Today was a rare day off—no school, no devils, no battles. My parents were still on their weekend getaway, leaving the house to me, Asia, and the fallen trio. I woke to sunlight streaming through my bedroom window, the familiar clutter of manga and game controllers grounding me in the normalcy I'd almost forgotten. My status screen flickered in my vision, a ritual check to anchor my plans:
Name: Issei Hyoudou
HP: 7,000/7,000 (Calculated as [70 Strength + 70 Endurance] × 50)
MP: 3,500/3,500 (Calculated as 70 Intelligence × 50)
Strength: 70
Endurance: 70
Agility: 70
Intelligence: 70
Luck: 70
Stat Points: 0
Skills:
Observe (Level Max): Reveals full stats and thoughts, bypassing all restrictions.
Perks:
Gamer's Mind: Immunity to mental effects; calm rationality (failed briefly during Riser's taunt).
Gamer's Body: Damage to HP; minimized fatigue/pain.
Power of Destruction (Sirzechs Lucifer Version): Destructive energy blasts, 1.5x Intelligence scaling (105 base damage), area-of-effect annihilation fields, molecular disintegration, 30% reduced mana cost.
Points Transfer: Permanently transfer stat points to non-players; irretrievable.
Sacred Gears:
Boosted Gear (Balance Breaker Unlocked): Doubles power every 10 seconds; Dragon Scale Mail triples base stats (210 Strength, Endurance, Agility); houses Ddraig.
Twilight Healing (Balance Breaker) (Copy): Rapid healing, healing fields; copied from Asia Argento.
Quests: None
Inventory: Empty
Relationship System:
Raynare: Lover - Eternal Flame (99/100, locked until marriage rite)
Kalawarner: Lover - Eternal Flame (99/100, locked until marriage rite)
Mittelt: Lover - Eternal Flame (99/100, locked until marriage rite)
Asia Argento: Best Friend (85/100)
Rias Gremory: Lover (100/100, Eternal Bond pending commitment)
Akeno Himejima: Ally (95/100)
Yuuto Kiba: Ally (85/100)
Koneko Toujou: Ally (85/100)
Gasper Vladi: Best Friend (85/100)
Matsuda: Friend (69/100)
Motohama: Friend (69/100)
Most female classmates: Neutral (20-25/100)
The reduced stats stung, but Boosted Gear's Balance Breaker and my perks kept me lethal. Ddraig's voice rumbled, a rare softness: "Take the day, partner. Even dragons need to rest. But don't get soft—trouble's never far." He was right. I needed this pause, a moment to reconnect with the human side of Issei Hyoudou before the next storm.
Downstairs, the house was alive. Asia hummed in the kitchen, her blonde hair tied back as she attempted pancakes—her first try, judging by the flour dusting her cheeks. Raynare, in her Yuuma disguise, lounged on the couch, flipping through a fashion magazine with mock disdain. Kalawarner, human guise intact, was at the dining table, polishing a light spear disguised as a "cosplay prop." Mittelt, as Mimi, bounced around, helping Asia with a spatula and giggling at the mess. Their observe thoughts from last night echoing devotion: Raynare's "He's our everything"; Kalawarner's "I'd break the world for him"; Mittelt's "He makes life fun."
"Morning, Issei!" Asia chirped, waving a floury hand. Her stats flashed via Observe:
Name: Asia Argento
Level: 8
HP: 1,500/1,500 (5 Strength + 10 Endurance × 50)
MP: 3,000/3,000 (30 Intelligence × 50)
Strength: 5
Endurance: 10
Agility: 10
Intelligence: 30
Luck: 20
Sacred Gear: Twilight Healing (Unawakened; basic healing, no Balance Breaker)
Thoughts About You: "Issei's been so strong for everyone. I want to help him more, not just pray."
Relationship: Best Friend (85/100)
Her fragility gnawed at me. Level 8, stats pitiful—she was a liability in combat, her healing unawakened beyond basic healing. Protecting her had been my mission, but empowering her felt urgent. The fallen trio noticed my gaze, Raynare's violet eyes narrowing. "You're brooding, lover. What's up?"
I grinned, deflecting with Gamer's Mind. "Just enjoying the view. Pancakes, Asia?"
She blushed, flipping a lopsided pancake. "They're… learning. Want some?"
We ate together, the table a mix of laughter and chaos—Mittelt stealing bites, Kalawarner critiquing the "charred art," Raynare feeding me a piece with a smirk. Asia's smile was radiant. Post-breakfast, I announced my plan: "I'm taking today off. No devils, no training. Asia, you're with me—let's hit the arcade, maybe grab ice cream. Girls, you want in?"
Raynare stretched, her disguise's skirt riding up. "Tempting, but we've got 'exchange student' cover to maintain. We'll scout town, keep tabs on devil chatter." Her Observe thoughts: "He needs a break. We'll guard in shadows."
Kalawarner nodded. "I'll check the church ruins—make sure no stragglers." Her strength made her a one-woman wrecking crew.
Mittelt pouted but agreed. "Fine, I'll snoop on social media. But I want arcade time later!" Her illusions could mask any slip.
Asia clapped, eyes sparkling. "Just us? Oh, Issei, it'll be fun!" Her innocence was a shield I'd never let break.
The fallen trio left with kisses—Raynare's fierce, Kalawarner's strong, Mittelt's playful—leaving Asia and me to our day. Kuoh's arcade was a neon-lit haven, its claw machines and fighting games a throwback to simpler times. Asia, in a simple sundress, marveled at the lights, her low Agility making her clumsy at DDR but her laughter infectious. I won her a stuffed dragon from a claw machine, my Luck (still potent) ensuring success. Her score hit 87/100 as she hugged it, naming it "Ddraig Jr."
