POV: Haruki
I folded my arms and listened. When Rias began to speak, her tone was subdued, bureaucratic, like someone reciting a record of failure she had already replayed too many times in her mind.
"When I encountered Donaseek, the Fallen Angel who attacked Issei, I suspected there were others operating in Kuoh. I dismissed it. I assumed it was a sanctioned operation, coordinated by the entire Grigori. I wasn't arrogant enough to intervene directly. I am many things, but not suicidal. Taking on the entire faction would be idiotic," Rias began, her voice low, composed.
She did not look at me.
"Still, the situation struck me as unusual. Their operation reeked of secrecy. There are established protocols for inter-faction presence. Kuoh is under Devil jurisdiction. Any Fallen Angels intending to operate here are required to submit an official request for entry. We review and approve such requests as needed. That is the law."
Her hands were folded neatly in her lap. A habitual gesture to restrain herself.
"No such request was submitted. At the time, they gave a flimsy justification, claiming they were pursuing escaped criminals. I allowed it. In hindsight, a mistake. These so-called criminals turned out to be innocent Sacred Gear users. Including Issei whom they nearly killed."
"Issei," she added without turning to him, "was attacked without provocation. But since I had already given them permission to operate, I did nothing. I feared igniting conflict between the factions."
There was a faint pause. She inhaled.
"But then that lunatic exorcist attacked our clients. And Issei again. They killed humans under our protection. That crossed a line." Her tone sharpened. "So I contacted the Grigori leadership. I reported the behavior of their operatives. Their response was... illuminating."
"And what did they say?" I asked, feigning casual interest. It concerned me directly, after all.
"They denied everything," Rias said, finally meeting my gaze. "They claimed no agents had been dispatched to Kuoh. That no fugitives were being pursued in this area."
"So Raynare and her team entered your territory under false pretenses," I said, allowing a slight smile. "They deceived you."
"According to the Grigori," Rias continued stiffly, and her eyes flashed with real anger. "Raynare and her associates acted without authorization. They went rogue. I was given permission to detain them. A formal envoy is being dispatched next week to issue an apology and settle the matter."
Then came the look.
"I was going to do just that. Detain them. Investigate. Resolve it with some measure of decorum," she said, tone cooling. "Until someone decided to forgo all that and simply massacre them instead."
She stared at me. Accusing and exhausted.
"To be fair," I replied with a trace of amusement, "it was self-defense. I could hardly let them kill me, could I? That would've been terribly inconvenient."
"Self-defense?" she echoed, incredulous. "Is that what we're calling it?"
Her eyes narrowed.
There was no humor in her voice. Only weariness. "We found you in the aftermath of a detonation large enough to shake the entire district. You were dancing naked in the flames. Quoting Buddha."
Ah. That.
I raised a hand in vague protest, but found no defense worth articulating. I could hardly explain that I had just performed a sacrificial ritual involving multiple lives to drastically amplify my power, and in a state of euphoric madness, jumped into the fire.
I remembered the fire, the ecstasy, the unnatural clarity that came after the sacrifice, the euphoria of power flooding in, louder than reason, deeper than shame.
Yes, I had danced. Yes, I had laughed like a madman. Yes, I had shouted that I was the Honored One.
Not my proudest moment.
Rias exhaled sharply and continued, more composed now.
"After your... display, we investigated the church. We uncovered evidence of the rogue group's plan: to extract Asia Argento's Sacred Gear and sacrifice her. None of it sanctioned by the Grigori. Documents, spellwork, communications. We forwarded the proof to the Grigori."
"And?" Issei asked nervously, finally speaking up.
Rias glanced at him, her expression softening slightly. "They responded as expected," She replied smoothly. "Their official statement was that 'this incident did not occur.' And if it had, then it was fortunate we resolved it... efficiently."
Her voice lingered on the last word. She gave a dry smile.
"The Grigori does not condone unsanctioned operations, particularly not those that threaten the precarious peace between factions."
"So no trouble, then?" Issei asked, hopeful.
"No, Issei-kun. They wish to avoid escalation. As do we. Though... things may not be so simple in the future. We cannot allow another incident like this."
"I understand, Buchou," Issei said solemnly. "I'll be more careful. I won't cause trouble for you again."
