~Hachiman Pov~
Apartment
"Hey! You idiot! Didn't I tell you ten times already that white clothes and colored clothes must be washed separately! Can your fallen angel brain not distinguish basic shades or what, huh?"
I shouted through the house while holding up my favorite white T-shirt—which had now transformed into an ugly mix of pink and blue—right in front of the woman responsible, who was sitting on the sofa acting completely indifferent.
She raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at the shirt in my hand, before averting her eyes and leisurely filing her nails, without a single shred of remorse in her gaze.
"My, what is it, Hikage-sama? It's just a change in clothing color. What is the point of making such a fuss? This color actually suits a gloomy person like you quite well."
She spoke back with a smug, sarcastic tone, completely unbothered.
'Good grief, this girl... Not only is she completely useless at housework, but she's also number one at getting on my nerves.'
'I shouldn't have taken her in to live with me—no, wait, she was forced upon me.'
I could only hold my head, swallowing an imaginary paracetamol to suppress the headache.
All that talk about supernatural beings being noble and sublime... you can throw it right into the trash.
Once we actually had to live under the same roof, this girl was no different from a termite infesting a house, doing nothing but draining both my life force and the money in my wallet day by day. Honestly, give me a break.
That's right... the woman I am currently standing here pointing my finger at and lecturing about housework is Raynare, not Kalawarna. This girl is a termite in the guise of a woman, currently destroying my clothes and my daily well-being in the present.
You guys are probably surprised, right? Seeing a dark-path former fallen angel who used to kill people like they were flies just sitting around, making herself entirely at home in my house as if she owned the place.
Actually, there is a backstory to this... It was a "highly expensive lesson" that engraved itself into my memory, and I swore to myself that I would absolutely never let history repeat itself in the future…
(Flashback)
.
.
Evening
In the guest bedroom
"Do you want me to wake her up?"
"No need, I'll do it myself. Someone who has been completely knocked out without waking all day like that wouldn't wake up even if you called her name or shook her body."
I declined Kalawarna's offer of help while casting my gaze straight ahead.
On the bed lay the unconscious body of a beautiful, black-haired young woman dressed in a tight, extremely sexy black leather strap outfit...
Raynare, the mastermind behind yesterday's headache-inducing incident. This girl had planned to extract and steal the "Sacred Gear"—a rare item known as "Twilight Healing"—from Asia Argento, a former sister who had been excommunicated from the Church. By now, that sister had already been reincarnated as a devil servant of Rias.
From my perspective, Raynare's desire was just like a neglected child wanting to achieve something just to seek attention and affection from their parents, nothing more.
The cause wasn't hard to guess from her status within her race. Being looked down upon, disdained for her weakness, and holding a lowly position—these things are normal in this world. A world where the strong stand above all else, while the weak have no more value than a pebble on the side of the road that nobody glances at. That was the reason why she tried so desperately to grasp that power for herself.
And for the sake of something like that, she actually had the reckless audacity to plan a grand scheme, gathering renegade, low-rank fallen angels who shared the same rock-bottom status to be her accomplices just to increase the percentage of success.
Furthermore, this entire plan was kept completely secret, hidden from the higher-ups or the organization without them knowing even a single bit about it.
But unfortunately for her, a high school guy like me happened to show up and utterly smash her entire plan to pieces first.
The curiosity that made me go through the trouble of keeping this girl alive until now originally had only one reason... and that was the "process of extracting a Sacred Gear from a host's body."
If you ask why I was so fixated on this matter, the answer is very simple...
Because the person who did it was Raynare. A low-rank fallen angel—even if this girl has lived for several hundred years, that doesn't mean her intellect always increases with her age. At least from the behavior I've seen all along, nothing indicated whatsoever that she was a genius or a Sacred Gear expert.
That's right... we are talking about the method of extracting a Sacred Gear from its possessor's body. Frankly speaking, it is a science far more complex than many people think. Tearing a Sacred Gear out of a host's body isn't just about cutting the body open and pulling it out like removing an organ. It involves the soul structure, energy pathways, and the deep-level connection between the Sacred Gear and its owner.
Without sufficient knowledge, doing it blindly will only cause the host to die first. And if the host dies before the process is fully complete... the Sacred Gear will vanish along with them. Simply put, you get absolutely nothing.
That was exactly the problem, because a skill of this level is definitely not something a low-tier amateur like Raynare could have invented on her own.
Just think about it... if this girl really knew this method from the very beginning, she would have been hunting Sacred Gear owners all over the world by now. With her personality that thirsts so much for recognition and power, there is no way she would have sat quietly for hundreds of years. She is not the type to patiently wait for an opportunity, but the type ready to snatch up everything the moment she sees a gap.
Then why... during the past several hundred years, did she never make a move? Why did she only just start moving now?
That question made me begin to suspect something. And when I lined everything up together... only one most plausible conclusion remained.
Someone must have given her this method.
And that person... must be someone of high enough status to understand the mechanics of this process. Raynare didn't invent it; she was merely being used. A pawn sent down for some purpose beyond her own understanding.
Another suspicion that arose after clashing with her yesterday... was the matter of her actually deciding to execute this plan.
At first, I thought Raynare was just an ambitious woman. But after fighting her directly, I realized that her true essence isn't ambition... it's cowardice. She fears rejection, and most importantly of all... she fears death. A woman like that shouldn't be someone who dares to gamble everything on her own.
That made me unable to help but think... during the past hundreds of years, maybe she had opportunities like this before, but in the end, she never dared to actually do it even once because of her own cowardice.
However, this time was different. She didn't just take action, but she even risked being punished by her own faction, risked igniting a conflict between races, and risked wagering everything on this plan. It made no sense at all for someone like Raynare…
Something must have driven her, or someone must have been pulling the strings from behind. Something that made her believe that... even if she risked everything, it was still worth it to take action.
And that person, I believe, is the very same person who gave her the method to extract the Sacred Gear.
Of course, all of it is just my hypothesis; there is no guarantee that it is truly as I think.
Everything arose from taking the existing information, piecing it together, and creating an overall picture from it.
Which means there is also a possibility that I might just be overthinking things.
And that itself.. is the reason why I haven't killed her up until now.
I moved closer to her before generating lightning upon my palm.
The blue-white electric current split off from my fingertips, making crackling sounds in the air.
Crackle...
Before I extended my hand to touch her body.
ZZZAAAP—!
The electric current instantly surged through the young woman's body.
"Ngh...!"
A faint groan escaped from her lips. Her body, which had been completely still all this time, began to twitch in response to the electricity. Her fingers tensed slightly, and her eyelashes fluttered as if she were fighting against the darkness within her consciousness.
Her brows furrowed together in pain before her entire body jolted slightly.
Gasp—!
She took a massive gasp of air, like someone who had just broken the surface after being submerged underwater for a long time.
Then, her eyelids, which had been shut tight all along, slowly opened.
"...Ugh…"
Seeing that she had regained consciousness, I took a few steps back before sitting down on the chair beside the bed.
I crossed my arms over my chest and crossed my legs comfortably. Off to the side, Kalawarna was standing quietly, watching the event unfold.
Raynare stared at the ceiling above her head with a blank, dazed look for a moment, as if trying to comprehend the situation in front of her.
An unfamiliar room, an unfamiliar scent in the air, before she slowly turned her head to the side.
—!
Her purple eyes instantly widened.
"Yo, finally awake."
"Y-You! You're with that psychopath!"
The moment she saw my face, she screamed out loud while quickly scrambling backward until she was pressed against the headboard.
"Ho... waking up and immediately making a racket, I see."
