I'm mature enough to admit I'm a spoiled girl.
From the moment I've been born up to now even, I've always been given everything I wanted. From clothes, games, to even traveling. My mother is a pushover, and my father was even worse than her. He likes to exaggerate stuff, one time almost buying a private jet for me.
And I'm not gonna act all bashful about it - I loved every moment of it. I adored the attention my parents have given me, and I acted a little spoiled as a child too. I wasn't a bully or anything of that sort, as I was taught to do the right thing, but I loved sticking my nose where it didn't belong.
It's simply how children act, though I was admittedly more annoying than them. I never kept to myself and was loud too. Opposite of what I've become, from a hyperactive annoying child to a quiet loner.
I snort at the memory.
"What's so funny?" My uncle asks me.
"Nothing," I answer, putting the chopsticks down. "Just reminiscing about the past."
I've outgrown that mindset after my dad passed away and acted a little rebellious once I hit puberty, but I still like how I'm treated. Five-star restaurants almost twice a week, expensive clothes, and a large allowance aren't things I can just decline.
So who am I to say no to my uncle after he offered to talk over sushi? He brought it up for a reason after all, and rejecting the offer is rude. Besides, I am hungry, so might as well eat my fill of Kuoh's best sushi place.
"Heh, what would you be reminiscing about?" He grins. "The last guy you beat up?"
"Is that your way of saying I should keep it to old folk like you?" I raise a brow.
"I'm not old."
"Yeah, you're not," I smirk. "You're what, forty-one? That's not old, that's ancient."
"Straight for the gut, huh?" He sighs, rubbing the back of his head. "You never mince your words."
"If it makes you feel better, you don't look that old," I shrug. "I'd say thirty-two? Or something. I say you still have a chance with Kaa-san."
"That's not the issue here," He groans.
"Though, her type is the scary-looking guys, the ones that look angry all the time," I continue to tease him. "And frankly, you're far from scary-looking. So good luck with that."
"And what do you think I look like?" He tries to change the subject, amusing me greatly.
"Smug," I respond. "You always look like you know something nobody else does."
"Is that a good thing?"
"It makes me want to punch you in the face."
"Guess not," He chuckles. "Well, I'll take it as a compliment. Not the worst thing you said about me."
"I'll stop being mean if you want me to," I remind him.
"It's alright, I know you don't mean it anyway," He waves it off. "You want to order more?"
"Nah, I'm full," I stretch my arms with a satisfied sigh. "Food always tastes better when someone else pays for it."
"I'm sure."
I turn my gaze to inspect the restaurant we're in, seeing the dozens of people eating and chatting away. After dealing with the stray, Akiyama made a call to someone before inviting me out to eat. I asked who it was that he spoke to but simply said that someone will come over to clean up the place.
I shrugged and thought nothing of it. Likely a Yakuza, seeing that my uncle probably knows who they are and that he's their ally or friend. Him being a close friend of my parents proves that with my dad seemingly being a lieutenant.
And I doubt the Yakuza would let someone as powerful as him near me if he's not trustworthy. Though, I'm not sure what he is to them. Is he also a Yakuza? If yes, what is he, a lieutenant? Captain? Patriarch?
If not, how did he get so strong, and what faction is he a part of? I'm sure he's gonna tell me everything now, hopefully everything. There's always the chance of people hiding certain stuff from me, like my mother and her assassin background.
"I'm sure you're curious about what you saw earlier," He starts, prompting me to look back at him.
"Aren't you?" I raise a brow. "Believe it or not, I was kicking its ass like nothing. Not exactly normal for a schoolgirl to manhandle monsters like that."
"Fair, but I have context. I've been in this business for years," he says. "You deserve answers more than I do."
"...Should we be talking here?" I ask, glancing at the other people.
"Don't worry, this restaurant is owned by the Majima Family." He assures me. "Only normal people and Yakuza are here. It's safe."
"If you say so." I trust his words and get back on topic. "I guess my first question would be straightforward. Who are you exactly?"
"Heh, reintroduction? I'm Shun Akiyama, CEO of Sky Finance," He says. "...and the treasurer of the Geomijul."
Okay, I've never heard of this specific organization before, and the name sounds… Korean I believe? Some sort of mafia, or something else altogether?
"Geomijul?" I frown.
"It's a secret organization that only a few know about," He explains. "The three factions alongside a lot of other mythology factions don't know about its existence, and we're trying very hard to keep it that way."
"Why?" I ask. "What's the purpose of it? Is it like a secret weapon or something?"
"The opposite," He shakes his head. "The Geomijul was made for people who don't want to be involved with the supernatural. Sacred Gear users and half-humans mostly.
"It was formed by Seong-hui, a Sacred Gear user, so that people who have nowhere to go can live normal lives if they want, to escape from people hunting them down for their powers and abilities," He continues. "There's no telling what would happen if the other factions knew about it, so it's hidden deep in Ijincho, where no one will be able to find it."
I'm assuming the people hunting means devils? They're the only people who do that stuff as far as I know. Though, I'm not sure if Akiyama hates them as much as my mother does, or if he hates them at all. Mother told me that the yakuza - supposedly the good guys - made a deal with the devils and temporarily gave them Kuoh, though they're still being monitored.
And from what I saw so far, they're doing a good job. If this restaurant is owned by the Tojo, then wouldn't a lot of other places be the same? So they have eyes almost everywhere, and that's slightly worrying. I need to be careful when going to dungeons. Would be pretty hard to explain how I suddenly pop in and out of existence in different locations.
Though, now that I think about it, I didn't feel like someone was following me back home today after school. I know the devils would likely do that, so they got scared off? Maybe? I can figure it out later.
"And you're part of them?" I question, absorbing the information. "When did you join?"
"Two decades ago, give or take a few years," He answers. "I was approached due to my Sacred Gear, like any other person in my position."
"You have a Sacred Gear?" My eyes widen a little. "What is it?"
"Heh, that's what gets your attention?" He smiles in amusement. "Yes, I have one. It's the Sacred Gear with the power of the Vermilion Bird, Suzaku. Burning Rebirth."
"One of the Four Gods," To say I was surprised would be an understatement. "What does that make you?"
"A human," His smile widens. "Albeit one with a lot of power."
"I suppose," I rub my neck, still surprised.
I knew he was strong, long before even checking his stats. I've seen my uncle get in fights before, and even though he doesn't like starting them, he gets really smug anyways, and for good reason.
This man is strong. I've yet to see him get hurt, and he admittedly saved my ass multiple times before. Once against a gang armed with guns and other weapons, and he still kicked their asses. Literally.