Although he is faultless in this. His sincerity was almost painful. Sweet, even. I could see Rias melt, just a little, under it.
"Thank you, Issei-kun," she said softly. Then her eyes slid back to me, sharp once more. "If only others were as considerate."
I offered a light shrug. "Touché. Though I suppose... dancing in the ashes of my enemies does somewhat undermine a claim of self-defense."
I allowed myself a small chuckle. "I'll refrain in the future."
In truth, I had no idea what possessed me to act that way. The ritual's aftereffects, perhaps. Or the high of victory. Poor Asia, kidnapped, traumatized, and then forced to watch her would-be savior twirl naked in divine fire, shouting about being the Honored One like some deranged prophet. Cringe was an understatement.
"Or," Rias said pointedly, "you could refrain from executing foreign operatives in the first place and not risk diplomatic catastrophe."
"I disagree," I said, voice calm. "I do not regret my decision. Though, I concede - I should have been more discreet. That was my failing. But it seems God, in His infinite mercy, rewarded the purity of my intentions."
There were some headaches at the mention of his name.
It was meant sarcastically. Rias didn't take that way.
"Merc—?" She stared. "You believe God made this alright?"
Her voice rose slightly.
"Do you have any idea how hard I had to work to contain the fallout from your little crusade? How many nights I spent crafting diplomatic excuses, smoothing over the mess you left behind? And do you know what I haven't heard from you even once?"
I remained silent. The question was clearly rhetorical.
" I haven't heard a single apology. No gratitude. Just sarcasm and mockery. You treat this like a joke."
That struck harder than expected.
"Oh, please," I replied, irritation slipping through. "None of this would've happened if you hadn't granted murderers free reign in your territory. Have you forgotten Issei nearly died? That humans under your protection were slaughtered? You expect me to apologize for stopping that?"
Rias recoiled slightly, unused to being addressed like this.
I pressed on.
"What exactly do you expect me to say? That I regret saving an innocent girl from being butchered like cattle for the crime of being born with a Sacred Gear? That I should've stood by and watched her die? Is that it ?"
I paused. My voice had risen, and I hadn't meant it to.
I hated that part. The part of me that was starting to sound like I cared.
I saw her eyes, wet, but steady. She was holding it in. Probably had been for a while.
And I realized I was being cruel for no reason.
I exhaled, slowly.
"Look... Rias." My tone softened. "I understand your concern. Truly. But I couldn't let her die when I had the power to prevent it."
A pause.
"I was being an ass. You didn't deserve that. So... I apologize. Not for saving her. I'd do that again. But for making your job harder."
The words came easily. More easily than I expected.
"I appreciate everything you've done to prevent this from spiraling out of control. And I owe you for that."
My eyes met hers, and for once, I didn't look away.
"I'll repay that debt. I swear it."
And I meant it.
Rias regarded me with an expression I couldn't quite place, half-wary, half-something else, after my promise.
"Huh. Forget it," she said at last, exhaling softly, as if letting go of something. "How is Asia doing?"
"She's alright. Understandably skittish around me, though, after my less than ideal First impression."
That was an understatement. Considering what she had seen, me, half-burned, screaming as her healing took hold, only to then hurl myself into the fire and begin dancing and laughing madly, it would've been more surprising had she not flinched in my presence. The nudity was probably the least troubling part.
"You mean to say people get worried after seeing someone dancing naked in fire? Preposterous," Akeno said, tone falsely perplexed.
"I already admitted it wasn't my brightest moment. No need to gloat."
"Besides, I plead temporary insanity," I added, half-serious.
"Yet sane enough to coat yourself in demonic energy so the fire wouldn't burn you," Kiba remarked.
"Temporary half-insanity," I amended with a shrug. Even Rias cracked a reluctant smile. The others followed suit.
"In any case," I continued, "Asia will be living with me for the moment. She has nowhere else to go."
"I suppose that is for the best." Rias said thoughtfully. "Though I'm curious… Why was she excommunicated from the Church? I admit I don't know her well, but from what little I've seen, she seems genuinely kind."
"Apparently, she healed a devil. Without knowing."
A flicker of distaste crossed her face. "Did they miss the entire part about 'love thy neighbor' in the Bible? Even I, a devil, know that one."