"Aren't you going to thank me a little for going out of my way to spare your life?"
"...Spared my life?"
Confusion immediately surfaced on her face.
Raynare knit her brows tightly, trying to think back to her final memory before losing consciousness.
The basement.
The black liquid.
The hand choking her.
And the face of the boy beneath that mask...
"Wait.. I.. I'm not dead?"
Her tone was filled with utter disbelief, as if being alive right now was something completely beyond expectation.
Before long, her gaze flicked to notice the other person standing beside me.
"...Kalawarna?"
Raynare's eyes widened in shock.
She stared back and forth between Kalawarna and my face several times, as if putting together a jigsaw puzzle in her head.
And when she seemed to reach a conclusion—
"I get it now!"
"It was you, wasn't it! The one who told him about the entire plan! You traitor!!"
Raynare barked out loud while glaring at Kalawarna with a murderous gaze, as if she wanted to tear her body into pieces.
Even though Kalawarna's expression remained as calm and composed as usual.
But I knew well that deep down, she probably felt quite guilty.
"It wasn't exactly like that, Raynare-san."
I shrugged before replying in a casual tone.
"This woman... was simply under my control, that's all."
"Hikage-sama..."
Kalawarna turned to look at my face while murmuring my fake name with a complex gaze.
As if understanding that I was trying to help her.
'Hey, hey... don't make a face like that, or you'll blow our cover.'
'Please maintain your role, you airhead.'
I could only complain inside my mind while trying to keep an indifferent expression in front of Raynare.
"So what!? If it wasn't for you and her coming to interfere, by now I would have obtained the power of Twilight Healing!....That's right! Right now, I would have gained Azazel-sama's attention!"
She shrieked out like an insane person.
'Sigh... just how long are you going to keep deluding yourself?'
I rested my chin on my hand while speaking in a relaxed tone.
"Why are you so confident that you would gain Azazel's attention merely by possessing Twilight Healing?"
"Shut up! What would a low-class human like you know!"
She snapped back almost instantly, as if refusing to even consider the question.
"Why wouldn't I know? Have you forgotten who sent me to deal with you? He relies on me, a low-class human, more than someone who claims to be noble..."
I paused for a moment before speaking in a mocking tone.
"Hey... Raynare-san, I really don't understand. Why do you still expect attention from the person who issued the order to eliminate you?"
"N-No way..."
Her expression froze completely for a moment.
"You're lying.. Yes! You're lying! Azazel-sama would never do that! All of this must be a story you fabricated!"
Raynare shook her head violently, as if trying to shake that thought out of her brain.
"You're just human trash! Lord Azazel is the leader of Grigori! He would never cooperate with humans to eliminate someone within the organization like me!"
Her purple irises began to tremble noticeably, because deep down, maybe she had known the answer all along. She just didn't dare to accept it.
"Then what if a member of the organization goes and causes trouble that could trigger a war between the factions to erupt once again? Would there be no fault in that case?"
"...What do you mean?"
Raynare furrowed her brows tightly, her face filled with confusion upon hearing the word "war."
"Hmm... do you really not know?"
I tilted my head slightly.
"Everything you did wasn't some grand achievement. It was a time bomb. And when it goes off, the one who has to clean up the aftermath isn't you, but Grigori."
Raynare's eyes began to waver.
I continued to speak in a flat tone.
"Azazel absolutely hates troublesome things, didn't you know? Kidnapping a Sacred Gear owner within the territory of the Gremory Clan, and even involving the Church."
"In his eyes, this doesn't look impressive in the slightest. It's just a giant pile of trouble that someone has to deal with."
I leaned forward slightly.
"Did you really think someone like Azazel would praise a subordinate who is dragging the entire organization into the risk of war? No.. what he thinks is much simpler than that. He just wants to eliminate the root of the problem before it escalates."
Crack..
As if the sound of something fracturing echoed within Raynare's mind. The picture of the future she had envisioned all along.
The image of herself being accepted, praised, and receiving attention from the person she revered above all else.
It was beginning to display fractures bit by bit, like a mirror struck by a hammer for the first time.
I stared deep into those purple eyes that were starting to well up with tears.
"That's why he sent an outsider like me to handle the dirty work he didn't want to do himself, to clip the wings of a subordinate who disobeys orders, and to nip it in the bud before someone's ignorance drags all of Grigori into the same fire."
Crack... Crack..
I paused for a brief moment.
Before delivering the final sentence with a smirk, my voice unnervingly soft.
"What you call 'love,' what you have been chasing after all this time... in the end, it was just an illusion you created yourself. To Azazel, you're just a disposable pawn. You were never anyone special, and perhaps... he might have never even remembered your name…"
"..Furthermore, the current you has no value left whatsoever."
SHATTER—!
"..Ah.."
Finally, the entire illusion she had desperately harbored shattered completely into worthless pieces, along with the tears that rolled down her cheeks.
Her face was blank, like someone who no longer had any motivation left to do anything.
'Hmm, her current state should be just about cooked.'
Just to be clear, I don't feel a shred of guilt. No matter how beautiful the reason she did it sounded...
Even if the entire driving force arose from wanting to be accepted or loved by someone.
But that didn't change the reality that she was trampling over other people's lives for her own desires.
If one's own happiness must be built upon the suffering of others, if chasing a dream requires sacrificing the lives of innocents.
Then no matter how pitiful that reason looks, it doesn't make those actions right even a single bit.
And I myself am not the type of protagonist who would say, "Because you've suffered, I forgive everything."
Because in the end, the person tied to the cross wasn't Raynare.
The person who was almost killed wasn't Raynare.
And as for the person crying right now, she is merely someone facing the consequences of the choices she made.
'That's all it is.'
All of the things mentioned are logical outcomes for the actions committed. Although in some cases, the results might differ because they are guided by feelings.
Just like the case of Kalawarna—even though she had done cruel things, I still couldn't help but worry about her.
Because of that, from now on, I won't let her get involved in those cruel matters again.
Call me biased if you want, I won't argue. But humans don't use logic to decide everything.
At least for this matter, I chose to follow my own feelings, and I don't intend to regret it later either.
'Now then, let's get to the main point.'
I turned to look at the person standing beside me.
"Kalawarna, leave for now."
She met my eyes for a moment before replying.
"Understood. In that case, I will go prepare dinner then."
I nodded in response before she walked out through the door.
Clack! Creak... Click.
Kalawarna's cooking skills could be considered decent, even if they weren't even half of mine, since I possess high-level homemaking skills.
Ding~!
Hmm?
Suddenly, a notification sound rang out from the cell phone in my pants pocket.
I pulled it out before looking to see who was calling.
[The Old Man Who Loves Tossing Problems My Way]
{Accept / Decline}
I quickly erected a soundproof barrier around myself before pressing to accept the call.
TING
『Hey, Hikigaya. How are you doing?』
"I'm fine."
I replied in an emotionless voice.
『Heh heh, don't use such a dead-sounding voice like that.』
"How am I supposed to speak to you in a good mood when you just tossed a problem to me yesterday?"
『Hahahahaha! You don't have to praise me that much.』
"I wasn't praising you, damn it!"
Whenever I talk to this old man, I always end up feeling irritated.
『So, how did it go? How many survived?』
"Two... Raynare and Kalawarna. I teleported in to handle things inside the church before the Gremory group arrived. Unfortunately, the other two were outside the church, so I couldn't save them in time."
In truth, the relationship between me and Kalawarna was something that even Azazel—who had known me for a long time—didn't know about. Therefore, I reported to him with a mix of truth and lies.