Ice cream followed at a parlor near the park, Asia's vanilla cone melting faster than she could eat. I teased her, wiping a smear from her cheek, her blush deepening our bond. "Issei, you're always protecting me," she said softly. "I… I want to be stronger. For you."
Her words hit hard. Her Level 8 fragility was a liability in this world of devils and fallen angels. Before I could respond, the system's chime erupted, a blue screen flaring in my vision, unseen by Asia or passersby. Gamer's Mind kept my face neutral, the soul-erasure restriction a silent threat.
New Quest: Empowering the Saint
Objective: Train Asia Argento to Level 50, raising all her stats to 150 (Strength, Endurance, Agility, Intelligence, Luck). Utilize any means necessary (combat, training grounds, stat transfers).
Rewards:
Asia Argento gains combat proficiency to defend herself.
Asia Argento unlocks Balance Breaker for Twilight Healing (enhanced healing fields, resurrection potential).
+50 to all user's stats (Strength, Endurance, Agility, Intelligence, Luck).
Failure Penalty: Asia remains defenseless, -30 to user's Luck, -20 to Asia's relationship score.
Time Limit: None (open-ended, but urgency advised).
Accept? [Y/N]
I selected Y mentally, the screen dissolving. Level 50? Asia's current 5-30 stats meant a 42-level climb, each level granting +2 stats (system standard), plus Points Transfer to bridge the gap. The +50 stat reward would restore my 70 to 120, nearly my old peak. Her Balance Breaker—resurrection potential—was a game-changer, matching my copy's power. But training a non-combatant to 50? Daunting, even with my Intelligence and perks.
Asia tilted her head, sensing my shift. "Issei? Another hunch?"
I smiled, deflecting. "Yeah, a big one. How about we train together? You've got Twilight Healing—it's special. I can help you unlock it, make you stronger."
Her eyes widened, then softened with resolve. "If you think I can… I'll try. For you."
We returned home, the arcade's joy lingering. The fallen trio were out, leaving the house quiet. I led Asia to the backyard, a secluded spot shielded by trees—perfect for training without prying eyes. "We'll start small," I said. "Your healing's strong, but you need combat basics. Strength, speed, endurance."
She nodded, clutching Ddraig Jr. I used Observe to confirm her baseline:
Name: Asia Argento
Level: 8
HP: 1,500/1,500
MP: 3,000/3,000
Strength: 5
Endurance: 10
Agility: 10
Intelligence: 30
Luck: 20
Sacred Gear: Twilight Healing (Unawakened)
Thoughts About You: "Issei believes in me. I'll be strong—for him, for everyone."
Relationship: Best Friend (87/100)
I began with agility drills—dodging soft punches I threw at half-speed (35 Agility, nerfed from 70). Asia stumbled, her 10 Agility pitiful, but her determination shone. "Again!" she panted, improving incrementally. I summoned holographic dummies (Level 5, system-generated for training), their attacks slow but enough to push her. She dodged one, healing a graze with Twilight (HP stable at 1,500). EXP trickled—Level 9 after an hour, stats +2: Strength 7, Endurance 12, Agility 12, Intelligence 32, Luck 22.
Strength training followed: lifting light weights (my old dumbbells), guided by my 70 Strength. Asia struggled, her Strength shaking, but pushed through, her healing soothing muscle strain. Level 10 hit—stats to 9, 14, 14, 34, 24. Her MP rose to 3,400, Twilight Healing glowing brighter.
Endurance came next: laps around the yard, my Twilight Healing copy mirroring hers to keep her going. She collapsed at Level 12—stats 13, 18, 18, 38, 28, HP 1,550, MP 3,800. Her thoughts: "It's hard, but Issei's here. I won't give up." Score: 88/100.
By dusk, combat drills began. I conjured Level 10 dummies—weak exorcists. Asia froze, fear spiking, but I coached: "Heal and move!" She dodged, her Agility clumsy but growing, healing scratches (HP stable). A lucky dodge netted a "kill," pushing her to Level 15—stats 19, 24, 24, 44, 34, HP 2,150, MP 4,400. Her healing now mended deeper wounds, a spark of Balance Breaker potential.
Dinner was takeout ramen, Asia's laughter filling the house as the fallen trio returned. Raynare sensed my focus, her hand on mine. "Training the nun? Bold." Kalawarner flexed, offering to spar Asia tomorrow. Mittelt conjured an illusion of a cheering crowd, making Asia giggle.
Night fell, and we continued in the yard under moonlight. I used Points Transfer, sacrificing 10 from each stat (Strength, Endurance, Agility, Intelligence, Luck to 60; HP 6,000, MP 3,000) to boost Asia's: +10 to each, now 29 Strength, 34 Endurance, 34 Agility, 54 Intelligence, 44 Luck. HP 3,150, MP 5,400. She gasped, feeling the surge. "Issei… how?"
"Draconic gift," I lied, the restriction binding my tongue. "Keep pushing."
We sparred lightly, my Agility (2x with Boost) outpacing her 34, but she countered with healing bursts. Level 20 hit—stats +10 (system) +10 (transferred earlier): 39, 44, 44, 64, 54. HP 4,150, MP 6,400. Her Twilight Healing pulsed, healing fields forming—Balance Breaker's edge.
Days would continue this grind—combat, endurance, strategy—but today was mine. Asia hugged me. "Thank you, Issei. I'll be strong."
The quest loomed—Level 50, 150 stats. Her Balance Breaker and my +50 stat reward were worth it. The dragon rested, but the saint was rising.