"What can you expect from a corrupted religion? They don't even practice what they preach," Kiba added, his voice edged with contempt. The disdain wasn't performative. If I remember correctly, he had some issues with the holy swords. Probably another tragic church story. And let's be honest, the Church's record with young boys isn't exactly spotless.
"Men twist anything good to suit their agenda," I said, tone cool. "Scripture. Law. Love. Give them a symbol, they'll forge it into a sword."
They looked at me.
A devil speaking like a priest.
"But don't confuse the rot of men with the bones of the faith. The sickness of the Church isn't the sickness of Christ." I met Kiba's gaze. "There is a difference between those who wear the cross and those who bear it. Most don't know the weight. They just use it as an ornament."
"Ah yes, the classic 'men are evil' defense. And the Great Tyrant is misunderstood," Kiba said with mockery. "Shall we recount the story of Job? Or the slaughter of Egypt's firstborns?"
"We are not arguing about religion," Rias interrupted. Her voice brooked no defiance. "For Satan's sake, we are devils."
"In any case," she said, recalibrating, "there was something else I wanted to ask you," she continued, smoothing the moment. "About Asia."
"What is it?" I asked, my voice calm, unhurried.
"I wish to ask her whether she would consider being reincarnated into my peerage," Rias said. Her tone was careful, respectful. "Her healing ability could be of great use."
"Why are you asking me? I'm not her keeper."
"Did you take a course on how to be an asshole or were you just born this way?" Akeno asked, clearly annoyed.
"The reason Buchou is asking," she continued without waiting for my reply, "is because you were so upset at being reincarnated without your permission. And you seem to care about the girl. It is only polite."
"Why, thank you. I was born this way." I said, purely to irritate her.
It worked. She looked ready to stab something.
"If you seriously need my permission, then you have it," I said, the amusement draining from my voice. "But I would ask you to respect her decision. Whatever it may be."
"That goes without saying," Rias nodded.
A silence followed. Not the comfortable kind.
"So, let us address the elephant in the room," Akeno said at last, slicing the tension with her voice.
I tilted my head. I had a guess.
"Your power," Rias said carefully.
"My power," I echoed. Bullseye.
"I sensed it during your little episode of public indecency. It's high-class now. On par with mine."
"So it seems."
"How?" Her voice sharpened slightly. "You were mid-class before."
"I suppose I must be quite talented."
Truthfully, I was considering how best to spin this. Telling them about my ability served no purpose. I preferred to observe what conclusions they might draw.
"Haruki," Rias said with deliberate weight, "you are one of the most talented individuals I have ever met. Of that I have no doubt. I can count those that may be more gifted than you on one hand, with a finger to spare. But even that does not explain the sheer scale of your leap. Neither Kiba nor Koneko have reached high-class, and they've been devils far longer. They're not lacking in talent."
"Is it a Sacred Gear?" she asked.
"It might be," I said lightly. "Or something else. Who knows?"
She frowned. "I would've sensed that when I reincarnated you."
I tilted my head, mildly amused. "Wouldn't that be convenient."
The real reason I remained vague was simple: I needed insurance. If she failed to uphold her word and I was forced to flee, my survival would depend on surprise. Better that my enemies didn't know what they were up against. Besides, mystery keeps people nervous. And nervous people made mistakes.
Kiba spoke up. "So... it awakened later?"
I shrugged. " It just reacted - to pressure, to need… almost dying, that sort of thing.Turns out desperation is an excellent teacher."
Let them believe what they want.
Rias studied me, quiet.
"You're not going to tell us, are you?"
I glanced over my shoulder. "Eventually," I said. "When I understand it myself. Or when keeping it secret becomes less entertaining."
AN: Another chapter. This one leans heavily into dialogue, hopefully I managed to portray the characters well. As for the explanation surrounding the Raynare incident: I tried to fill in the blanks, since the novel never really explains why Rias allowed the fallen angels to operate freely in her territory and kill people. Hopefully my take isn't complete rubbish.
I can already hear the complaints: "Haruki's too much of an asshole" or "What a bastard." Well… yeah. This is a guy who got angry that someone reincarnated him after he died protecting them, because she didn't ask for permission.
As for him being vague about his ability? He doesn't trust Rias to keep her word, so he's keeping his cards close to his chest.