A Marvelous Devil.
Chapter 9: A Demon's Game.
Sairaorg Bael
Sitri Mansion.
It was not often that I found myself curious about another devil my age. Or a bit younger, I supposed.
He didn't look particularly interesting at first. Still, considering how I was seen by the rest of my peers at the party, I was happy enough to talk with him. We weren't that different, after all.
It's not like many of them planned to socialize with me. And as much as I was grateful for Sona's invitation, even she couldn't justify inviting my entire peerage. Not without raising some eyebrows.
The food was at least good. Much better than what I could get my hands on most of the time.
I only regretted that my peerage wouldn't try this. My real family.
Unless Sona was a dear and gifted me some, which I doubted.
But at least I had a new friend, or at least the start of a friendship. Dante was a bit strange and nothing like I expected from the rumors going around the devil net.
Oh, he was famous, all right. For the wrong reasons, but famous all the same. The funny thing was, he didn't do anything to earn his fame. It was all thanks to his father's actions.
How he embarrassed himself in the council chambers for who knows how many times, trying to return their house to its previous level. How he bragged about his son having their long-forgotten clan trait and how he almost begged the many lords to take that as a sign of potential.
It didn't work, and I could only feel sorry for the man. He wasn't that good at politics, even I could see that, and I abhorred dealing with it.
Not that I needed it. My fists would be enough to earn the Satan Title one day.
But I could appreciate what Hadrian Andromalius was trying to do.
It was certainly more than what that man did for me.
But that wasn't important. No, what I focused on most was how much he broke the expectations I had.
The Devils loved gossip; it was in our nature, and people theorized about what he would do when it came out that he was being invited to this party. Almost everyone 'saw' through the ploy his father was planning; everyone expected that Dante would come here and try to gain Sona's approval, maybe in hopes of joining her peerage. Not a bad plan, even I could admit that.
He wasn't as lucky as I was. And that was saying something. Despite the troubles I had with my family, my name still carried weight. I was a high-class devil by birth, and as much as people sneered at me, I had a right over my evil pieces without any effort.
The same couldn't be said for Dante. And joining Sona would facilitate many of his father's dreams. Hadrian certainly made his intentions obvious. At first, I thought that Dante dreamed the same, but now I wasn't so sure.
But… there was something strange about him.
And I wasn't talking about how he almost defeated Sona in a chess game, no.
It also wasn't how I failed to sense any feeling coming out of him since I mentioned that I managed to notice he threw the game. To my senses, it simply was like he didn't exist. Yet there he was, glancing at me with that same amused smile.
No matter how hard I focused, I couldn't sense a single thing.
"Having fun?" Dante asked, a small quirk on his lips, "Life force reading… how interesting. Is that the path you sought after learning that you didn't have your clan trait?"
It was interesting how quickly he understood what I was doing. While it wasn't a secret, devils as a whole didn't practice many systems apart from our demonic power.
But it also made sense. When he wasn't cloaking himself, I could read the amount of demonic power he had, and it was… decent. More than me, obviously, but it meant that he could have investigated other energies to see if one fit him best.
The world was vast, after all.
"Is that your clan trait in action?" I didn't answer his question, keeping my focus on trying to see through him and failing miserably.
How… scary. I knew other devils, especially those our age, would see his trait as something not that powerful since he couldn't apply it to combat. But they were fools.
It had been a long time since I had failed to notice someone in front of me. The last time it happened was when that old monkey was visiting Lord Nurarihyon back in Kyoto.
The old man himself didn't count; he was bullshit in all ways that mattered when it came to concealment. Even more than the monkey king.
Dante nodded slightly, his eyes sharp as he studied me.
Such a strange feeling, I wasn't sure I liked it.
Dante Andromalius set my instincts on edge in a way very few beings had done so since I grew in strength.
"What is your goal?" I asked him seriously. I didn't have much of a friendship with Sona beyond the minimum, but I cared for Rias, and Rias cared for her best friend.
The way this devil made me feel left me unsure whether I approved of him approaching either of them.
It was all so… fake. And I wouldn't have noticed without his previous slip. I would have welcomed him with a wide smile if I hadn't seen that brief moment.
"Heh," the devil let out an amused huff, "you are quite perceptive, my new friend."
Then his eyes narrowed just a tiny bit; he was a blind spot to my senses, but my experience taught me enough to wait for him to finish.
"Let's play a game, what do you think?" he nodded, turning his chair to face the farthest wall of the hall, in a way no one would notice what we were doing. "You ask a question, I respond truthfully, then it's my turn to ask. Sounds good?"
The way he spoke sent a shiver down my spine, and even that didn't compare when his thin, almost effeminate hand was in front of me. There was something strange in how the air felt when I focused on it. Even more so when it was invisible to my senses.
Despite knowing better and also knowing that Kuisha would tan my hide for being an idiot, I clasped his hand.
If you were to ask me why I did that, I wouldn't be able to answer, only having a feeling that, despite everything this simple 'commoner' was hiding, he didn't wish any harm to me.
