"It's lively here"
The address led me to what looked like an unassuming building tucked between a bookstore and a small café. The only indication it was anything special was the subtle black dog silhouette etched into the glass door. As I pushed it open, a small bell chimed overhead.
What I saw inside made me stop dead in my tracks.
Azazel—the Governor-General of the fallen angels, one of the most powerful beings in existence—stood behind the bar counter wearing a crisp white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, black vest, and a bow tie. He was expertly mixing what looked like a complicated cocktail, tossing the shaker with practiced flair before straining the contents into a martini glass.
I blinked several times, certain I was hallucinating.
"Welcome to the Black Dog Bar," Azazel said with his trademark grin, not even looking up from garnishing the drink with a twist of lemon. "Come on in, don't just stand there gawking."
I approached the bar slowly, still trying to process the surreal scene. The establishment was completely empty—not a single customer in sight—yet Azazel was working as if he had a full house. This man is beyond my understanding.
I stepped ahead, still staring at his ridiculous outfit "Why are you mixing drinks when this place is completely empty?"
Azazel chuckled, tossing the shaker once more before setting it down with a flourish. "The regular staff are off duty, so someone has to keep this place running. Plus, I've been experimenting with cocktail recipes—turns out mixing drinks is a lot like Sacred Gear research. Precise measurements with proper timing or else you get explosive results when you mess up." He grinned and gestured to a stool. "Take a seat. What'll it be?"
*Of all the ways I imagined this meeting going, this wasn't even in the top hundred.* I settled onto one of the bar stools, still trying to wrap my head around seeing one of the most feared fallen angels in existence moonlighting as a bartender.
"Orange juice," I said finally.
"Orange juice?" Azazel raised an eyebrow. "In a bar?"
"I don't drink alcohol."
"Fair enough." He moved with surprising efficiency, retrieving a glass and filling it with fresh orange juice from what appeared to be a high-end juicer behind the counter. He slid the glass across to me with the kind of smooth motion that spoke of genuine bartending experience.
*How many hidden talents does this guy have? And more importantly, how did he get so good at this?*
"So," Azazel said, leaning forward on his elbows, "what's the deal with this group you call Khaos Brigade? How did you manage to get yourself into trouble with them? And the Carmilla faction too, for that matter." His eyes gleam with curiosity. "Just what did you do to get yourself into so much trouble in such a short time?"
I took a sip of the orange juice—which was surprisingly good—and considered how much to reveal. "Let's just say I did something that messed up their plans" I said, keeping my tone measured. "And now their new plans would put people I care about in danger if I don't stop them."
"That's admirably vague," Azazel commented with amusement.
"So about the location of the Carmilla faction," I redirected. "Do you know where they are?"
"About that..." Azazel turned and pressed a button on the wall behind him. A buzzer sounded somewhere in the back of the establishment.
A moment later, footsteps approached from a door I hadn't noticed before. A young woman emerged, and I found myself raising an eyebrow in surprise. Her energy signature was definitely human—a strong one, but human nonetheless.
She was a beautiful, buxom young woman with long flowing blonde hair and sapphire blue eyes. She wore standard magician robes with a hood and cloak, giving her the appearance of a classical witch. Despite her elegant mystical appearance, there was something distinctly warm and sisterly about her presence.
"Hello there," she said with a warm smile, her voice carrying a melodic quality. "I'm Lavinia Reni. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Lavinia is a member of Team Slash Dog," Azazel explained, "and she works in this bar too."
"I'm Akira. It's nice to meet you" I responded to the gesture, then glanced at Azazel "So the workers off duty are on supernatural operatives? Team Slash Dog, right?" I asked, pieces clicking into place.
Azazel nodded. "The rest of the team members and leader are on a mission while Lavinia is helping me understand that Holy Water of Life potion you gave me."
Lavinia's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, is it true? You're the one who created that miraculous potion?"
"Not only that," Azazel added with obvious amusement, "but he's also the one who defeated Vali a few days back."
The change in Lavinia's expression was immediate and dramatic. Her eyes sharpened as she covered her eyes with pulling her hat down slightly. "You're the one who defeated Va-kun?" she asked in a serious tone that made the air around us feel heavier.
*Va-kun? She has a nickname for Vali? Just what kind of relationship do these people have?*
"Yeah, that was me," I replied, still not sure where this conversation was heading.
To my complete surprise, Lavinia's serious expression melted away, and she reached over to me gently patting me on the shoulder and just smiled fondly. This girl looks like Asia's long lost big sister.
"You did a good job," she said with genuine warmth. "Va-kun always gets himself into trouble, looking for strong opponents. Maybe now he'll be more careful about picking fights." Her tone was exactly like a caring older sister talking about a troublesome younger brother.
*This is... not the reaction I was expecting. She's talking about Vali's defeat like a concerned older sister talking about a troublesome little brother who finally learned his lesson.*
"So, about the Carmilla faction—do you know where I can find them or not?"
Azazel motioned to Lavinia, who nodded and summoned a magic circle on the table between us. From it emerged a large, detailed map that unfolded across the entire surface.