It's not as impressive when I realized what world I'm in, and seeing his current stats then comparing them to Sirzechs' question marks isn't much either, but he has a Sacred Gear on top of that?
"If you're with them, then how come you work in Kamurocho and not in Ijincho?" I ask in curiosity.
"I'm positioned there - it's where we keep most of the resources and supplies," He answers. "They work as a backup in case something happens to the main base. Most other factions think that I live there due to my connections with the Tojo Clan, not that I'm guarding the treasures of the Geomijul."
"How big is this faction?" I frown in thought. "Does it extend to Japan only?"
"No, it's international," He shakes his head. "We have agents all over Earth, keeping an eye out for anyone we can save."
So another big player?
Assuming all of this is true and their main goal is finding Sacred Gear users, then they must be pretty powerful. Akiyama being the treasurer probably means that he's one of the strongest, and while he's likely not as strong as the satans, he's still fairly formidable.
A whole faction with Sacred Gear users is scary to think about, and that reminds me of the Hero's Faction. Does the Geomijul's existence affect them? Can I expect people like George or Jeanne with them instead?
"Why are you telling me all of this?"
"Because I want to give you a choice," He answers.
"...You want me to join?" I frown.
"That's on you. I can't force you to do anything," He assures me. "I just wanted to tell you that if you wish to escape the supernatural, you're always welcome."
I take a moment to contemplate his words, weighing my options.
I have two choices here; either join and train in secret or stay here for likely faster growth but with more risks.
Going along with him will block a lot of things - lots of my metaknowledge will turn useless and I won't be able to use it effectively. I know, there's already a lot of differences, but this will destroy whatever remaining advantage I have. However, it'll give me space to practice in safety, with lots of trainers like my mother, Akiyama, and others in this new faction.
It's a good option overall, very safe considering what Kuoh goes through every two weeks, but it's not rewarding.
I'll lose the Boosted Gear completely, and Rias will get her overpowered dumbass of a protagonist. This will be a huge hurdle later on because I can see myself being Rias and Issei's enemy sometime in the future. I can't hide my true nature forever.
And while staying in Kuoh may be significantly more dangerous, it's also far more effective as a way to level up. The requirement for the new dungeon wants me to level up, and I can't level up without killing or hurting stuff. I don't think I'll be getting live targets in this secret organization.
Even then, I already have a lot of protection from Yakuza, my mother, and my uncle. This Kuoh might not be as dangerous as the one in canon.
I suppose staying here is gonna be more beneficial in the long run. Though, I am curious…
"Just one thing," I say. "Is there a reason why I haven't been living there already? I mean, Kaa-san said I have Yokai blood, so am I qualified or what?"
"You are, but you were already living near the Omi Alliance," He explains. "You were arguably safer there."
"I suppose," Fair enough. "I think I'll pass. Thanks for offering, though."
"Heh, thought as much," He smiles. "Does that answer your questions?"
"I guess, for now at least," I nod. "Now's your turn, I think."
"What were you doing out so late?" He quickly asks with a frown.
I stop myself from lying, knowing that someone like him isn't gonna buy it. He's always been intelligent, and if anything of what he told was true, then lying is out of the question. Saying I was 'taking a walk' is only gonna make me more suspicious.
But I can't tell him anything about the dungeons, especially when this place is filled with Yakuza. I might be able to trust my uncle with it, but not the Tojo. I don't know them yet, even if my mother assures me that they're the 'good guys'.
The Yakuza are feared for a reason. The negative light surrounding them isn't just there. I doubt that they're as good as I've been told, they're likely in the gray area of morality if not worse. I'm not exactly a saint myself, nor do I care about doing the right thing, but trusting them isn't wise, even if I'm important to them.
Guess I'm sticking to half-truths.
"I was out practicing my magic," I answer. "There wasn't much space back home, and I've been getting hold of more destructive spells lately. I didn't want to trash the place."
Thankfully, this seemed to be the right thing to say as Akiyama relaxed, sighing in exasperation. "Couldn't you wait until it's daytime? Or asked your mother?"
"I couldn't sleep, and Kaa-san was tired," I shrug. "Unless you want to teach me magic?"
"I'm fully human, I can't use the same magic you use, so that's not really possible," He shakes his head.
"Too bad."
"I can teach you how to use your fists, though," He offers. "Interested?"
I pause and think. I'm not sure how that would work. Don't I need a martial artist class to actually learn it? Or can I learn skills regardless?
Frankly, I do want to learn how to defend myself without magic or weapons, more lines of defense are never bad. What would I do if I was hit with anti-magic stuff, or got my weapon knocked away? I know how to fight, but I basically throw my arms around and aim at where it hurts. It worked most of the time, but I doubt it'll be effective against actual masters.
Actually knowing how to throw punches and kicks is good. Countering, blocking, parrying, and all that jazz. Also, why wouldn't I? It's free, and it makes me stronger. Strength is important, especially in DxD. Besides, punching people is my hobby.
And I haven't been doing a lot of exercising lately. I want to stay in shape.
"Sure, sounds cool," I accept the offer. "Let's talk about it tomorrow morning, though. There's an abandoned warehouse northwest of Kuoh. That's where my mother and I practice magic."
"Alright. I guess we'll need to make a schedule for you, then."
"I don't mind," I stand up from my seat. "Thanks for the food, I'll be going now. I'm getting tired, and I still have school tomorrow."
"Let me walk you there."
"It's fine, it's close anyway," I wave it off. "And I'm pretty sure the Yakuza are watching me."
"If you're sure," He resigns and calls for the check. "Be careful around them, Akane-chan. Keep your cards close to your chest."
I realize that 'them' refers to the devils, and I nod. "I know."
With that, I leave the restaurant, thinking about his words. Geomijul, a place for people who don't want to be involved with the supernatural. If they exist, then who knows how many Sacred Gear users they have. Dozens? Hundreds? Thousands?
Akiyama told me about them because he trusts me deeply, and I need to use that trust to my advantage somehow. Training is one thing, but what else can I get from him? I have a lot of time to think about it, so no rush.
Though, he's right. I should probably worry about the devils for now. Even if I don't know a lot about the yakuza, my mother, or my uncle, they're still on my side. The devils aren't, and assuming this world isn't running on 'haha bewbz anime is funny' logic where everything is played for the lols, then they're probably a lot grayer than they are in the actual show.
They're devils for fuck's sake.