"My question is the same, what do you want with Sona?" I asked him, feeling some strange weight settle on my shoulders as soon as I let go of his hand.
"What do I want…" Dante replied slowly, like he was tasting the words. "I think you wasted your first question, my friend. But very well. Sona Sitri is brilliant, capable, and ambitious. But she isn't the price I came seeking today."
Then he smiled, and an emotion I couldn't name flickered in his eyes.
"I want everything I lost, Sairaorg," he said softly, almost gently, though his expression didn't match. "I want everything. And more. Whether Sona becomes part of that journey… well, that depends on her, doesn't it?"
My shoulders relaxed for a second before realizing that he didn't feel any less dangerous at all. His knowing look was even more unnerving than before. The way he said those words made me uncomfortable, as if he were telling the truth but at the same time answering nothing of importance.
His eyebrow lifted at my silence, but he just tapped his lower lip with his hand.
"Let's see," he looked at me in a way I didn't like, "I've heard many things about you, Sairaorg. The shunned member of the Bael's, someone who says, quite publicly, that he will become a Satan by his personal strength alone. Quite an interesting tale you have. Tell me, do you believe you are capable of it? With no backing, no demonic power, no clan trait. Do you think you can do it? With your own family acting against you?"
I wanted to say yes, I really did. To reply as I ever did when someone asked me this.
But for some reason, the words didn't come out of my mouth.
Dante had that same infuriating look on his face, seemingly enjoying my silence more than any answer would.
No matter how many times I opened my mouth, I couldn't say what I wanted. I couldn't show complete assurance and faith in myself. Because it wasn't the truth.
Glaring at him, I tried to answer to no avail. I almost stood up, deciding to walk away from this devil. Yet, I couldn't move.
"It doesn't matter if I can or cannot do it," I gritted my teeth, "As long as I give it my all, I will die with a smile on my face."
Dante's eyes widened just a fraction before he burst out laughing. He was laughing so loud that I felt secondhand embarrassment, fearing everyone in the ballroom would be looking at us like we were some idiots.
But despite my fears, the only eyes on us belonged to the Leviathan, looking at us curiously.
Her eyes met mine, a question clear to see, but after a moment of hesitation, I shook my head.
She tilted her head curiously but shrugged and focused on her little sister.
"Good, good," Dante finally got his laugh under control, "Such an interesting answer, Sairaorg. I can't help but like you more and more. Are you still interested in continuing, or do you want to take an out?"
"Why is no one looking at us?" I couldn't help but ask; his reaction was doing something to me, and I was wise enough to notice I wasted my question.
By the look he sent me, it was clear he noticed too.
"I'll let that one pass," he smiled, "And I'm just hiding it, nothing too impressive.
Not impressive my ass.
"Doesn't work on Lady Leviathan, though," I pointed out, trying to make him squirm for the humiliation I felt.
And he surprised me again, only laughing softly as he turned his head and waved openly at the diminutive Satan.
"If she couldn't notice me, she shouldn't call herself a Satan," he said simply, "Let her look."
The confidence in his voice made me wonder if I was dealing with someone who knew things that I didn't or was simply an idiot.
And I couldn't answer that question for sure.
Funnily enough, after widening her eyes just a tad, Serafall Leviathan returned the wave and turned her head away.
The interested glint in her eyes and the satisfaction that showed on Dante's expression made me realize something.
He didn't care much about Sona. He probably already fulfilled his goal without standing from his seat.
What a scary devil. And ballsy. He was aiming for the Satan instead.
"Then, your question?" Dante asked me, looking overjoyed. Not that I faulted him, if I was right, he already made the most of his night and was just passing the time now.
"Do you hate your father for what he did to your reputation?" I tried hard enough to avoid hissing the question.
I knew I was aiming for a personal, humiliating reply, but after what he did, I was beyond caring. I wanted a piece of him.
"Ohh, cutting," he laughed uncaringly, "No, I don't care what he did, Sai. You see everyone here?"
I looked at him confusedly but turned my head at the ball. Sona was dancing with Diodora, her lips pressed in a thin line. Seekvaira was dancing with Riser, both looking like they preferred to be anywhere but here. Rias was dancing with Lord Sitri, but her aura was turbulent to say the least. Everyone was doing something, making alliances, enjoying themselves, or doing things they hated, knowing that it was their duty.
"What of them?" I looked at Dante.
"Their approval means nothing to me. By their metrics, I am beneath them, but I don't care if they sneer or applaud. There are more important things in the world than their opinions."
He sent me a knowing look, "You understand me, right?"
He didn't let me answer.
"My turn," Dante smiled gleefully as he clapped his hands, "I've seen some posts about your peerage. You must be proud of them, yes?"
I didn't have to think. The answer came out without delay, unlike last time.
"They are my pride and joy. They all have things to prove, and all of them wouldn't hesitate to leave those unfinished until my dream comes true. There's no better family I could have asked but them."
"Sweet," he nodded unconcernedly, waving his hand dismissively to remind me it was my turn.
