Scarlet 18

Scarlet 18

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Commissioned by Sivantic

Wordcount: 2500

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For some reason, I felt like Lisa would be laughing her cute butt off, if she were currently with me.

While, of course, running away because she would be able to tell just how much of a pervert I’ve become.

Yeah. There’s liking the opposite sex, but then there’s people who want to be covered in females… like you. 

Not helping, Ddraig!

Surprisingly, holding back Rias’s Knight was difficulty. Not only was his Chess Piece designed to increase agility, but Yuuto Kiba himself was no slouch in battle. All of Rias’s Peerage was built up off of the old adage of quality over quantity, to the point where Yuuto was entrusted with holding the line by himself, while I helped Toojo Koneko during the Rating game.

I was feeling the brunt of that power now, despite having a half-Dragon frame, as the Devil desperately tried to make my efforts to stop the situation from escalating.

Even though, judging from his madness and rage at the Church, I had a feeling that his rage and anger was more than justified. 

“Let me go, dammit! We can’t trust the Church, or their Holy Sword Wielders!” Given his Sacred Gear’s ability to make swords, disarming Yuuto Kiba would normally be pointless, let alone holding him down and locking his arms. He could summon swords, and they don’t harm him. The Devil can even make ones that can use Light, which typically kill Devils from just being in close proximity. Holding him down is simply asking to be hit by several swords made of various elements at once. Thankfully, despite his anger and hate, my gamble paid off and after I disarmed him and broke his charge… he wasn’t turning me into a pincushion. “Hyoudou!”

I was about to ask him to clam down, when Rias knelt next to me and placed her hand upon Yuuto’s head.

“Sleep, my Knight.”

And, just like that, the struggling Devil fell asleep. I let him go and he simply remained on the ground. Though he slept, there was still discomfort and anger on his face.

I made a good choice not becoming a part of a Peerage.

You say that, but a bunch of BDSM memories are coming up back here. It’s kinda gross. 

Quiet.

“Thanks.” I stood up and moved to pick up Yuuto only to find Tojo Koneko already attending to her fellow Devil. And, by attending, I meant scooping him up by the waist and holding him like a handbag. A limb, human handbag for a girl who barely reached my chest in terms of height. “…I’ll leave him to you then, Tojo-san.”

The quiet nekomata gave a nod as an answer, and stepped back to let Himejima Akeno walk up to be beside Rias. The Queen piece gave ma smile and purposefully tried to brush her… assets… against me. Moving away from her, thankfully, had me drift towards Rias who promptly secured my arm and staked her claim against both Exorcists and her Queen.

Did some part of my mind lament not “accepting” Himejima’s action? 

Yes.

However, I’ll go ahead and state that between that, and what Rias was doing… I’ll take Rias every time.

Those words would mean more, if you weren’t letting Twilight Healing’s user throw herself at you.

Quiet, Ddraig, can’t you see something I need to apologize is happening?

“Allow me to apologize for my Knight’s actions, Holy Sword Users of the Holy Church, but he has had terrible things done to him by individuals most foul… and of course, he is my Knight, who seeks to protect me against threats. Such as Exorcists in my territory.”

Rias spoke smoothly and leaned her head against my shoulder. I took that as a cue to nod along and look threatening, while she did the talking. 

The blue-haired Exorcist in the strange, tight combat suit seemed ready to fight, but when Irina hesitated to move and draw her weapon, she stayed back. 

What did my childhood friend see?

Me being seduced by a Devil?

Me standing beside a Devil?

Me being used as a hostage by a Devil?

Maybe a combination of all three?

While I didn’t have an answer to those questions, it was plain to see that Rias was calming the situation down through her actions. I had to admit that using me as a “hostage’ and a “threat” at the same time was a pretty good idea, even though some part of me rankled at that.

Ah, that’s me. Well, me and you now, but that’s mostly from me. 

Ah, dragon instincts. 

Good thing I had them under control.

I expected the blue-haired Exorcist to speak on their behalf, or maybe attack by herself after Rias spoke.

Instead Irina spoke.

“I-Issei… I always knew were a pervert, but this is too much!” Memories of a childhood where I was less capable of handling my male body’s instincts came to the forefront of my mind. It was a childhood I did my best to repress, since it involved a girl my physical age, but not my mental age, chastising me and keeping me in line. “Selling your body to Devils to slake your lusts… couldn’t you have dated normally instead!?”