Really, if people like Riser are running around without being taught a lesson in common sense, then they're nowhere near as good as they think they are. I ain't good either, my alignment is 'Neutral Evil' apparently - I don't know why; I haven't done anything evil yet - but trusting a bad guy is dumber than trusting a good guy. One has a moral code and the other doesn't.
Though Rias is probably that naive, so getting her friendship and trust - therefore Sirzechs' - is gonna be easy. The only thing I need to do is actually meet the girl to establish a relationship.
"Not looking forward to that…" I mutter.
Let's hope she's not as annoying as her canon version.
It's early in the morning, a few hours before school starts. Like yesterday, I head towards the place my mother chose as our training grounds, expecting some lessons in spell evolution. I need to evolve at least one spell to be able to upgrade my Magic Control mastery skill.
Even if I can't level up in the old dungeon, I'm still able to improve my mastery skills. Leveling up is gonna be a little difficult, though. I don't know if those stray exorcists are any good EXP, and I'm not sure if I should try to kill the four Fallen Angels.
After all, I want to be viewed positively by Azazel and the Grigori as a whole. Showing mercy to his subordinates should at least help a bit in that regard.
But to get to level 150 is gonna be a pain. I'm still 95, and I can't think of anything that'll shoot me up over 50 levels easily. Unless I get quests. Hm…
Hey, Game. Do I have to kill to gain EXP?
No. However, EXP will be reduced otherwise.
I smile. Good enough.
As I enter the warehouse, I spot my mother and uncle bickering about something. Once they realize I was here, I flinch slightly as Mizuki gives me an intimidating smile, Akiyama mouthing 'I'm sorry' before stepping back a little.
Oh no.
"Oh, there you are," My mother greets me cheerfully as she steps towards me. "Your uncle told me all about what happened last night."
Oh no.
"I-is that so?" I glare at him for a second. "Well, I'm sure you understand why. I had to practice more, y'know."
"Of course, though I'm curious…"
"About what?"
"Why the hell didn't ya practice here?!" She scowls. "This place is well-guarded and safe, but ya decided to train in a devil-infested town instead?! Ya dumb?!"
I wince. Bad choice of words. Fuck.
"I- uh, well-" Before I could get an excuse out, my mother pinches my cheek and pulls. "Owowow!"
"No excuse!"
"S-shtop, it hurts!" I try to push her away, but that only prompts her to pull harder.
"Oh I know it does, dumbass," She smirks menacingly. "This is for makin' your old woman worry~"
"You're enjoying this way too much- ow, stop!" I finally manage to pull her hand away, rubbing my cheek in pain with a scowl. "You'll pay for this later you old bitch."
"Try me, brat," She challenges me with a glare.
My uncle clears his throat, prompting us to look at him with glares. "As amusing as this is, we don't have all day."
Mizuki blinks, then turns to me. "Right. Well, your uncle told me everything already. You want physical training too, and we already made a schedule for you."
"That was quick," I say in surprise. "So what's it gonna be?"
"I'll take early morning practice as Shun-kun takes late-night training, two hours in each session," She explains. "We'll keep the weekends as free days for you, whether you want to train or not is your choice, but tell us beforehand, okay?"
"Sounds simple enough," I nod. "I like it. So we start this new schedule today?"
"Yup," My mother smiles. "We wanted to make it so that each of us gets certain days, but this is better. You're a very fast learner, after all."
"To be fair, it's me we're talking about here."
"Would it hurt you to act modestly for once?"
"I'm just telling the truth," I shrug. "You're lucky to have an awesome daughter like me."
"She's right, Mizuki-san. Even I feel lucky," My uncle says.
"See? Even Oji-san agrees."
"Don't stroke her ego, damn it," She sighs as he smirks in response.
"Alright, as much as I want to stay here, I have some stuff to do," He says, patting my head, prompting me to slap his hand away. "I'll send you a message later."
"Got it."
With that, he leaves us on our own. Mizuki clears her throat, looking at me with a smile, hands on her hips.
"Let's start before we lose any more time."
"Right, so spell evolution," I cast an ice shortsword, making it hover over my palm. "I just need to use this as a base, then change it from here?"
"Yep."
"Sounds simple enough."
I close my eyes to focus on the image. Well, the next upgrade for a shortsword would be a longsword, right? It's the easiest thing at the top of my head. It's better for thrusting and slashing, basically the most important factors of a sword, especially one I'm planning to launch at someone.
"Oh it sounds simple, but it really isn't," Mizuki says. "Trust me; it's pretty difficult to get the hang of."
I could go for a broadsword, but I remember something about it having a weaker edge, and frankly, if I wanted blunt damage then I'd make a hammer or something. Definitely not a good spell.
"Though, it's fine. We're just starting after all."
I breathe through my nose as I make up my mind, energy tingling from my fingertips as magic slowly envelops the spell. I make the image in my brain, ignoring my mother's words as I focus on improving the spell.
"I mean, it took me a while too, and I was considered a prodigy back then- aaaand you're actually doing it."
Even with how much mana I have, I can tell I'm losing quite a bit, but I also feel that it's working. I can sense the spell becoming more powerful, and slightly opening my eyes showed me that it changed into a sleek design, unlike the admittedly rough one from before.
Spell [Cryomancy: Ice Shortsword] evolved to [Cryomancy: Ice Longsword]
[Cryomancy: Ice Longsword]
A decently powerful spell used by most Cryomancers. It still retains the quick-casting advantage of its weaker counterpart, but with more damage and cost.
Deals 300 + INTx2.6 Ice Damage
Costs 350 MP
With that, the spell is complete, and I shoot it at a nearby wooden crate, the longsword completely going through it with no difficulty.
Weaker than the bullet spell, but definitely still powerful. I'm sure it'll turn out better once I refine it.
"What was that?" I turn to look at Mizuki, smirking smugly.
"I-..wow," She utters in shock. "You didn't even struggle. You're better than I expected. Way better."
"Told you," I create another longsword to prove a point. "You should feel lucky for having an awesome daughter."
"I… suppose I can't deny it now," She sighs. "But this is only the beginning. Don't think magic training is gonna get any easier. In fact, it'll be pretty tough from now on."
"I'm sure," I roll my eyes. "I'm good as long as I'm learning."
"Hmph," She pouts. "We'll see how long this confidence of yours lasts."
With my cheat powers, I'm certain it'll last for a while.
Too bad she'll never know.
(Ichiban)
He might not be the best at math or English, but when it comes to P.E, he scores pretty highly. It's why he likes this class the most compared to the others.
He hoped there was more time, though. For him, all these exercises don't even qualify as warmups. They're nothing compared to the training he's been put through by the Captain, or how many times he got his ass kicked by Masato.