I leaned forward to examine it, my eyes widening as I took in the incredible level of detail. Territory boundaries, stronghold locations, patrol routes, safe houses—everything was meticulously marked and color-coded.
"This is way more detailed than I expected," I said, genuinely impressed as I studied the intricate markings. "How the hell did you get something like this?"
"I have maps of almost every faction out there," Azazel replied casually, but something in his tone suggested that was all the explanation I'd be getting.
*Of course he does. The question is how and why, but I get the feeling pressing for details wouldn't be necessary as long I got what I want.*
Azazel's expression grew more serious as he looked at me directly. "If you intend to get involved in the wars between vampire factions, you'd better leave your girls behind. This bar would be perfect for them to be safe, don't you agree?"
That caught me off guard. "Why?" The suggestion seemed completely out of nowhere "Why would you say that? That doesn't sound like you at all."
"You're most likely going to engage in war between Vampires, and battle with this Khaos Brigade too," he explained. "You might risk their lives."
I studied his face carefully. "Is that really the only reason, or are you after something else here?"
Azazel looked at me for a long moment, then sighed with a knowing smile. "You got me." He paused dramatically. "I'd like to request another bottle of Holy Water of Life."
*There it is. The real reason he's being so helpful.* I had to admire his approach—offer protection for my peerage in exchange for another sample of my work. It was clever, practical, and mutually beneficial. Not something to be mad about.
"I can give you another bottle," I said, "but I want something in return. Have Lavinia teach Asia magic while I'm dealing with this mess. As for Valerie, she would be fine to come along with me"
Azazel nodded immediately. "That's acceptable."
Lavinia gave me a warm smile and nodded as well. "I'd be happy to help."
I reached into my jacket and withdrew one of the bottles I'd prepared, setting it on the bar. Azazel picked it up immediately, holding it up to the light with obvious fascination and curiosity.
"Do you have any other potions?" Lavinia asked, leaning forward with interest.
I shook my head. "Not right now, but maybe in the future." I turned to look at her directly. "I'm trusting you to take good care of Asia. She's not well-suited to combat and dangerous situations, so please keep an eye on her every move."
Lavinia chuckled softly, a warm sound that somehow made the supernatural atmosphere of the bar feel more welcoming. "Don't worry about it, Akira" she said with the gentle confidence of someone who genuinely cared about others. "I'll do my best to teach her and make sure she stays safe. You can count on me."
*She has this oddly comforting presence. Like a caring older sister who also happens to be capable of incredible violence if necessary.*
I leaned back in my chair, my mind already shifting to the next challenge. How should I approach Queen Carmilla when I reach her territory? A direct approach might be seen as aggressive, but being too subtle could waste valuable time. The political dynamics between vampire factions were notoriously complex, and one wrong move could turn potential allies into enemies. But none of them were as alarming as the other group after me.
The Khaos Brigade was still out there, still planning whatever chaos they had in mind. Every moment I delayed gave them more time to prepare, more time to potentially hurt innocent people. But rushing in without proper preparation would be equally foolish. First, I got to put Carmilla Faction under my palm, they would be useful in dealing with the Tepes faction while I deal with Cao Cao and whoever is tagging along with him.
*I need to strike a balance between urgency and chaos. Show strength without appearing threatening, demonstrate the level of destruction without revealing all my capabilities. I am gonna put that blonde queen to her place once I step into her territory*
Standing up from the bar stool, I nodded to both Azazel and Lavinia. "I'll be back here tomorrow"
"Sure thing, boy" Azazel responded while Lavinia gave me with another warm smile.
As I headed toward the door, I could feel their eyes on me. This alliance with fallen angels was becoming more complex by the day, but if it meant protecting the people I cared about and stopping the Khaos Brigade, it would be worth the complications.
---
The next morning found me in the woods behind my house, testing the gravity manipulation abilities of my Sage's Eye while Valerie and Xenovia sparred nearby. I focused on a fallen log, watching as it slowly got crushed under the influence of my gravitational control. The power was well in control as I could make objects heavier or lighter, even levitate them briefly, but perfect control remained elusive.
*The gravity aspect is definitely the most suited for me as part of the Sage's Eye. Unlike the other natural forces that feel devastating, this one felt less lethal and unsettling for the view. Strong force, EM force, Weak force, the possibilities of chaos were endless*
The sound of metal clashing against each other filled the air as Xenovia's Durandal met Chastiefol's spear. I let the log settle gently back to the ground, wiping sweat from my forehead.
"Is...Everything alright?" Asia's gentle voice broke through my concentration. She'd approached so quietly I hadn't noticed her presence until she spoke.
I deactivated the Sage's Eye and turned to face her. Her green eyes held that characteristic concern she always showed when she thought someone might be troubled.
"Yeah, just working on controlling my abilities," I said, offering her a reassuring smile. "Actually, I should mention—I'll be leaving you in Lavinia's care. She's someone I'll introduce you to today."
"Lavinia?" Asia tilted her head curiously.
Before I could explain further, Valerie and Xenovia joined us, both slightly out of breath from their training session. Xenovia's cheeks were flushed from exertion, and there was something different in her expression—more intense than usual.
