"I don't know..." Issei finally replied after a moment of silence.
I smiled, understanding completely. Of course it wasn't an easy decision to make.
"That's perfectly reasonable," I said, leaning back in my chair. "This isn't something you need to decide right now. Take your time to think it through."
Rias looked like she wanted to say something, but I caught her eye and shook my head slightly. Pressuring him wouldn't help anyone.
"How long do I have?" Issei asked, his voice small.
"As long as you need," I replied. "Like I said, the fallen angels won't be coming after you anytime soon. You're safe."
I stood up, causing Koneko to reluctantly detach herself from my side. "Why don't we call it a night? You've had enough revelations for one evening."
I raised my hand, and a swirling portal opened in the middle of the living room, showing a view of Issei's neighborhood.
Issei's jaw dropped again. "You can make portals too?! Of course you can."
I couldn't help but chuckle at his reaction.
After Issei left through the portal, Rias and her peerage began to move toward their own portal. But before they could leave, I spoke up.
"Actually, could we talk for a moment?" I asked, my tone casual but firm enough to make it clear this wasn't really a request.
Rias shifted nervously, her confident demeanor from earlier completely gone. The rest of her peerage stopped as well, clearly sensing the tension in the air.
To be honest, I didn't blame Rias for not helping Issei earlier—it was the same thing she'd done in the anime. She was a devil, after all. Her own interests came first, and watching to see if Issei would awaken his Sacred Gear before making her move was a calculated decision. I could understand that logic.
The same could be said for me, really. The only difference was that Issei happened to be my friend.
"Of course," Rias replied, though her voice was carefully controlled. "What did you want to discuss?"
I gestured for them to sit back down. Koneko immediately returned to my side, while the others took their seats with varying degrees of wariness.
"I want to establish some ground rules," I said, settling back into my chair. "Now that Issei knows about the supernatural world, things are going to change. And I want to make sure we're all on the same page about how this is going to work."
Rias's blue-green eyes studied my face carefully, clearly trying to gauge my intentions. "What kind of ground rules?"
"The kind that ensure my friend stays safe and gets to make his own choices," I replied, my amber eyes meeting hers steadily. "Without any... external pressure."
The meaning behind my words was clear, and I could see Rias swallow slightly as the implications sank in.
"That's not fair," Rias interjected, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice. "You're essentially asking me to give up any chance of recruiting him."
"I'm not asking for anything unreasonable," I replied calmly. "All I want is to give Issei the freedom to make his own choice. What I don't want is you doing what you tried to do to me last time."
Rias's face flushed red, clearly remembering her attempt at subtle mind manipulation during our previous encounter. "I... that was..." she stammered, looking genuinely embarrassed and apologetic.
"I understand your intentions," she said after a moment, composing herself. "And you're right. Issei deserves to make his choice freely, without any... influence from me or anyone else."
"Good," I nodded. "Then we understand each other."
As her peerage began to file out through another portal I opened for them, Koneko lingered behind. She approached me and wrapped her arms around my waist in a gentle hug, then stood on her tiptoes to give me a soft kiss.
"Be careful," she whispered against my lips before following the others through the portal.
Once they were gone, I settled back into my couch with a sigh. The evening had been more eventful than I'd planned. I held up my hand and concentrated briefly, feeling the familiar tingle of the Workshop's power.
A bottle materialized in my palm—elegant crystal glass with deep amber wine inside. I'd called it "Elysian Reserve" when I'd designed it in the Workshop.. It was perhaps the finest wine possible to create without any supernatural effects, just pure, perfect taste crafted through impossible techniques.
I poured myself a glass and took a sip, letting the complex flavors wash over my palate as I contemplated the night's events. Canon had officially begun, but already things were diverging from the original timeline.
Though I had no complaints about that—things would be boring if everything played out exactly as I remembered. But I believed things wouldn't be much different in the end.
Issei would still likely choose to become a devil because of his perverted dream of becoming a harem king and for someone whose life goal was building a harem, becoming a devil was basically winning the lottery.
I took another sip of the Elysian Reserve, savoring the way it seemed to capture the essence of a perfect autumn evening. The Workshop really could create some impressive things, even something as simple as wine.
My phone buzzed with a text from Sona: Heard there was some excitement tonight. Everything alright?
I smiled slightly. News traveled fast in the supernatural community, especially when it involved fallen angels operating in devil territory.
Everything's handled. We should talk tomorrow though.
Of course. My office after school?
Perfect.
I set the phone aside and leaned back into the cushions.
Canon had begun.
The real question was: how much would my presence change the outcome?
Meanwhile, somewhere in the fallen angel headquarters...
Raynare knelt before Azazel's desk, her usual confidence completely shattered. Her hands trembled slightly as she recounted the evening's events, the memory of Leon's crushing force still fresh in her mind and body.
"The mission failed," she reported, her voice barely above a whisper. "Leon Mishima intervened before I could complete the elimination."