『Hmm... I see. And what is the status of those two right now?』
"Right now, I am interrogating them."
『Hmm? Why?』
"Because I feel that Raynare's motive alone shouldn't have been enough to drive her to execute yesterday's plan without regarding the risks. Besides, I also wonder how she knew the method to extract a Sacred Gear from its owner."
『Hmm... I see. It makes sense to wonder about that... But I didn't think you'd be this sharp, Hikigaya. Truly dependable.』
"I don't need your praise, old man."
『Hahaha! But it's fine. At first, I thought about locking them away until peace among the three factions actually arrives. But if they are under your care, I guess I won't have to put in the effort. Then I'll leave the rest to you~』
"Wait! Wait a minute! Hold o—"
Beep.
...
That guy has already hung up.
"...."
'Dammit... That old codger intended to call and dump this job on me from the very beginning!'
Hell...
If it were just Kalawarna alone, it might still be manageable, but...
I turned my gaze toward Raynare, who was sitting not far away.
Her eyes were devoid of any sparkle, her face blank like someone who had lost everything, while her gaze remained fixated in my direction, drifting vacantly.
'Ugh...'
No way, man. No matter how I look at it, this doesn't seem manageable at all.
Besides, she isn't the docile, compliant type of woman either. It's going to take specific tactics and methods to keep her under control.
Once her mental state returns to normal, I'll probably have to deal with a daily combo set of complaining, arguing, and sarcasm without fail.
Come to think of it, isn't this the perfect set of traits for a troublemaker?
Sigh... What a real headache.
But for now, I'd better put that matter aside.
I stood up from my chair and walked straight toward Raynare.
When I got close enough, I reached out, grabbed her chin, and forced her face up to meet my eyes.
"—Ugh..."
Her body trembled slightly.
It seemed my rather forceful action managed to snap her drifting consciousness back to reality a bit.
Those purple eyes turned to stare at me.
"Hey, Raynare."
I stared deep into her eyes before asking in a calm, flat voice.
"Tell me... Who was the one who gave you the method to extract a Sacred Gear?"
"—! W-what are you talking about? I don't understand."
Her eyes darted around frantically, completely visibly shaken upon encountering that question.
"Don't play dumb. Do you really expect me to believe you have enough capability to pull off that kind of thing? If you tell me nicely, I might just spare your life after this."
"I... I..."
Seeing that she still refused to open her mouth, I fired another question born of suspicion at her.
"Raynare... Don't you think it's strange?"
"...?"
"Why would that person willingly hand over the method to extract a Sacred Gear to you?"
I stared deep into her trembling purple eyes.
"That kind of knowledge isn't something commonly found. Even for a Fallen Angel, it's not the sort of thing anyone would just share easily."
I paused for a moment before continuing.
"Did that person... truly have your best interests at heart?"
"Th-that..."
"I've told you before, haven't I? That what you did carried enough risk to trigger a war among the Three Factions."
I didn't give her a chance to gather her thoughts.
"So, what did the person who gave you that information get out of it?"
"...!"
Her body twitched instantly.
It seemed that question struck a nerve she had never considered before.
"Azazel hates war to death. You should know that well yourself, since currently his hobby is researching Sacred Gears."
"..."
"But that person still willingly gave you information that could lead to war."
I gradually lowered my voice.
"Why?"
"..."
"If they truly cared about you, shouldn't that person have been the first one to stop you from walking into a death trap?"
Raynare's eyes trembled even more violently than before.
"Think about it, Raynare… Azazel doesn't want war, but that person still willingly let you do something that could start a war. And you still think he did it because he cared about you?"
I paused briefly.
Before uttering the final sentence.
"Throughout your entire past life... has anyone ever truly cared about you without wanting anything in return?"
"..."
Raynare didn't answer.
But her lack of an answer was an answer in itself.
In the end, her eyelids gradually lowered, as if accepting an inescapable truth.
"K... Kokabiel-sama..."
Her voice was faint, barely audible, but for me, that was enough.
'Kokabiel, huh...'
If that's the case, everything clicks perfectly into place.
Within the Fallen Angel faction, even though Azazel is the supreme leader who receives respect and trust from the majority,
it doesn't mean everyone agrees with his approach.
Especially after he chose to walk the path of peace instead of continuing the conflict with Heaven and the Devils.
Naturally, not everyone was satisfied with that.
There are always extremists who yearn for a great war once again.
And the leader of that faction is…
Kokabiel, one of the high-ranking leaders of the Fallen Angels.
Honestly, I've never met Kokabiel face-to-face.
All the information I know was just heard from Uncle Baraqiel-san.
Suddenly, an interesting idea popped into my mind.
"Hey, Raynare, do you want revenge?
..
.
(End of Flashback)
The whole story goes something like that.
At first, I thought that after having threatened to kill her a month ago, she would be somewhat afraid of me now that we have to live under the same roof.
But far from it, not only is she not afraid, she actually enjoys getting on my nerves even more than before.
Well, let's put the past aside for now and return to the present.
"Don't call me with that suffix. It's disgusting to see."
The word "Sama" that slipped from her mouth didn't sound honoring or full of respect like a servant's at all.
On the contrary, it sounded more like sarcasm.
"Oh... Did you just realize that someone like you isn't worthy of a lofty suffix like 'Sama'? Congratulations. Finally, you have the ability to evaluate yourself."
Raynare sneered contemptuously.
"Why, you..."
Raynare let out a pitiful 'hmph' chuckle in her throat. She carelessly set her nail file down on the table before snapping her eyes straight toward me, flashing a deliberate, sarcastic smirk.
"Then what about with Kalawarna... Why did you foolishly let her call you 'Sama' out of habit for so long?"
"..."
"Or is it that, deep down inside your heart, you're actually floating on cloud nine, getting completely carried away and enchanted by that sweet voice and those flattering words, huh?"
I truthfully admit right here that this girl's mouth is even sharper than mine. Mine, which is considered sharp, is just situational sarcasm, but her biting remarks... it's an innate talent.
"What a mouth on you... If you had taken the hemisphere of your brain used for thinking up that insult just now and split it to separate the white clothes from the colored clothes from the beginning, my shirt wouldn't have ended up looking like candy colors like this."
I shot back, pulling the topic back to the original matter so as to not let myself get derailed by the issue regarding Kalawarna that had just been poked at this morning.
"And another thing... It's not like I've never told Kalawarna to stop calling me that. She's the stubborn one who keeps insisting on calling me that, no matter how many times I warn her."
"Reaaallly~? Like I'd believe you."
Raynare drew out her words, rolling her eyes.
"If you truly loathed it, Kalawarna would have stopped calling you that a long time ago."
Seeing that annoying attitude of hers was seriously frustrating.
"Anyway, let's put that matter aside for now."
I cut her off immediately, before she could drag the topic any further.
"Don't you dare try to deflect the issue."
I lifted the shirt up right in front of her face. The shirt, which originally should have been completely plain white, was now entirely covered in streaks of pink, blue, and various other colors scattered and blending together all over, looking like a piece of abstract art.
I lightly shook the shirt I was holding.
"How are you going to take responsibility? Don't tell me you're going to play innocent and let it slide again."
"Hmph!"
Raynare immediately snapped her face away to the side before replying in an uncaring voice.
"It's just a single T-shirt, isn't it? Just buy a new one and it's over."
She spoke as if every problem in the world could be solved with money.
Of course, she could easily say that.
Because the one losing money wasn't her. The one inconvenienced wasn't her, so it was easy to talk. And then when I, the one inconvenienced, try to complain or object, I'm looked at as if I have no right to speak instead.