"Who's Lavinia?" Valerie asked, dismissing Chastiefol back to its dormant state.
"A member of Team Slash Dog who's agreed to teach Asia magic while we're dealing with the vampire situation," I explained "Don't worry, they serve under Azazel so don't think too much about it"
Xenovia wiped sweat from her forehead with a towel, her eyes fixed on me with an odd intensity. "You must be something dangerous if you're arranging for Asia to stay behind."
"Indeed. The fight with Khaos Brigade isn't going to be a simple one," I admitted. "And vampire politics can get messy quickly. I'd rather let Asia be safe and learn valuable skills than to be put in the middle of a war zone."
Asia's expression showed a mix of disappointment and understanding. "I want to help, but I know I'm not strong enough for battles like that yet."
"That's exactly why this training is important," I said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Lavinia can teach you things that will only help you get stronger. Right now, you have to understand that I don't want to risk your life for something so dangerous out there"
Valerie nodded approvingly. "It's a smart plan. Asia will be safer, and we won't have to divide our attention during combat."
Xenovia had been unusually quiet during this exchange, and when I looked at her, I noticed she was staring at me with that same intense expression. There was something almost... calculating about it.
"Plus," she said finally, "it means the rest of us can focus entirely on supporting you in battle." She paused, then added more quietly, "You've been getting stronger so quickly, Akira. Defeating Kokabiel, developing new abilities... it's impressive."
*That's an odd way to put it. Why does she sound like she's evaluating me?*
"We all need to get stronger," I replied. "The enemies we're facing aren't going to stay the same level forever."
"True," Xenovia agreed, but her gaze didn't waver. "But some people have better... potential than others. Better genetics for producing strong offspring."
Valerie and Asia both froze.
"Xenovia..." Valerie said slowly, "what exactly are you thinking about?"
Xenovia straightened her posture, looking like she was preparing to deliver a formal declaration. "I've been considering the future. After we resolve these immediate threats, we should think about the long term. About continuing bloodlines with strong supernatural abilities."
*Oh no. I can see where this is going, and I don't like it.*
"Continuing bloodlines?" Asia squeaked.
"And how do you plan to do so?" I asked, knowing very well, the answer for it.
"Children," Xenovia said matter-of-factly. "Specifically, I think Akira should give me a baby."
The words hit the minds of everyone here like a thunderclap. Valerie choked on her own breath, Asia turned bright red and made a sound like a squeaking mouse, and I felt my brain temporarily shut down.
"I... what?" I managed to stammer out.
"A baby," Xenovia repeated matter-of-factly, as if she'd asked me to add more water to her glass "I've been thinking about it extensively, and I've concluded that having a child with you would be the optimal choice."
*If only girls would be so direct with their feelings, we wouldn't be having so many heartbreaks out there"
"Xenovia," Valerie said weakly, her face pale, "you can't just... you can't just ask something like that out of nowhere!"
"Why not?" Xenovia looked genuinely puzzled. "It's a logical request. Akira has proven himself to be strong, intelligent, and capable of protecting those he cares about. These are excellent genetic traits to pass on to offspring."
Asia had her hands pressed to her cheeks, looking like she might faint. "X-Xenovia-san! That's so... so forward!"
*She's treating this like a breeding program. Only Xenovia could make the concept of having children sound like buying a new appliance for home.
"I appreciate your... confidence in my genetics," I said slowly, trying to find stable ground in this conversational minefield, "but don't you think we should maybe focus on the current crisis first? And perhaps discuss these kinds of things after we've, you know, actually been in a relationship for more than a few weeks?"
Xenovia considered this seriously. "That's a fair point about timing. Very well, I'll table the request until after we resolve the Khaos Brigade situation." She paused thoughtfully. "But I want you to remember this, as my official intention."
*She's making it sound like a contract negotiation. 'Please note for future reference: Xenovia Quarta has formally expressed interest in reproductive partnership.'*
Valerie had recovered enough to shoot me a look that clearly said 'your life is insane and I don't know how you deal with this anymore'
"Can we please talk about something else?" Asia pleaded, still covering her red face with her hands.
"Actually," I said, grateful for any opportunity to change the subject, "we should probably head to the Black Dog Bar soon. I want to introduce you all to Lavinia and make sure Asia is comfortable with the training arrangement."
Xenovia nodded approvingly. "Excellent. And we can continue our previous discussion at a more appropriate time."
*She's not going to let this go, is she? This is my life now. Vampire wars, fallen angel politics, terrorist organizations, and a former holy sword wielder who wants to have my children.*
As we headed back toward the house to prepare for our trip to the bar, I couldn't help but reflect on how dramatically my life had changed. A few months ago, my biggest worry was passing exams. Now I was juggling supernatural politics while trying to navigate the increasingly complex relationships within my own peerage.
*At least life isn't boring, so I couldn't complain, can I?"
The morning sun climbed higher as we prepared for another day of supernatural complications, and I found myself both dreading and anticipating whatever new chaos awaited us at Romania.
. .
Read upto 20 chapters at patreon.com/opeler
Check out my patreon, if you find it interesting do join or support me
Enjoy!