Ichiban wasn't in the Yakuza yet, not officially, but he knows more than the average person. It blew his mind when Arakawa told him about the supernatural, he almost couldn't believe it. All these mythologies were true!?
Of course, this only ignited his desire to help his soon-to-be patriarch even more. If Arakawa has enemies, then he'd do all that is possible to help protect him, even if it costs him his life. He swore it more than once.
But since Arakawa forbade him from joining when he was young, the oath wasn't official. He had to wait until he's old enough to take it. That didn't necessarily mean that he wouldn't help him, though.
At first, Arakawa's son, Young Master Masato, took pity on him and offered to help him out a bit. Show him the ropes and all that. He looked nerdy, but was ridiculously strong, and taught Ichiban about fighting. Enough to handle the lower-tier enemies at least.
That's before the Captain decided to take it upon himself to beat the living fuck out of Ichiban, in order to 'prepare him' for when he's older or something. He heard him talk nonsense about 'awakening' or whatever, but he's always too tired and beaten to think about it.
The Captain is kind of a jerk.
Regardless, P.E wasn't really anything special, even if he enjoyed it. His best friend seems to share his thoughts. Well, almost.
He glanced down at Akane, who was sitting next to him under the shade, hugging her knees with a bothered look. He tried to keep his eyes from wandering too low to her supple thighs, the memories of what happened to those perverts begging him to stop ogling her before he gets his shit kicked in too.
Though, she's probably gonna be less harsh if she spotted him.
...Right?
"Are you alright?"
"I'm not good with heat," She responds. "And the sun hurts my eyes."
He blinked. "It's spring, though."
"Your point?" She raised a brow.
"It's not hot," He said. "And you look like you're about to melt here."
"I told you I'm not good with heat," She sighed. "Can we go inside now?"
"I don't think we're allowed to do that."
"And since when did you start caring about the rules?" She snarked. "Ah, whatever. Class is about to end soon anyway."
He rubbed his neck. While there isn't much he can do, seeing his friend being bothered made him want to help, so he took his water bottle and threw it at her, prompting her to catch it with a confused look.
Akane blinked and gave him a small, but genuine smile that made his heart skip a beat. "Thanks, Ichi. You didn't have to do that."
"Hey, that's what friends are for, yeah?" He grinned.
"I guess."
She opened the bottle and took a big gulp from it, but had the decency to not finish the thing. As she closed it, Akane stopped as she spotted someone in the distance. Ichiban followed her line of sight and saw that Hyoudou guy sitting alone.
He looked back at his friend, who was fixated on the pervert sporting a bandage on his nose. Issei looked incredibly uncomfortable without his friends, not even trying to ogle the girls doing stretches or playing sports as if the whole thing traumatized him.
Unlike most of his class, Ichiban doesn't really have a lot of problems with Issei. He's fucking dumb, yeah, but he can tell the guy isn't really bad at his core. He stumbled on him a couple of times, and he was genuinely nice.
It did make him feel bad for what he went through, even if he was asking for it. Peeping on girls is playing with fire, but pissing Akane off is trying to set off an atomic bomb. What he did that time was clearly not his wisest moment.
Did he think Akane overreacted? Yes. Was he surprised? No.
Suddenly, the girl in question stood up, walking towards the lonesome pervert calmly. This raised a lot of flags - Ichiban thought she was off to finish the job or something and tried to calm her down.
"Hey, what are you doing?" He asked, following after her. "I know you don't like him, but can we not start more trouble? At least not unprovoked?"
"Eh?" She blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Well, you're walking towards the same guy who tried to peep on you," He explained. "Please don't hurt him?"
"Really, that's what it looked like?" She smirked in amusement, making him pause. "Give me some credit, Ichiban. I know how to control myself a little."
"Uh…" He uttered dumbly. "So you're not gonna bully him some more?"
"I won't," She assured him, giving his shoulder a light squeeze. "I promise."
He trusted her words, he really did, but just in case, Ichiban walked with her. It wasn't particularly difficult to piss her off, as calm as she acts most of the time. He could tell that yes, she is more mature than the Akane he knew before, but will go as far as to say that her spiteful streak got worse somehow.
She wouldn't calm down until she lets it out on something or someone.
"Oi," She called out elegantly.
Issei noticed the two, but it was far too late for him. He froze in place, eyes widening in terror at Akane's presence. His fear prevented him from running away, and Akane's blank look definitely made it worse.
"Issei Hyoudou, yeah?" She asked, prompting him to nod slowly. "Can I have a moment?"
With him too afraid, he nodded. However, Ichiban looked a little confused. That was a little polite, did she hit her head or something?
He noticed her face twitch a little, showing a lot of disdain, disgust, and anger for a split-second, but quickly went to a more guilty expression. Ichiban almost couldn't believe what he heard next.
"I'll keep it straight with you," She sighed, bowing a little. "Sorry for… going off on you and your friends that time."
Akane is apologizing?
His jaw dropped, reflexively looking around to see if someone's forcing her to do this, or if there's a meteor that's gonna end the world soon. This isn't something that happens every day. Scratch that, it never happened before.
Yes, she could and did apologize before, but Akane is a very, very stubborn individual. Having her acknowledge her mistakes while she's sure she was in the right is almost impossible, and due to her short temper, it's wise to just drop the subject.
Beating up perverts is something she'll do with a smile on her face. He wouldn't be surprised if she had killed some before, so to see her bowing to one is surreal. Maybe she did hit her head.
"Oh, uh…" Issei awkwardly scratched his cheeks.
"I'm just saying that I went overboard. Your friends didn't deserve that," She struggled to say that sentence. "I know it's not much, but I'd feel terrible if I didn't apologize for it."
"I-I guess it's fine," Issei nodded, looking far more comfortable in her presence. "We were kinda asking for it anyway. Maybe we should've stopped while we had the chance."
"Yeah, definitely not wise to peep on girls," She added with a deadpan look, making him chuckle nervously. "Just try to keep the pervertedness behind closed doors, yeah? You're not getting a girlfriend if you keep that up."
He flinched at the brutal honesty but nodded.
"Right, got that out of my chest," She muttered, giving Issei a wave. "See you, I guess."
He waved back at her as Akane left him alone with Ichiban following closely behind. The moment they were out of earshot, he grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her, looking at her in worry.
"Who are you and what did you do to Akane?!"
"Haha, hilarious," She rolled her eyes. "Let go of me, birdnest. Not in the mood."