'She really wants it all her way, doesn't she? So you want to play it like this, huh?'
In that case...
"Is it really a good idea to speak to me like that?"
I raised the corner of my mouth slightly.
"Then what might this be, I wonderrr~?"
Finishing my sentence, I picked up a piece of clothing.
"...!"
The moment she saw what was in my hand, Raynare's expression instantly froze. It was a far cry from my ordinary T-shirt.
The fine texture of the fabric, the detailed stitching, as well as the brand logo embroidered on the corner made it obvious to anyone that it was quite expensive.
And most importantly, it belonged to her.
"..What are you planning to do?"
"Hmm? Oh, nothing."
I replied with the gentlest smile I could manage.
"Since damaged clothes can just be replaced with new ones... I'm simply going to prove your logic, that's all. By smearing paint onto this shirt to make it even more beautiful than before."
"W-wait a minute!"
"How strange. Weren't you just saying earlier that 'just buy a new one and it's over'?"
I tilted my head slightly.
"That's a completely different story! Don't you dare compare my brand-name clothes to your ordinary shirt!"
She argued back, jumping up from the sofa.
"Oh? So in conclusion, the value of a shirt isn't in the shirt itself, but in the price, huh?"
I raised an eyebrow.
"Well, it's true!"
"Is that so?"
I nodded understandingly.
"If that's the case, I'll write my autograph on my T-shirt first."
"...Huh?"
"Once it becomes a limited edition item, the price should skyrocket just the same."
"Do you think your autograph is that valuable!?"
"Of course. This space is my territory. The ones who determine the value of a product are humans just the same."
I held the shirt up and looked at it as if it were a rare collectible.
"Therefore, if I say this shirt is valuable, then it must be expensive."
"What kind of crazy logic is that of yours!?... Whatever! Give me back my clothes!"
Raynare immediately lunged forward to snatch the clothes from my hand.
But I evaded her easily. Not because I'm skilled or anything, it's just that predicting the thoughts of someone who is flush with anger is simply too easy.
"Give it back!"
"No."
"Give it back!"
"If you want me to give it back, then restore my clothes to their original condition first."
"Just use your magic to fix it yourself!"
"Huh? You're the one who ruined it."
I raised an eyebrow immediately.
"Where in the world does a person who caused trouble not have to take responsibility, and instead dumps the job on the bystander who caught the collateral damage to handle it themselves?"
"Ugh.."
"That's why I said you're an unreasonable person who likes to make yourself the center of everything. I totally understand now why the people in your clan looked down on you so much."
"W-why you... are you looking for a fight—!"
"Alright, that's enough, both of you. Come and eat."
A voice chimed in, interrupting us. Both Raynare and I turned to look simultaneously.
Kalawarna walked out from the kitchen.
Her body was clad in a light blue apron worn over her casual clothes, making her look more like an ordinary housewife than a Fallen Angel.
Upon seeing the sight of Raynare and me arguing, she let out a soft chuckle.
"You two are really close, aren't you?"
"Huh?" ×2
Raynare and I turned to look at each other, pointed at one another, and then immediately turned toward Kalawarna at the same time.
"With a woman like this?"
"With a man like this?"
We shot back almost simultaneously.
Then we turned back to look at each other's faces again, glaring intently.
"Why are you copying me?"
"Why are you copying me?"
"..." ×2
"Don't speak at the same time as me!"
"Don't speak at the same time as me!"
Kalawarna watched the scene in front of her with a gentle smile.
"See? You're close to death."
"No way!!" ×2
.
.
Munch... Munch…
"Hmm... I feel like your cooking skills have improved another step, Kalawarna."
"Really?"
Her eyes sparkled slightly.
"Yeah. Each dish has its seasoning adjusted appropriately. The dishes that should be rich are rich, and the dishes that should be mellow aren't overly overpowering."
I put another bite of food into my mouth before continuing.
"It shows you've started to understand that the flavor of food doesn't depend on adding a lot or a little seasoning, but on the appropriateness for each dish."
"That's because Hikage-sama is always teaching me," she said.
"Not really."
I shook my head gently.
"I merely guided you on some parts. In the end, the one who actually made it is you yourself. No matter how well someone is taught, if they lack effort or have no ability to learn, no matter how many times they repeat it, the result will still be just as terrible."
I put another bite of food into my mouth.
"Just like a certain someone around here."
"What's your deal!? Are you looking for a fight again!?"
Raynare, who was eating next to Kalawarna, blew her top instantly upon realizing who I was referencing.
"Hmm? I haven't mentioned anyone's name yet."
"You're clearly referring to me!"
"If you choose to think that way yourself, it can't be helped."
"You damn human! How can you say that! Every time I make food for you, you eat it all up without fail!"
Raynare tried to quickly argue back.
"What did you say? I just didn't want the ingredients to go to waste, that's all."
I shrugged in response.
Hearing that sentence, Kalawarna let out a soft giggle before tilting her head slightly.
"Is that really your only reason, Hikage-sama?"
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
I furrowed my brows in confusion.
"If it were truly just about the ingredients..."
Kalawarna glanced at Raynare sitting beside her.
"You wouldn't force yourself to eat it all every single time. Even though your mouth complains constantly, in the end, you've never left any food she made behind, not even once. Even though forcing yourself to eat like that isn't good for your body at all."
"That's..."
"It's because you don't want to hurt her feelings, isn't it?"
Raynare's cheeks flushed red instantly upon hearing that, before she sneaked a glance over in my direction.
As for me, I quickly denied it immediately.
"Huh? Who would do such an annoying thing? Stop talking nonsense like that, Kalawarna!"
"Fufufu~ You really aren't honest with your feelings, are you? You always do things while thinking about other people's feelings… when it's someone you care about."
"Alright, stop right there. That's enough. You're talking too much, Kalawarna."
I narrowed my eyes and glared at her, increasing the pressure. Unfortunately... for her, it felt more like a joke.
"Why is that? If I said something wrong that displeased you, you can punish me at any time~"
Kalawarna replied while resting her chin on her hand at the dining table, before ending the sentence by licking her lips seductively.
'Ugh...'
This is bad, this is bad. It seems threatening her like this won't work anymore—no, did it ever work to begin with?
"Speaking of which, lately you'd better be a bit careful of that human woman."
Suddenly, Raynare brought up a new topic to cut in, making me furrow my brows at her words.
"Hmm? Who do you mean?"
"Raynare is referring to Kazumi-san,"
Kalawarna helped clear up my doubt while putting food into her own mouth.
"You mean to tell me to be careful of Yoko-san?"
I stared at Raynare before continuing with a teasing sentence.
"If you told me to be careful of you stabbing me in the back, that would make more sense."
"Hmph! I definitely will if you let your guard down.. but I didn't mean it like that. If you don't want to be eaten alive, then keep this warning inside your brain."
"Hikage-sama, women... in some cases, can be beasts as well, you know."
Naturally, I'm not stupid.
I knew what they were implying. It's just that I didn't believe Yoko-san would be a predator looking to devour a prey like me..
..Even though previously she had said while drunk that she would rape me, but that was just adult jokes, right?
About five days after taking Raynare in to live with us, Yoko-san returned right on time along with her luggage and belongings.
Currently, she lives here as a resident, or to put it another way, she is my 'customer.'
It turned out that our two positions had completely swapped. Previously, she was the owner of this apartment, but now she had become the tenant instead.
At first when Yoko-san met Kalawarna and Raynare, I had to waste an entire full day answering her questions.
Question after question.
