church. "So remember my children, you are never alone, for the Goddess Iris is always with you!"

Lorraine didn't have something for me to wear on hand.

So Lorraine went to find me some clothes in town, and brought some appropriate.

And Lorraine, ever so helpfully brought me a priest's garb, as it was the only appropriate clothes she could think to give me.

Now Lorraine guiding me into the city, was so helpful in telling me things here and there, while not telling anyone I'm an Angel since I told her I was acting under the Goddess's will subtly.

So what did Lorraine do to help me blend in?

Why, have me give a fucking sermon in Iris' church.

Well fuck. Apparently I'm not safe from Murphy's Law either.