He obeyed, but he's getting an answer whether she likes it or not. "For real though, what the hell was that? I thought you hated the guy?"
"I don't like him," She stated bluntly. "But I'm old enough to realize when I'm wrong."
"Yeah, but still, this is so not you?" He said. "As far as I know, you'd rather go to hell than apologize to people like him. What changed?"
"Ichiban, most of the perverts you saw me beat up are also thugs and criminals," She crossed her arms, nodding towards Issei. "That guy? A student, just like you and I. I can at least feel pity for him, y'know."
"I guess," He rubbed his neck, still processing what just happened. "I thought your hate for perverts extended beyond good and bad, though."
"I don't hate perverts in general, just the ones who act like him. Shameless perverts," She answered. "If you keep your fantasies away from public, then who am I to shame you? It's fine as long as it doesn't bother anybody."
She then smirked, pulling at her shirt to show her cleavage. "Who knows, maybe I'm a bigger pervert than you can ever imagine~"
The thought stopped him in his tracks as blood rushed to his face, painting his cheeks red as he tried to look away. Her amused giggle told him that she clearly enjoyed his reaction, making him click his tongue in annoyance.
He might've appreciated her newfound maturity, but if there's one change Ichiban disliked, it'd be her newly developed flirtatious nature.
And what he hated even more is how effective it is.
(Akane)
15 Reputation with Ichiban Kasuga [85/100]
25 Reputation with Issei Hyoudou [20/100]
It was necessary, but I still felt like I was gonna puke.
If I want to get Issei on my team, then I have to get on his good side. Nab him before Rias could because I'm not leaving the Boosted Gear to that redhead bimbo. Considering her track record, she doesn't even deserve something that valuable.
Obviously, I didn't mean a thing I said. I hated having to apologize, but this was the bed I made when I decided to beat the fuck out of him. I only have myself to blame in the end. Thankfully, the apology was a lot more effective than I thought.
Likely due to the Friendly Face perk along with my high Charisma. Issei is a simple individual - even if you don't consider his perverted tendencies, he's still a shonen protagonist. A moron with a heart of gold. A very naive dumbass that can easily be controlled.
Too bad I don't even like standing next to him. Why couldn't it be someone else? Ichi might share some of Issei's views - mostly his very shonen-like outlook on life - but at least he's fun to be around. Haruka's kindness is almost infectious, and I like how genuine she is.
But it had to be stuck with that moron. What the fuck is God doing?
Oh wait, he's dead.
What the fuck is Micheal doing?
"Ideas for ice powers, huh?" Ichi hums thoughtfully as we walked through the school's hallways. "Weird request. What gives?"
"One of my mother's friends is a Game Designer, and he wanted help regarding that," I lie casually. "Already had a few written down, but I kinda wanted a second opinion."
"And you're asking me?"
"You're the nerdiest guy I know," I shrug. "You're probably better at this than I am."
"Heh, fair enough," He grins. "Well, the most obvious would be ice weaponry, but you probably already know that. Is there a specific power level or tier?"
"Nope, go wild."
"Hm… Only thing I can come up with right now would be a frost tornado kinda deal," He responds. "Y'know, casting a cyclone that pulls nearby enemies and freezes them?"
I pause for a moment to think. That's not a bad idea, it does sound powerful, though am I at the level of casting such a thing? I'm still at Adept, even though I only need a little to rank up, but is it possible for me to cast it?
Hm, I suppose I'm gonna have to test it out. One more dungeon run and I should be done with the damage objectives for the rank-up quests, then I can focus on refining and learning new spells, or maybe invest some time on the engineer class. That oughta be fun.
"Anything else?"
"Gimme a few hours," He responds. "I'll message you a couple of ideas later tonight if I can."
"I knew I could rely on you," I smile, giving him a fist bump. "Thanks, Ichi."
"Anytime."
Suddenly, we were cut off by a familiar individual. Blond hair, blue eyes, and a soft, handsome face. Rias' Knight, Yuuto Kiba, stood in front of us as he smiled at me warmly. I take a moment to process, casually keeping my cool as Ichi remains blissfully unaware.
He didn't even tense. Maybe he's not aware?
"Amamiya-san?" He tilts his head a little. "It's good to finally meet you."
All the students around us stop, looking at us intensely. Some of the girls were whispering something about the Prince of Kuoh Academy talking with-
"-He's into the Princess Knight!"
"That bitch should stay away from my Prince!"
"Ah, a union between two lovely knights~"
I whip my head at the girls who said that stuff with a dark glare, eliciting high-pitched "eep!" from them. My annoyance only flares in response as Ichiban snorts audibly. Great, now there's gonna be rumors everywhere, and they keep calling me with that shitty title!
For fucks' sake, he just said hi to me. Can we stop with those kinds of conclusions?
"I-it's good to meet you too?" I calm myself down, struggling to keep my tone even. "I don't believe we've met before."
"Ah, sorry, I haven't introduced myself yet, have I?" He bows. "I'm Yuuto Kiba, a third-year student. Nice to make your acquaintance."
"Yeah, sure, ignore me," Ichi mutters. "Not like I exist or anything."
"Likewise, Senpai," I reply as politely as I could while elbowing the moron next to me to the side. "So is there anything I can help you with?"
"Not much," He shakes his head. "I simply would like to know you better. Do you mind a few minutes please?"
Rias can't be more obvious even if she tried. The dumb whore...
Of course, saying that only fanned the flames as the whispers got louder and more frequent. Some girls were squealing, others were growling. Hell, a few guys were giving Kiba dirty looks as word spread like wildfire.
I hate this fucking school.
"Oh my god, he's totally into her!"
"Damn that emo bitch!"
"They're so cute together~"
Due to the other students being infuriating, me not liking the devils in the first place, and my urge to kick Ichi in the balls for quietly giggling at my predicament, I forgot to put my filter on and uttered the first thing that came to mind.
Am I gonna regret it? Maybe, maybe not. But if there's one thing I can tell you, it is that it felt good to say, in front of a crowd no less. I never liked this dumbass either considering his weird obsessions with swords.
"No thanks, I'm not into twinks," I decline scathingly, silencing the whole crowd. "I'm sure you'll find a guy perfect for you soon."
"Twink?" Ichiban parrots in shock.
"T-twink?" Bootleg Shirou Emiya repeats slowly, also in shock.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have things to do," I walk past him. "See you."
Even Ichiban stood there frozen for a few moments before going after me. The whole school was quiet, most of the girls were in shock, almost as if they're not believing that someone basically rejected their prince.
Well, they should. He's overrated as hell anyway.