The same questions over and over.
And most of them usually ended with the phrase:
"Really?"
To some of her questions that I answered vaguely and unclearly, I felt that her blue-grey eyes gradually darkened... but I was probably just imagining things.
In the end, I explained to her that Kalawarna and Raynare were my relatives who had just moved to work in this city. Currently, they were staying with me temporarily while waiting to find a more suitable place to live.
I turned to look at Kalawarna's face.
"And in your case, aren't you a beast? Kalawarna."
This woman is more dangerous than anyone. If I drop my guard even once, she will attack me immediately. Some nights, I have to cast a barrier in the bedroom because I can't trust the bedroom door.
"Of course not~"
She narrowed her eyes seductively, before extending her bare foot under the dining table to lightly caress and rub against my leg, before continuing.
"I'm just a female animal looking to mate with the male in front of me right now, that's all~"
That action made me feel as if an electric current suddenly surged right up my back out of nowhere.
"Do you realize you're even more dangerous than a wild beast?"
"Thank you for the compliment~"
"I wasn't complimenting you."
"Hey! If you want to mate so badly, go do it somewhere else!"
Raynare, who was sitting and listening, felt irritated instantly for no apparent reason.
"My, Raynare. Are you jealous?"
"What crazy talk! Who on earth would be jealous because of this guy!"
.
.
'Sigh...'
I let out a sigh while watching the two of them who still wouldn't stop arguing.
Their relationship, even though initially fractured by Kalawarna's betrayal, seemed to have improved a lot by now.
I myself didn't know what on earth Kalawarna did either, given that during the first period, Raynare was angrier at her than anything.
But by the time I realized it, the two of them had already ended up like this.
After finishing the meal, I prepared to go to school.
"Well then, I'm off."
But before I could open the entrance-exit door…
"Please wait!"
Kalawarna quickly walked this way at a rapid pace, with Raynare following closely behind at a distance out of curiosity.
"Did you forget something, perhaps?"
Kalawarna asked me, while untying her apron and standing right in front of me.
"Huh?"
Seeing my completely puzzled expression, Kalawarna let out an inevitable sigh before opening her arms slightly.
"Ah..."
Upon seeing her posture, I understood immediately what she wanted, before walking closer and wrapping my arms around her to embrace her gently.
Unfortunately, that kind of hug displeased Kalawarna greatly.
"If you hug me insincerely without any feeling like this, I will consider the exchange this time void, and tonight I will really invade your bedroom, you know."
She stated in a cold tone that bordered on a threat.
The crazy exchange that this girl had bound me to a few days ago was:
'I will agree to reduce my stealth attacks on you down to only what is necessary, in exchange for you having to hug me every morning before going to school.'
That was it, the contract condition traded for my meager amount of physical peace.
"Sigh... I get it already."
I grumbled under my breath in surrender, before taking another step closer, then tightening both arms to wrap around Kalawarna's back more firmly than before. I forced her voluptuous body closely into my embrace, until I could catch the faint scent of soap mixed with a trace of seasoning aroma from her.
"Like this... satisfied yet?"
I whispered near her ear in a tired voice.
"Fufu... Splendid, Hikage-sama."
Kalawarna giggled triumphantly. She buried her face against my shoulder for 10 seconds to fully recharge her morning energy to her heart's content, before willingly pulling away properly. Her face was adorned with a deeply satisfied smile.
When Raynare saw Kalawarna's overly happy behavior, she furrowed her brows while asking in a rather uneasy voice.
"Kalawarna... why do you like hugging and clinging to this guy so much, huh? Is the embrace of this kind of human really that good?"
The question that slipped from Raynare's mouth caused the surrounding atmosphere to fall quiet. I, who was about to reach out to turn the doorknob, froze completely.
As for Kalawarna, she didn't show any panic. She merely turned to send a knowing, mischievous smile to her old comrade.
"I wonder.. If you want to know how good it is, why don't you try proving it for yourself?"
"Haaah!? Who would ever willingly do such a disgusting thing with this guy!"
Raynare clamored loudly while stepping backward to flee immediately. Her face flushed a deep crimson from embarrassment mixed right in with irritation. That huffing behavior of hers made me let out a massive sigh in my heart.
'Sigh... What was the point of asking that, anyway? In the end, it just finishes with her shouting at me.'
Before I turned the room's doorknob once more, I pulled two black wristbands out of my pocket and handed them over to Kalawarna.
"Take these."
"What are these?"
Kalawarna took them while asking out of curiosity.
"They are magic items that help conceal the magical power flowing out from the body. Wear them whenever you go out so you won't get caught."
"I explained the properties of this item in a flat, calm voice, before shifting my gaze to lock eyes with Raynare, who was still standing with a scowl not far away, and deliberately made a sarcastic remark out into the air.
"Because a certain someone around here... happened to mistakenly run into her ex-boyfriend by chance while out shopping, causing the other side to become alert."
The word 'ex-boyfriend' that I used to refer to that main character kid whose head is filled with nothing but 'oppai' caused Raynare to gasp in shock.
Her face, which had just lost its redness a moment ago, instantly turned pale in a flash, before she glared at me as if she wanted to grab that nail file and stab me in the face once and for all.
"Y-you! Who's ex-boyfriends with that low-class devil, huh! Don't talk nonsense so disgustingly like that!"
"Oh, so he's not an ex-boyfriend? I saw you going out on a date acting all sweet with each other all day back then, to the point I actually thought you were a couple deeply in love."
"You.. were you there at that time?"
"No, I wasn't there from the start. I just showed up just in time when you were about to kill him."
I shrugged indifferently, before turning to nod at Kalawarna.
"I'll leave managing this girl to you then. Keep them on at all times. If you don't want the Gremory bunch tracking the scent all the way here."
"Understood. Have a safe trip, Hikage-sama."
Kalawarna smiled and nodded, accepting the command easily, unlike Raynare who could only stomp her feet and return to sit with her arms crossed, wearing a pout on the sofa as before. Her mouth was still moving, muttering under her breath, cursing me without end.
Clack... Click..
.
.
(Break)
Kuoh Academy — Second Year Class B
"I'm serious, Hikigaya! Yesterday, I'm absolutely sure it was Yuma—no, Raynare for sure!"
The moment I stepped foot into the classroom, Issei rushed over and cornered me instantly. This guy rattled off the exact same sentences over and over again, as if trying to press and drill it into me until I forced myself to believe his words.
I darted my eyes to look at his serious face, before letting out a long sigh while placing my school bag down on the desk.
"I think you're just hallucinating, Issei... I get that moving on from your first love is hard, but the fact that you're still constantly thinking about the woman who once killed you until your mind goes backward like this, I think you should go see a psychiatrist urgently."
"I'm perfectly normal, damn it!"
"What kind of normal person peeps on women changing clothes, then?"
"Don't change the subject!"
"Okay, okay, I get it. You're probably worried that Raynare or whatever her name is will kidnap Argento-san again, right?"
I said, while glancing over at the blonde girl who was currently surrounded by a group of female students in the classroom.
"Yeah, exactly. I'm worried about Asia, afraid that an incident like that will happen to her again."
Issei spoke with an uneasy tone while casting his gaze toward Asia, who was smiling brightly in the midst of her group of friends, before his eyes grew strangely gentle and serious.
"I... want Asia's life from now on to be much happier."
Whoa... As expected of the protagonist. It's no wonder he will snare so many girls in the future.
"Come on... Don't worry about it. A whole month has already passed and there hasn't been any sign of movement yet. If they were really going to kidnap her, they would have done it a long time ago, wouldn't they?"