Azazel leaned back in his chair, golden eyes studying his subordinate with a mixture of annoyance and resignation. The order to kill Issei Hyoudou if he proved to be a threat had been his—a calculated decision to eliminate a potential problem before it could grow into something unmanageable.
What he hadn't factored into his calculations was Issei's relationship with Leon Mishima.
"I didn't realize they were that close," Azazel muttered, running a hand through his dark hair. "Close enough for Leon to personally protect the boy."
"He... he was terrifying," Raynare continued, her voice shaking slightly. "The power he displayed, the way he looked at me... I thought he was going to kill me."
Azazel sighed deeply.
Leon Mishima wasn't someone you crossed lightly—the fallen angel leader had learned that lesson personally. The boy's threat had been clear: touch Issei, and face the consequences.
"Leave Hyoudou alone," Azazel ordered finally. "Indefinitely."
Raynare looked up, relief flooding her features despite her hesitation. "But sir, his Sacred Gear—"
"Is no longer our concern," Azazel cut her off firmly. "Leon's protection extends beyond just tonight. As long as that boy is under Mishima's wing, we don't touch him. Understood?"
Raynare nodded quickly, though there was clear frustration in her eyes. She'd failed her mission, and there was nothing she could do about it. The power dynamics of the supernatural world had shifted, and Leon Mishima's influence was now protecting a human who should have been eliminated.
"Yes, sir," she agreed reluctantly.
Then Azazel waved his hand dismissively. "You're dismissed. Return to your regular duties."
Raynare bowed stiffly and left the office, her shoulders tense with barely contained frustration and humiliation.
As she walked through the corridors of the fallen angel headquarters, she could hear the whispered conversations of her fellow fallen angels. Their words cut deeper than any blade.
"Couldn't even handle a simple elimination mission."
"Pathetic. She used to be so arrogant, and now look at her."
"Maybe she's lost her edge. Getting soft."
Their mocking laughter and contemptuous glances followed her down the hallway. Raynare gripped her knuckles tight, her nails digging into her palms as she fought to maintain what little composure she had left.
Without a word to anyone, she spread her black wings and launched herself into the night sky, flying away from the headquarters and the crushing weight of their judgment.
She needed to get away. Needed space to think, to plan, to figure out how to salvage what was left of her reputation.
The abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city came into view—a place she and her allies had used before for private meetings. As she landed, she could sense the familiar presences already inside.
Mittelt and Kalawarner were waiting for her, their expressions curious as they watched her enter.
"Raynare-sama!" Mittelt called out, her young face bright with respect. "We heard about your mission. Are you alright?"
Kalawarner stepped forward, her mature features showing worry. "The others at headquarters have been talking, but we know you're stronger than they give you credit for."
Raynare's jaw clenched as she struggled to find the words to explain what had happened, grateful at least that these two still believed in her.
"Leon Mishima appeared."
Both Mittelt and Kalawarner tensed at the name, their expressions immediately shifting to ones of fear and concern.
"Leon Mishima?" Kalawarner whispered, her voice barely audible. "The one who fought Azazel-sama to a standstill?"
"The same one who defeated the White Dragon Emperor," Mittelt added, her usual cheerful demeanor completely gone.
The warehouse fell into an uncomfortable silence as the three fallen angels processed the implications. Their fear of Leon Mishima was palpable—everyone in the supernatural world had heard the stories of his power.
"So... what now?" Mittelt asked quietly, her voice smaller than usual. "If we can't complete missions like this, what good are we?"
Raynare was quiet for a long moment, then slowly raised her head with renewed determination.
"There might be a way," Raynare said finally, her voice low but determined. "A way for me to prove myself useful to Azazel-sama again."
Mittelt's eyes lit up with curiosity. "What do you mean, Raynare-sama?"
"There's a nun," Raynare continued, her expression hardening with resolve. "Asia Argento. She possesses the Sacred Gear known as Twilight Healing—one of the most powerful healing abilities in existence."
Kalawarner raised an eyebrow. "And you plan to...?"
"Extract it," Raynare said bluntly. "If I can obtain that power for myself, I'll be invaluable to our cause. No more failed missions. No more humiliation."
The warehouse fell silent as the implications sank in. Stealing a Sacred Gear was no simple task, but if successful, it would indeed make Raynare significantly more powerful.
"That's... ambitious," came a voice from the shadows.
All three women turned as Dohnaseek stepped into the light, his tall frame and serious expression making him seem even more imposing in the dim warehouse. His dark eyes were fixed on Raynare with an intensity that spoke of more than just professional interest.
"Dohnaseek," Raynare acknowledged, surprised by his presence.
"I was in the area when I sensed your arrival," he said, though his tone suggested he'd been deliberately seeking her out. "This plan of yours... it has merit."
Mittelt looked between them curiously. "You think it could work?"
"With the right approach," Dohnaseek replied, never taking his eyes off Raynare. "And the right support. Count me in."
"Then it's settled," Raynare said, a dark smile spreading across her face.
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