To be honest, I wasn't even joking, not fully anyway. I don't like these bishonen guys, they're definitely not my type. I don't understand how so many girls were drawn to him anyway. Handsome for sure, but he looks so basic.
It's as if they all look the same.
"Oi," Ichiban taps my shoulder. "What the hell just happened back there?"
"I rejected him."
"You fucking murdered him!" He says with wide eyes. "That was brutal. Couldn't you just say no? Hell, he only asked to talk with you."
"Sure, but you know where it always leads to," I shrug. "And I don't particularly know or respect the guy enough. If he was smart, he'd have asked in a less populated area."
"F-fair," He rubs his neck, glancing behind for a moment. "Man, glad I'm not in his place. Getting rejected like that would've ruined me for weeks."
"Oh, I'll be gentler with you, don't worry," I wink at him. "Who knows, unlike him, you might even have a chance~"
Just as I expect, Ichiban blushes and stutters in response, clearing his throat as he looks away with an annoyed expression. I giggle at his reaction, very pleased to have someone like him to tease.
I'm not particularly into him, but god his reactions are adorable.
"Can you stop doing that?"
"Too bad, you're making it too easy."
He sighs in frustration and drops the subject as we make our way to the next class.
-5 Reputation with Yuuto Kiba [-5/100]
Ah, there it is. Was wondering when it would appear.
Meh, I can fix it later once we deal with his stupid sword problem. Besides, it's not like he's anyone important - hell, I'd rather just get rid of him entirely rather than pander to his moronic ideas. I'd take an Excalibur over his dumbass.
Let's just hope he leaves me alone for now.
(Rias)
"She rejected you?" Rias questioned, looking at her knight in surprise.
"Very brutally, too," Akeno added with a smile. "What did she call you again?"
"Well, that's not very important," Kiba cleared his throat, clearly embarrassed. "What we know is that-"
"Twink," Koneko said with an amused smirk, prompting Rias to let out an unladylike snort.
"She's not easy to convince or seduce," The Knight ignored his friend's teasing. "And she's clearly attached to that Ichiban boy. They spend most of their day together, occasionally with Sawamura."
"So the three of them are friends, then," Rias mumbled. "Hmm…"
Well, plan A failed, and while its success isn't exactly needed, it did surprise her that Kiba failed to convince Akane for a word. Rias hoped her Knight would charm her, and through him, they'd get to know each other. That was the easiest and safest way.
It didn't quite backfire, but it failed regardless. Charming the girl seems out of the picture for now - If Kiba wasn't able to do it, then what can they do? Unless she swings the other way? That's a possibility. If that was the case, then she or Akeno would do it.
While not overly picky, Rias prefers men, and her Queen doesn't seem to mind either way.
Well, she doesn't have anything better to do, and the faster they get on with this the better. She's been keeping up with the news of the Underworld, and there's been concerning rumors of the wedding moving to an earlier date, and she didn't have the chance to ask her brother about this due to him being too busy.
Though, she doesn't know how Akane would help in that regard. Getting her in the peerage is a big no-no, and Rias wasn't exactly sure how powerful she is anyway. Though, her friend might be able to get her out of this.
And likewise, he seems very attached to Akane. This Ichiban seems like a respectable boy, but there was something that felt off about him. Aside from the clear dormant power within him, it seems all too easy and suspicious, and Rias wasn't sure if it's a good idea to straight-up ask him to join.
Rias needs to integrate herself into this human group. If she does, then she'll gain two powerful allies and one possible Longinus wielder. It's a golden opportunity right there, she just needs to take it.
Though, she kept Sona's words in mind. She should restrain herself from being too pushy, otherwise, she'll look desperate.
"Alright, you two," She gestured towards Kiba and Koneko. "Leave them alone. Akeno and I will try to get close instead."
"Are you sure?" Her Knight asked. "I can try again if you want."
"It's okay, you've done enough," Rias waved it off with a small smile. "I think it's about time I met her myself anyway."
"I'm afraid you'll have to wait until tomorrow," Akeno added, looking out the window. "She already left the school grounds."
"Ah," Rias grimaced slightly before she cleared her throat. "Well, there's no helping it. I suppose it gives us time to think of a way to approach them."
Rias hoped that the boy had what she needed. If those rumors are true, then she only had less than a month at most.
This is her last chance at escaping the marriage, and she's not about to waste it.
(Akane)
When I entered the warehouse for my physical training, I didn't expect the change. I thought it'd be basic training like getting my stance or something, so seeing the whole warehouse cleaned up and refurnished was quite the surprise.
Instead of the hundreds of dusty boxes, crates, and rusted tools inside, everything was replaced with some gym equipment, targets for projectile training, newer lights, a fridge, and even a whole living room with high-end TV on the second floor.
The whole place looked very different and very clean. Clearly, people worked hard to fix it, but how? I've only been out for a couple of hours - how fast do you have to be to do all of this so quickly?
It was as if this place just transformed into a private gym. It was one hell of a surprise to walk into. All of this stuff is gonna help a lot.
"What do you think?" Akiyama nudges me.
"This is amazing," I answer truthfully. "You did this?"
"Heh, well, not on my own," He replies. "I had help from the Majima Family. They're one hell of a group, trust me."
"Yeah, I can tell," I scratch my cheek. "But I'm not exactly sure how this could help in martial arts."
"Well, you wanna know how I fight specifically, right?"
"Yeah."
"As you know, I primarily use my legs to attack and defend," He explains. "And you need to be very flexible to do that, as well as a lot of strength to back up your kicks."
"I guess." I cross my arms. "I'm plenty strong, though-"
"Can you do splits?"
I freeze at the question, then sigh. "Point taken."
"Hehe, oh don't give me that look. It'll be easy for you," He pats my head. "You're young and talented. This shouldn't be too difficult for you."
"Right, right," I push his hand away. "So what do I have to do first?"
"Let's test your strength," He says, pointing at a huge machine next to him. "See this over here? Punch it as hard as you can."
It was a huge Punching Machine, way bigger than the one you'd see in arcades. Clearly this is for the real stuff, for testing warriors and all that. I've never seen this before, though. Maybe the Yakuza made it?
Perhaps I can learn more about engineering from them. Mom did say that they're decades beyond regular, day-to-day technology.
I cock my arm and tighten my fist before throwing an inhumanly powerful jab. The little screen above it starts to calculate my strength, stopping at 236. Not sure how that fairs, but probably more powerful than regular humans due to my high STR.
Even my uncle's surprised look was enough of a testament.