"Hmm... That's true."
"Besides, Argento-san has already become a Devil of the Gremory Peerage now. That side probably isn't foolish enough to risk starting an unnecessary war. But if you're still worried... just getting strong enough will solve the whole matter."
"That's right... I have to become much stronger than before! In order to protect Asia at all costs!"
Issei clenched his fist tightly, making a promise to himself with eyes full of a shonen-style burning determination, before turning toward me.
"Thanks a lot, Hikigaya—Ow!"
Before he could even finish his sentence, Issei was struck squarely in the middle of his back so hard that his body doubled over. The culprits were none other than... the Perverted Trio duo, Matsuda and Motohama, who appeared out of nowhere.
"What the hell are you doing, you bald head!?"
Issei turned around to shout while rubbing his swelling back.
"Hey, Issei... I heard that you walked to school together with Asia-chan today. Is that really true!?"
Matsuda opened fire with his interrogation, his eyes full of envy.
"And you even walked from the exact same route as well. What is the meaning of this, huh, Issei!? Explain yourself clearly!"
Motohama pushed up his thick glasses while staring accusingly like an interrogator.
"Hehehe…"
Suddenly, this guy chuckled in his throat while raising his hand to brush back his hair with utter self-confidence out of nowhere.
"Listen up, Matsuda, Motohama... Between me and you guys, there is a magnificent thick wall blocking the way, which you guys right now can absolutely never cross over to this side. It really can't be helped."
"What are you so proud of?"
Both of them began to feel their faces twitch and grew heavily displeased upon seeing Issei's bragging attitude.
And then, the punchline sentence slipped out from the mouth of the story's protagonist.
"Actually... right now Asia has moved in to live at my house."
"What did you say!!" ×2
The synchronized voices of the two comrades echoed loudly through the classroom until the eardrums almost shattered.
Because that shouting just now happened to be way too loud, it caused the group of girls surrounding Asia to hear it loud and clear.
They snapped their heads over to look, before immediately crowding around to question the blonde girl in a panic.
"Is it true!? Asia-chan, you moved in to live under the same roof as Hyoudou!?"
"Yes! Issei-san is a very kind person for allowing me to stay with him."
Asia replied with a pure, innocent smile, so naive that she didn't even realize those words were currently lighting the fuse of a massive time bomb right in the middle of the classroom.
"Aaargh!! Why did this have to happen to you, you idiot Issei!!"
"This isn't fair, damn it!!"
"Hikitani! Aren't you going to say something?!"
"That's right, Hikigaya. You can be a little jealous of me, you know. Wahahaha!"
"Sigh... Why on earth do I have to be jealous of you?"
I sighed while turning my face away from Issei's mocking eyes and triumphant attitude.
..Why should I be jealous?
At my house right now, there are as many as two supernatural beings living there, and they even happen to be heavy-weight, busty girls of the type that you adore so much your mouth waters.
Why should I waste my precious life energy in exchange for that kind of pointless jealousy? Right?
"Sniff sniff… Hmm, that's right, Hikigaya-kun. There's absolutely no need to be jealous at all~"
"—!"
Goosebumps broke out all over my body.
I immediately turned to the back after hearing the familiar whisper of the newcomer.
"What the hell are you doing, Kiryu?"
The reason I had to ask her that was because she actually leaned her face in close, then proceeded to intently sniff around my clothes. She closed her eyes while nodding her head, as if she were using her brain to analyze the chemical structure of the scent she had just inhaled.
Kiryu Aika...
If the guys' side has a cluster of perverted degenerates like Issei's group, then the girls' side definitely has Kiryu Aika as the president of the dark society of this classroom.
"Hmm, hmm... This scent, so that's how it is. It's a large-breasted woman, and older, too. Most importantly... her hormones are pretty much raging to the max…"
Hey, hey, are you even still a human being?
Just by smelling clothes, you can know that deeply. Since when did your sniffing skill manage to classify chromosome types and breast sizes, huh?
Then, Aika snapped her eyes wide open, as if she had just discovered some precious treasure or a terrifying truth.
"Hikigaya-kun!..."
"What is it?"
I instantly began to feel a chill down my spine and became restless upon seeing the lenses of her glasses reflect light, turning a dark, ominous white. This kind of aura was a carbon copy of Ebina's, without a doubt.
"That woman... is strongly desiring to have sexual relations with you!"
Boom!!
That sentence became the fuse for the second explosion following immediately after, leaving no one in the room time to brace themselves.
"What did you say, Aika?!"
"You're joking, right?!"
Matsuda and Motohama, who had just taken a heavy hit from the Asia matter moments ago, actually had their brains go blank, not knowing what to do upon hearing Aika's severe damage analysis.
"Hikigaya! Could it be... that Yoko-san you talked to me about on the phone back then?! The one who said she was going to rape you!!"
Issei, who had just been puffing out his chest proudly a moment ago, immediately went back to being a dejected dog after hearing a story that was incomparably superior to his own.
"Rape?!"
Grab!
Matsuda rushed forward and grabbed the collar of my school uniform frantically, before forcing his voice out through tears.
"This is getting to be too much, Hikitani!!! Give us a break!! Isn't it enough to have girls infatuated with you at school, but now there's even a woman outside of school who wants to rape you too?! How did you do it... tell us the formula, please, Master!!"
I stared into his bloodshot, trembling eyes with a plain, emotionless expression, completely devoid of sympathy, before dropping a short sentence that carried heavy damage right into his heart.
"It can't be helped... People are just born different, aren't they?"
"Urgh... Ack!!"
"Matsuda!!"
Matsuda's body collapsed heavily onto his knees, completely incapacitated right in front of me, his mouth muttering softly like someone who had lost their soul and refused to accept reality.
"It's not true... How can this world be this cruel to me... There must be some mistake..."
Seeing things take a bad turn, Motohama quickly rushed in to help support Matsuda up, before turning to reprimand me with deep resentment.
"Hikigaya! How could you be so cruel to your friend, huh?! At least tell a lie to save his feelings!"
"Oh... That's right, isn't it?"
I feigned an understanding expression.
"Because the 'truth' that you guys just found out moments ago... must be too cruel for your brains to process, right?"
"Gah... Ack...."
And there it is…
Motohama, who was just supporting Matsuda's body a moment ago, actually had his knees go weak and collapsed down to lie in a pile right alongside him, before holding each other's necks and muttering to themselves in despair.
"Just who the hell is he... Why are there always women aiming to gobble him up... I don't understand... This is so unfair..."
.
.
"Sigh... Are you satisfied now, Kiryu?"
I averted my eyes from the two incapacitated lifeforms on the floor, then turned to speak to the bespectacled girl who was currently clutching her stomach, laughing hysterically.
"Haha... Ahh, yes, yes, I'm totally satisfied. Thanks a lot, Hikigaya-kun~"
That was it... All of this was exactly what she wanted from the very beginning.
My daily life in this classroom revolved around this kind of thing. This girl always liked to drop by to mess with my head and stir up trouble just to kill her boredom.
The way to deal with her wasn't anything difficult; just let it go, play along a bit until she was satisfied, and she would eventually back off on her own.
But even so...
"Hey, Kiryu... Could you tone down the jokes after this a little bit?"
The fact that she could actually analyze everything with absolute accuracy... to speak frankly, it's very terrifying.
"Hmm... Of course~ As long as you keep cooperating like this from now on. But..."
She paused her words before stepping in close to me, then looked up to meet my eyes with a gaze full of cunning. Those eyes looked strangely suspicious, before she whispered back softly.