I didn't like the way his eyes turned curious… and cold.
"What do you usually do for training?" I asked him after racking my brain for a minute. This was why I left politics to Kuisha; I was more interested in other things. Especially training.
"I kill demonic beasts," he shrugged, "I sneak around with my trait, too, but that's less interesting. I quite enjoy a good hunt in the forest outside the territory."
That wasn't very helpful, but it meant he had experience unlike many of our peers.
"Returning to your peerage," he smiled, and for some reason, the expression made me tense.
"Would you trade them all if it were offered to you to get your clan trait?" He asked seriously.
"Absolutely not," I responded simply, but firmly. I didn't have to think of that for a second.
"May I ask for a why?" He looked curious.
I shouldn't reply, I really shouldn't, but I did anyway.
"Because they are my only family. They trusted in me when no one else would. I wouldn't change them for the world."
"Interesting," he nodded neutrally, looking thoughtful, "I have one more question in me. Feel free to ask anything you want."
The weight on my shoulders intensified, reminding me that he was using some strange sort of magic. Not anything I had ever experienced.
Despite the many questions I still wanted to ask, I decided on something simple. Something that would show me what he truly was.
"If it came between your goal and your family, would you trade one of them for the other?" I asked him quietly.
Dante's calm smile faltered for a moment. The first time I saw a genuine reaction from him that didn't feel premeditated all night.
"What an interesting question," he said quietly, and for once his voice lacked that calculating edge.
"Before, I would have chosen my goal without hesitation." He paused, and I saw something almost vulnerable cross his face. "But now? I don't know what I'd do. And that terrifies me more than failing ever could."
Despite not agreeing with him, I couldn't help but respect his answer. He admitted it, and he hesitated for the first time the whole night. There was something… oddly inspiring in what he said. Like he was discovering what parts of life were worth living for.
But the way his eyes sharpened sent alarm bells blaring in my mind. There was a hint of darkness that appeared in his eyes as he glanced at me, and I prepared for the final question of the night, already knowing that I wouldn't like it.
"If family is so important to you, Sairaorg," his eyes locked with mine, and I couldn't help but feel as if I was thrown into a frozen tundra.
Everything was cold, and there was sweat running down my back.
I couldn't move.
I couldn't think clearly.
"I read that your mother fell ill with the sleeping sickness. Would you give your new family for the only person that has ever loved you unconditionally?" he asked.
Despite the lack of cruelty in his tone, I just wanted to cave his head in.
But whatever spell I was in wouldn't allow me to stay silent. Or attack him, as I so dearly wanted right now.
"No," the word came out broken, and I felt something wet and hot running down my face.
I was crying. For the first time in a long while, someone broke me. And by mere words alone.
I couldn't stop glaring at him. Wishing that I had my clan trait for the first time in years so that I could destroy him with just a glare.
But life wasn't fair.
"My mother wouldn't want that. She wouldn't want me to trade the people who believed in me, the people who supported me when she no longer could, just for her. I couldn't do that to any of them. I couldn't…" My voice cracked, and I rubbed my eyes. "That's a cruel question."
Dante, the absolute bastard, nodded slowly, and for once, there was no amusement in his eyes. Only curiosity. And a hint of respect.
Then his eyes softened, surprising me.
"I know," he said quietly, "And for the first time tonight, I apologize to you for my actions, Sairaorg Bael. I can see your conviction now, and allow me to say that I am surprised. If you can see past my actions tonight… know that you have gained a friend for life."
The weight from my shoulders vanished.
I could finally breathe again.
I could also move.
But despite the desire to attack him, not even caring about the consequences, I was stopped by his sad smile.
There was something I didn't think was possible in his eyes from the short time I've known the true him. Gentleness.
"You may hate me now, Sairaorg, I wouldn't even fault you," he continued, his voice soft, "But if there is something you must know from me, it is this."
I wanted to leave. But for some reason, I stayed put.
"Everything I do… I do for a reason."
He stood up, a cheerful expression on his face that I knew was fake.
"Think about our conversation, Sairaorg. And believe me. Good things are coming." He smiled and patted my shoulder. "As it always does to those I call my friends."
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I see someone who needs my particular brand of help," he said with a smirk.
And I couldn't help but watch, dumbstruck, as he walked timidly towards my cousin's direction, a timid smile on his face that still fooled me despite knowing the true monster behind that façade.
Author's note: This chapter was so fun and terrible to write at the same time. Sai is one of my favorite characters in DxD, and as much as I hurt him here, I loved everything I did. Damn, dunno why I feel so proud of this chapter and I hope y'all like it!
Remember, Seere was a fair demon. But a demon is still a demon, especially in marvel. He is a bastard as this chapter showed, but he is fair. This was so much fun. Tell me what you think in the comments!
If you'd like to support me and read up to FIVE chapters ahead, you can find me on pat * e*n . com (slash) Infinityreads99 Heads up: I post chapters fully edited, but I sometimes make minor tweaks before they go live here. Thanks for reading!