"You weren't kidding. You are strong," He nods. "We can skip the basics."
"Told you."
"You did, but you still lack flexibility," He reminds me, making me frown. "Strength alone isn't enough."
"So what, I need to do stretches?" I raise a brow. "There's probably a faster way, right? Besides, I can do it when I'm home. Not really worth teaching."
"I suppose that's true," He nods, seemingly easily convinced. "Alright, how about a test? I want you to try to hit me."
"Okay," I raise my arms up in a basic fighting stance. "I'm assuming magic isn't allowed?"
"Wouldn't be much of a martial arts training, now would it?"
Quest added
[Training With Shun Akiyama #1]
Objective: Hit Shun at least once without using magic or weapons
Bonus Objective: Knock Shun down
Rewards: 1 Epic Token, 25 DEX, 25 STR, 25 END, [Unarmed Combat Proficiency] Mastery Skill, Increase Affection with Shun Akiyama, 5000 Credits
Bonus Rewards: 1 Legendary Token, 200 DEX, 200 STR, 200 END, [Flames of Suzaku] Perk, Greatly Increase Affection with Shun Akiyama, 25,000 Credits
This is gonna be impossible, isn't it?
I clench my fists and focus, my target merely standing there with a relaxed smile. He wasn't even in a stance, and I don't blame him. The sheer difference in power between us is immense - he could one-shot me if he wanted to.
Even without counting the high stats, he has a Sacred Gear that I know nothing about. I don't stand a chance, and I doubt the revolver can do much damage against him. I don't think a bullet can catch a guy like him.
Well, he's probably holding back against me, so maybe I do have a chance. After all, if a quest like this pops up, then that means it's probable. I just need to somehow catch him off guard, and without magic, that's tough.
First thing I did was charge, to try and test the waters a bit. I throw a few jabs and hooks, all of them being easily dodged as Akiyama steps away without a struggle. Those were obvious enough of course, but even then, I can't find an opening.
He looks off guard, but I can tell that it's a trick. Or it's just that he's way too fast that I'm basically moving in slow-motion in his eyes.
More punches were thrown, yet none landed, and I was getting more and more frustrated by the second. No matter what I do, my attacks keep missing, and his smug look isn't helping. How the hell am I supposed to hit this guy? This isn't really fair damn it.
He sidesteps and trips me, prompting me to stumble and almost fall on my face. I scowl deeply as I step back. Glancing at my stamina, I click my tongue in annoyance. So it does decrease, then…
"What's up?" He tilts his head. "Tired?"
"I'm fine."
I scan the place for a moment, trying to think of something. I look at the equipment for a few seconds and get an idea, however, I keep the frustrated act so as to not arouse suspicions. It's not a foolproof plan, he's probably experienced enough to not fall for this stuff, but it's the only thing that could work.
He's not particularly underestimating me here, but I can tell he's not taking me seriously. He's so far above me, and the thought of me landing a hit is almost laughable. I can use that to my advantage.
I charge at him again, wildly flailing my arms in hopes of bashing that smug face, but once again, he expertly dances around my movement without breaking a sweat, though he doesn't seem to notice where he's moving.
"Why can't I hit you?!" I growl.
"You're too slow," He replies simply.
Just a little more…
His fast movement was making it hard for me to make him stay in one direction, but I'm getting the hang of it. He'd usually sidestep after I try to hit him with a quick attack, while backstepping whenever I swing widely.
So I keep the heavy attacks, and while they take quite a bit more stamina, it forces him to stay on one track, and after a few more, it does the trick.
He never noticed one of the gym equipment behind him as he evaded, prompting him to trip. His smirk vanishes as I take the chance by grabbing his shirt, pulling him close to deliver a punch to his face.
Only for him to easily block it, push me back, and flip backward, landing perfectly.
"Woah~ that was pretty close," He grins. "You almost got me there, Akane-chan."
God fucking damn it.
"Hehe, with that face, I can tell that you've planned this," He taunts. "Didn't really work, did it?"
"Go fuck yourself," I growl.
"Hey now, I didn't say the plan was bad," He says. "It was clever, and shame on me for falling for it, but if only you were just a little bit faster."
I groan in frustration and drop my stance. "This isn't exactly the fair fight that you think it is, Oji-san."
"We're not fighting, we're training," He reminds me, stepping closer to me. "Look, Akane-chan, it's gonna be hard at first. You know it is, but all you can do now is push forward. You're a strong girl, I know you can do it."
"I guess," I sigh. "It's just that… Well, the whole thing about these devils in my school kinda worries me, y'know? Kaa-san told me about how they kidnap humans and enslave them, and seeing how close they are is kinda scary."
"I know how scary it can be," He nods, lightly patting my shoulder. "I'm worried about them too, but not all devils are bad, y'know? I'd argue that some of them are good."
Oh? So he doesn't hate them like my mother does. It did seem that way - he never reacts badly whenever they're mentioned or present. The devils did something to my mom, but maybe it doesn't involve my uncle somehow?
Hmm, I want to know more, but I don't think it's the time for it. I should get more Affection with him before I ask about a sensitive topic like that.
"It's better to be prepared, though," I argue. "Who knows if there are any evil devils out there that want to hurt us. Kaa-san said that I have great power, so I wanna use it to protect us all."
5 Affection with Shun Akiyama [25/100]
"And you will, don't worry," He smiles. "I'm only telling you to relax. No devil will get to you, because they're gonna have to go through me and the whole Yakuza first."
"Heh, you're right," I giggle. "By the way."
"Hm?"
"You forgot something~" I smirk.
"Forgot wha- Ough?!"
With the whole sentimentality making him drop his guard, I land a punch to his gut. It didn't do shit to his overall HP, but I can tell that getting hit like this hurt him, even if slightly. This only made my smirk widen as he stepped back, looking at me in shock for a few seconds.
"We're still in training, moron~"
He blinks a few times before letting out an amused laugh. "Well, you got me! I didn't expect this at all, well done!"
"What can I say, I'm just smart," I shrug, a cocky smirk still plastered on my face. "You fell for one of the oldest tricks in the book."
"That I did," He sighs. "Well, I suppose you did hit me, so that concludes your training for today."
"And what's my score, Sensei?"
"With that trick, A Plus for sure," He nods approvingly. "While I still think you lack a few things, I think that, overall, you've done very good."
"Heh, thanks," I respond. "So I guess we finished early today. Think I can go home?"
"Feel free," He waves. "I think tomorrow, we'll start the real thing. Remember, you can keep practicing at home by stretching. To make it easier for you to move around."