"Everything I said just now... it's all true, isn't it? Hikigaya~"
'Gulp...'
Seriously, who on earth is this woman? A hidden character of this world or what? Does a human with this kind of terrifying sense really exist in a high school?
"No, it's not true."
I denied it firmly while trying to force my facial expression to remain flat and look as normal as possible.
"Hmm... Is that so?"
Aika narrowed her eyes while staring accusingly to observe the reaction on my face for a while. When she saw that I didn't let any suspicion slip out, she gave up and stepped back willingly.
"Let's just say from now on... I'll prepare some new surprises for you. Look forward to it."
"It would be a great favor... if you chose not to do it."
"Fufufu... It seems like we get along even better than I thought, Hikigaya."
Following my lamenting sentence, she giggled in high spirits before turning around to walk back and blend in with the group of female students in the room as usual, as if nothing had happened.
'Sigh…'
.
.
(Break)
In the evening
Occult Research Club
"Good grief, you never learn your lesson, do you... Is it really that fun? Going through the trouble of hiding in a locker just to see naked women."
"Here is your tea, Hikigaya-kun."
"Hmm... Thank you for the tea, as always."
Right now, I was sitting and sipping tea on the sofa while looking down at Issei's swollen face as he lay on the floor of the room, with Argento-san using healing magic on his wounds out of deep concern.
"Matsuda was the one who invited me first... so I had to follow along... It was all to maintain the bond of friendship!"
"If you didn't already have the nature of a perverted degenerate to begin with... I might have forced myself to pretend to believe those words of yours."
I placed my teacup down on the table.
"So how was it? Did that punch hit home?"
"Ah... It hurts like hell, man..."
"You deserved it."
A flat, cold voice cut in from the sofa opposite me...
Yes, the source of Issei's currently unrecognizably swollen face wasn't the work of anyone else, but rather the powerful executioner fist of Toujou Koneko-chan herself.
After successfully healing the wounds on Issei's face back to their original state, Asia lowered her head while muttering out in a voice full of envy and dejection.
"Issei-san... If you want to see naked women that badly... I-I can take off my clothes for you to look at mine!"
Finishing her sentence, the young girl actually began trying to remove her own school uniform, causing Issei's eyes to widen in a panic as he quickly rushed forward to grab her wrists to brake her just in time.
"Wait a minute! Asia! It's not like that! Stop, stop!"
Buchou, who was sitting and watching the event from the Club President's chair, instead of stopping it, smiled knowingly and suddenly spoke up encouragingly.
"That's right, Issei... If it's you asking, I'll let you look anytime, you know."
"Really!? Buchou!"
The perverted protagonist turned around instantly, his eyes sparkling.
Seeing women undress in this side of the world... if viewed from the perspective of an Ecchi genre, it has already become a completely common, ordinary matter.
I myself, having tagged along with these guys for a while, have started to get used to seeing such unsightly sights as well. But even so, due to certain instincts and Devil blood flowing through my body at present, it was still difficult to practice self-restraint at times.
Fortunately... having to live and mingle with those two heavy-weight busty girls at home every single day helped build an immune system strong enough for my body and mind.
"I just remembered... Issei, yesterday when I went to your house, I dropped my wallet around there. Did you happen to see it?"
I spoke up out of nowhere, breaking that idiot's pink, perverted atmosphere.
"Ah! Right... I completely forgot about it, man!"
Issei smacked his fist onto his palm as if he had just remembered.
"I picked it up right by the living room sofa. I intended to return it to you this morning, but I was too stressed about Yuma—I mean, about Raynare... Anyway, tomorrow I'll definitely bring it back to you in the classroom!"
"No need... When I'm free, I'll just drop by to pick it up myself."
I brushed it off while waving my hand dismissively.
That wallet, in reality, was a type of space-dimension magical item used to store a large number of items...
But don't go thinking it's like Doraemon's magic pocket just yet, because mine has a limitation where it cannot stuff items that are larger than the width of the wallet's opening.
Given that it's called a wallet... there was nothing more important inside it than my entire life's savings. If it really went missing, I would definitely cry.
Plus, I haven't even received this month's bonus yet, even though it was firmly agreed upon that it would be paid on time...
'...That old man Azazel isn't planning to stiff me on my wages, is he?'
.
.
Outside the school gates
On the street
"Hey, Hikigaya..."
"What is it?"
After finishing club activities, I had been walking back home along the usual route with them for quite a while, before the others gradually split up to go their own ways, until now only me and Issei were left on the street.
The evening atmosphere where the setting sun began to turn into a deep reddish-orange caused our shadows to stretch long across the road. I glanced at him, who had suddenly dropped his idiotically cheerful demeanor and put on an uneasy face.
"Don't you think Buchou has been looking strangely absent-minded lately? When I talk to her, she doesn't really respond much, and sometimes she even makes a sad face."
Whoa... So you actually noticed, huh. And here I thought your brain only had filters specifically for filtering breast-related matters. When it comes to the feelings of the person you revere, your radar works incredibly fast, doesn't it.
"Maybe it's a matter within her family house. She is the next heir of the Gremory Clan, after all. The burdens and duties she has to shoulder are different from a low-ranking Devil like you. She probably has all sorts of stressful things to deal with."
"I guess so... I don't really understand much about those big, grand families, but whenever I see Buchou make a sad face like that, I really can't help but worry."
Issei cast his gaze downward while giving a dry smile.
"..Everyone has their own stories and problems anyway—"
My words stopped abruptly mid-sentence.
"What's wrong? Hikigaya?"
Issei turned around, raising an eyebrow in confusion upon seeing me suddenly go quiet.
What was that... just now?
Suddenly, my body felt a shiver run through it for no discernable reason. A freezing chill rushed from the soles of my feet straight up to my brain, compressing my heart until it felt suffocating.
"Uh... No, it's nothing."
I brushed it off while looking down at my own palm... It was trembling uncontrollably.
What happened?
...I have a bad bad feeling about this. What is this feeling of wanting to crawl into my room and never come out?
Sigh..I hope nothing serious is happening.
.
(Break)
~3rd Person POV~
Nighttime, Issei's bedroom
'How on earth did something like this happen...?'
Inside the cramped, rectangular bedroom of an ordinary high school boy, the surrounding atmosphere was filled with a suffocating, heart-racing tension.
Right now, Issei was sitting on his bed, staring at the red-haired woman in front of him who was currently taking off her clothes.
Issei's back was completely stiff, while his face was flushed bright red all the way to his ears. The sound of the flesh inside his left chest beat so violently that it felt as though it would burst out. The young man's body trembled with a mixture of confusion and excitement, leaving him utterly frozen.
Just a few minutes prior... after finishing handing out flyers to make contracts alongside Asia, Issei had returned, taken a shower, and changed his clothes, fully intending to just lie down and rest like normal.
However, just as he was about to turn off the lights, a sudden flash of crimson light from the Gremory Clan's magic circle erupted right in the middle of the room, accompanied by the appearance of the noble and beautiful Rias Gremory.
The moment she arrived, without giving him a chance to compose himself or utter a single word of greeting, the elegant Rias blurted out a bombshell of a sentence:
"Issei... let's do it together."
Rip... Swoosh.
Piece by piece, her clothes were gradually slid off her body until only her white lace underwear remained, before she took a step forward toward him at the bedside.
"Now, Issei... I'm ready."
"B-Buchou, what in the world is going on?!"
Finally, she reached out her hands and unfastened her bra! The pair of large, plump, fair breasts that had been supported were now fully revealed to his eyes, causing Issei's eyes to widen, unable to look away from that magnificence for even a single second.
Rias, who was now left in only her panties, took a deep breath before moving onto the bed and leaning down, using both hands to pin the young boy's shoulders flat against the mattress, causing the bed to emit a creaking sound.
"Issei... am I not good enough?"
"No! That's definitely not true! Buchou is the most beautiful woman in the world!"
"Is that so... thank you."
She gave a sad smile.
"I've... tried thinking of so many ways, but in the end, this is the only method left."
'What kind of method?!'
Issei could only think in circles, completely bewildered and confused by her cryptic words.
"If evidence of us consummating a marriage occurs... they won't have any right to complain or force me into anything anymore. And the only person who is closest to me... and can do this kind of thing with me... is only you, Issei..."
The young girl's blue eyes trembled as she stared deep into his eyes.
"So... please, Issei. Take my virginity away, won't you..."
When Issei saw the pleading, begging demeanor of his Club President—resembling a lost little bird—it was an image so filled with alluring charm and fascination that it was far too much for a boy at the height of his raging hormones to restrain himself.
"Buchouuuu!!"
He bolted upright, pushing his upper body up from the bed, and immediately plunged forward to embrace Rias's naked body with all his love!
However... at that very second.
—Voom.... Flash!
A brilliant, blinding flash of light from a teleportation magic circle erupted at the exact same spot where Rias had appeared moments ago.
At the center of that magic circle, although it was the emblem of the Gremory Clan just the same... instead of the usual crimson, it was a pure white color, which looked unusual to the eye.
Upon seeing that white magic circle, Rias let out a sigh of despair, before murmuring to herself in heartbreak.
"Hah... looks like I was too late."
And the person who stepped out from the center of that magic circle was... a beautiful woman with long, flowing, silvery-white hair dressed in a maid outfit—a mature woman fully radiating the charm of adulthood.
"You are attempting to violate the agreement with this sort of action, are you not?"
The silver-haired maid spoke directly in a calm, flat voice, devoid of any emotion whatsoever, despite the sight before her of two people embracing each other.
"If I didn't go this far... neither Otou-sama nor Onee-sama would listen to me!"
Rias shot back instantly.
To Issei... the newly arrived woman in the maid outfit in front of him was considered a top-tier beauty, and her breasts were absolutely massive to boot.
It was just that... the atmosphere surrounding her body looked a bit dark, gloomy, and too cold, sending a shiver down his spine.
"Both Sirzechs-sama and master-sama... would surely feel extremely disappointed if they were to learn that you attempted to bestow your precious virginity... upon a 'lowly creature' such as this."
Issei, who was smart enough to know exactly who the word 'lowly creature'—spoken in her chilling voice—referred to, flinched violently, immediately trembling all over.
Hearing the maid speak so condescendingly about her own person, Rias felt a surge of intense displeasure. She stood up to confront the maid face-to-face.
"My virginity belongs to me alone! What is wrong with choosing to give it to someone I accept and choose myself, huh?! And please do not ever call my cute servant a lowly creature... because even if it is you, I won't forgive you... Grayfia!"
Rias herself felt uneasy and anxious about the strange demeanor of the maid in front of her.
Because earlier... when Grayfia had shown up to greet her at the Occult Research Clubroom after the other members had all gone home, Rias had secretly felt startled by the aura around Grayfia.
Even though Grayfia normally preferred to act calm, cold, and politely formal in accordance with the etiquette of a high-ranking maid to begin with...
But this was different... the atmosphere around her looked unusually dark. Those eyes looked slightly vacant, lacking the spark of life, and at times she even seemed oddly spaced out.
"Be that as it may, you are the next heir of the Gremory Clan. Therefore, please do not carelessly expose your body to any man, especially when you are in a situation such as this."
Grayfia warned in a calm, flat voice while reaching out her hand to pick up Rias's fallen bra, efficiently and professionally helping to put it back on her in a flash.
Afterward, the silver-haired maid turned her gaze toward Issei. She bowed her head slightly with flawless etiquette.
"Hello. I am a maid of the Gremory Household. My name is Grayfia. It is a pleasure to meet you."
When Rias saw that Issei was still sitting there like an idiot, staring blankly at Grayfia with wide eyes without any response, she reached out her hand and pinched his cheek with all her might out of sheer annoyance.
"Ouch! Buchou! That hurts!"
"Hah... I'm sorry, Issei. What just happened... forget about it. I wasn't thinking things through carefully either."
Rias let out a long sigh before turning to adjust her clothes back into place.
"Issei...? Could this child be...?"
Grayfia inquired, narrowing her eyes as she looked down at the boy.
"Yes, that's right. He is my [Pawn]."
Rias puffed out her chest, replying with pride.
"The one who possesses the 'Boosted Gear' and houses a dragon... turns out to be a boy like this, does he?"
Issei immediately felt uncomfortable and insulted as he was stared at with eyes that seemed akin to contempt from the silver-haired maid in front of him.
"In that case, Grayfia... let's go back and talk in my room. I will listen to what you have to say there. And... we can have Akeno come along, right?"
"The Priestess of Thunder, is it? I do not mind. A high-class devil requires their [Queen] by their side—"
—Click...clack
Suddenly, the door to Issei's bedroom was abruptly opened, accompanied by the appearance of a young man with black hair and a partial white streak at the front. He stepped into the room while muttering in a voice thoroughly exhausted and drained.
"Sorry, Issei, for coming by this late. I'm flat broke right now, so I came to get the wallet... that we... agreed…... on.... ... ... ..."
His signature sarcastic tone gradually faded... faded... until it turned into a suffocating silence.
The person who had just mistakenly stepped into this battlefield was none other than... Hikigaya Hachiman.
"...!."
"...."
"...?" ×2
Even though Issei initially felt surprised that Hachiman had burst in so late at night like this, what shocked him and Rias even more... was the expression on Hachiman's face at this very second.
From the very first moment Hachiman's gaze shifted and locked onto Grayfia's figure, his eyes widened in sheer shock. His face gradually turned pale, and his upper body trembled visibly.
'What the hell is going on...? I've never seen Hikigaya show such a terrified expression or react this strongly before!'
Issei thought to himself in complete bewilderment. Because even when facing a Fallen Angel who was hunting people down, Hachiman's demeanor had still looked listless and indifferent as if it were none of his business. But with this woman... it was entirely different.
As for Rias, she was no less surprised. Grayfia's eyes, which had looked dark, vacant, and lifeless just moments before... suddenly flashed with light and instantly came alive the very second she made eye contact with this newly arrived boy.
The moment of silence lasted for nearly ten seconds, before Hachiman was the one to gather his shattered composure, opening his mouth to speak while taking a step backward, frantically preparing to slip away from the room.
"I... It looks like... I-I came at the wrong time... Sorry—"
Slam!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The bedroom door was pulled shut, slamming violently against the frame with a loud crash, followed by the sound of footsteps hitting the floor as he bolted down the stairs rapidly.
Just a fraction of a second later, Grayfia spoke up right after. Although on the outside she still maintained her usual calm and polite demeanor, to Rias, she could clearly sense that this maid was displaying a sense of 'urgency' like never before.
"Rias-sama... please excuse me for a moment. You may go ahead and wait in your room first."
—Voom.... Swoosh!
As the sentence ended… Grayfia's form transformed into a soft white light and vanished from the bedroom in the blink of an eye, leaving the remaining two in the room plunged into silence once again.
"..."
"..."
Both of them were stunned, unable to do anything in the face of the recent whirlwind event that had appeared and vanished faster than their brains could even process.