"I'll keep it in mind," I nod, opening the door. "Thanks, Oji-san. Don't know what I'd do without you."
"Anything for my favorite niece," He ruffles my hair, prompting me to slap his hand away. "Say hi to Mizuki-san for me."
With that, I close the door behind me and open my stats, smiling at the rewards I've gotten.
Quest completed
[Training With Shun Akiyama #1]
Objective: Hit Shun at least once without using magic or weapons
Bonus Objective: Knock Shun down
Rewards: 1 Epic Token, 25 DEX, 25 STR, 25 END, [Unarmed Combat Proficiency] Mastery Skill, Increase Affection with Shun Akiyama, 5000 Credits
Bonus Rewards: 1 Legendary Token, 200 DEX, 200 STR, 200 END, [Flames of Suzaku] Perk, Greatly Increase Affection with Shun Akiyama, 25,000 Credits
Shun Akiyama Affection level [35/100]
Name - Akane Amamiya
Level - 95
Title - Undead Slayer
Primary Class - Cryomancer - LVL 95/100 [3%]
Secondary Class - Engineer - LVL 0/100 [0%]
Race - Human
Rank - Mortal
Alignment - Neutral Evil
HP - 2400 [240 per minute]
MP - 9500 [5700 per minute]
SP - 2400 [240 per minute]
STR - 240
END - 240
DEX - 290
INT - 950
WIS - 950
CHA - 330
LUK – 190
Perk gained
[Swift-Footed] - Perk - 250 DEX
You've trained your legs and feet levels beyond regular humans and up to par with even cheetahs, and you don't tire as fast anymore. Your prey shouldn't be able to escape you anymore.
Increase movement speed by 50%, and decreases SP cost by 15%
Mastery Skill gained
[Unarmed Combat Proficiency: Novice] - Mastery Skill
When weapons and magic fail, all you have to rely on are your fists. Essential skills for soldiers and nobles alike, Unarmed Combat have thousands of forms and techniques that are passed down with each and every generation.
You've only just learned how to not flail your arms around like an idiot, but you're still very inexperienced.
Deal 11,250 Damage with Unarmed Combat and create or learn 3 skills to reach the next Rank. Progress to Apprentice Rank [0/11,250] [0/3]
I'm so in love with this power~
(Freed)
He knew what territory this was - a Tojo clan turf, and the damned Japanese are so goddamn overprotective over their territories it annoyed the hell out of him.
He so wanted to go out there and teach that emo slut a lesson after she disrespected and humiliated him. It was all he could think about, and thinking about her smug bitch face isn't doing much in calming him down.
But of course, going after her so boldly will only result in his death. Turns out, the bitch is a Tojo heiress too, so not exactly someone he can hurt without consequences. Not like he cares, though. He'll show her once he gets a chance.
He wondered what that Fallen whore, Raynare, was thinking. While he's her subordinate, he's not exactly happy with it. He'd take Fallen over Devils or Angels, but he could barely tolerate a bitchy boss.
Them hiding in the church wouldn't have happened without the boss who supplied them with state of the art technology that completely hid their presence, even superior to the ones the Tojo or Omi use. He didn't know who this 'boss' is, but the guy clearly knew his stuff.
The only thing Freed knows about him is that he's one hell of a powerful guy. He heard rumors from his fellow stray exorcist that he's apparently in cahoots with the Old Satans or something. Oh well, not like he cares.
Guy's only order was 'capture Haruka Sawamura' and who's Freed to argue? Kidnapping hot bitches is one of his favorite hobbies. Besides, the boss never specified if she should be given to him unharmed.
He'll take his sweet time playing with her, alongside that other whore.
"Say, when can we start making trouble?" He asked the Fallen bitch with blue hair, who rolled her eyes. "C'mon, we've been here for days and we barely got to do anything."
"Be patient, we'll strike when we can," Kalawarner said. "Any wrong movement could ruin the entire operation."
"Yeah, but like-"
"And the last time you went out on your own, you almost alerted the Tojo," The short one narrowed her eyes at him. "You almost killed us all, moron."
"You shut your mouth, loli-bitch," He snorted. "Adults are talking here."
"I'm older than you, dipshit," She growled.
"Yet even I have bigger boobs than you!" He laughed. "You lost the genetic lottery? Or did daddy dearest curse you?"
Mittelt formed a light spear in her hand, aiming to throw it at him before the door swung open. In walked the leader of the Fallen group, who gave Freed a tiny, scornful look before clearing her throat.
"If you idiots can stop fighting for a few seconds, then please do," She said, before smiling slightly. "We have guests over~"
"Guests?" Freed raised a brow, before letting out an impressed whistle at the blond beauty that walked in, a nervous look on her face. "Oooh~ who's this sister?
"M-my name is Asia Argento," She bowed slightly. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Father Freed."
Ah, she called me 'father'. He smiled at her. Finally, someone who understands my importance.
"Ohoho, trust me, the pleasure is all mine~" He said, his gaze turning lecherous. "We're gonna get along, you and I~"
"I-I'm hoping so, too."
Just then walked another person, one who caught Freed's eyes. He was a big man, slightly overweight but one can tell that he's built. Bald, a mustache, goatee, sunglasses, and wore green pants, and a green jacket over a blue shirt.
Freed could tell that the guy is fairly strong, maybe as strong as he is. He never thought he'd see the living embodiment of an ugly bastard in his life before, but here he is. He noticed the pin in his chest, prompting him to get closer.
"Hm," Freed squinted. "What's your name, big guy?"
"Ed." The man replied simply.
"Ed, eh…" The stray exorcist hummed, his eyes suddenly widening as he recognized the symbol on the pin. "You're part of the Saio Triad?!"
"Indeed," Raynare answered for him. "Even if they were destroyed years ago, there are still many members who are still upset at the culprit."
"Heeh," Freed grinned widely.
"And they want one thing." Raynare continued. "And that's simply revenge. Isn't that right, Mr. Ed?"
The big bastard only nodded in response.
"Ooooh you're a ballsy one, ain'tcha?" Freed giggled. "You know you could die, yeah? Yakuza are fucking ruthless."
"I don't care," Ed said bluntly. "Tatsu Amamiya's wife and daughter will be killed by my own hands."
"Oh," He took a step back. "Oh, I can tell that you and I are going to be the best of friends~"
The Saio Triad officer only gave a smirk in response.
It was at this moment that Freed made his first true friend.
Two more chapters after this and it'll catch up, then you're gonna have to wait for a new one every half a month at least.
Having multiple stories is a pain.
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