She crossed the distance between the two of us with a few strides and did not hesitate to poke me in the chest and level a glare at me. Despite how ludicrously lewd her outfit was, I was feeling the arousal within me crawl up and die as she ruthlessly bludgeoned it with words. Even if they weren’t completely correct, they were still somewhat true, and even at half-potency the words were doing critical damage. 

“Does kaa-san know about this!? What did you do while I was away to make her accept something like this? Don’t tell me you made no friends, and made them worry about you while I was away!” Nevermind. Her words aren’t just hitting my arousal anymore. They’re directly impacting my pride as a human being. Mom… dad… are you willing to let me have a debased life, because you thought I’ve been lonely!? Kill me. “Well, Ise? Answer me! I’m waiting!”

No answer came up, despite the fact I was desperately trying to find one.

GAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

It didn’t help that Ddraig was laughing his ass off.

Thankfully, Rias spoke on my behalf, while I was struggling to just get a handle on the barrage of righteous questions sent my way.

“Fufu… I think it’s best we talk about things at my home. Despite your trespass in my territory, I can see that you’re close to Issei, so I shall permit your presence.” Rias’s gaze was strange as she looked upon my childhood friend. I could almost call it competitive, but there was enough evident respect in her eyes that the other Exorcist decided to sheathe her sword with magic and grudgingly close the distance unarmed. “Are the two of you hungry? Would you be interested in refreshments--”

Before the other, ruder Exorcist could speak, both her and Irina’s stomachs growled loudly enough to echo through the desolate warehouse in which we’d fought the Stray Devil. 

Rias’s smile became a little more triumphant at the sound.

“A late dinner then. Don’t worry, for us Devils, eating late into night is the norm.”

…

Rias sat me to her left, with Irina and Xenovia Quarta, while her Peerage sat across from us. She sat the head of the table, smiling as a multi-course meal was set before us… cooked by a staff that wasn’t present in the building when we left.

The perks of being a princess of Hell, I suppose. 

Anyway, while the Devils were all being given smaller portions, and most of Tojo’s meals were fish, I was surprised to find that the Exorcists were being served Italian cuisine.

Or, if I were to guess, Roman cuisine. 

No matter how much the two tried to hide it, they were very appreciative of the meals that they recognized and loved, which were mostly various pastas, breads, and meats that somehow simply vanished into their stomachs. Were they just hungry, or did their bodies require more calories, due to the fact that they were superhumans like that Exorcist I fought to save Asia?

I thought about this, while I was practically served an entire cow, and mowed through the various grilled, fried, stewed, and baked beef dishes with utter ease and gusto. While I noticed that I got some stares from the amount of rare meats I was eating, it was more surprise at the amount I could pack away, instead of being disgusted at my manners, which was fine.

By the end of the very, very late dinner though, Rias’s plan unfolded as the person she waited for walked in while coffee and dessert were being served. Asia arrived wearing the clothes I first met her in, the dark-blue nun’s outfit… complete with a long, white habit. Whatever her plans were, I was sure that Rias was going for the metaphorical kill by having Asia arrive as she did, because the rest of the young girl’s personality was going to do the rest of the work with ease.

“Ah, Issei, you’re okay!” Asia all but radiated relief and pure intentions at the sight of me, but her gaze also travelled to the rest of the Devils. Because of her kind gaze drifting over him, Yuuto stopped glaring at the exorcists and actually picked at his food. The rest of the room relaxed perceptibly once that was managed. “Oh, I prayed that you would all be safe against the Stray Devils… and I’m so happy to see that He heard my prayers and looked after you all!”

Rias hid the fact that mentioning God and prayer in the same sentence made Devils very, very uncomfortable very well and greeted Asia.

“Ah, thank you for coming Asia. I’m sorry for calling you, especially when we told you to rest for the evening.” Asia hadn’t been present for the Stray Devil hunt, due to the simple fact that it was safer for her to be at home, due to the fact that her power focused on healing. Having a healer on the field is a foolish, especially when Devils are capable of creating summoning circles to appear in the homes of their summoners. “While we don’t need your healing tonight, I’d like for you to speak on our behalf.”

Smart, while excommunicated by the Church, the fact that she prays so fervently to the point it affects Devils shows that God doesn’t feel the same way. 

“Oh! Then, I will do my best, Rias!” Asia met the curious gazes of both Exorcists head-on, and gave them a beaming smile. “Hello, my name is Asia Argento! Ise-kun has been taking care of me, after rescuing me from Fallen and a rather, strange, trouble Exorcist. He’s working with Devils in order to protect me, and his parents!”

I’d been tempted to say all those things myself, but given the circumstances of our meeting, I judged that I would’ve been called a liar. Rias must’ve thought along the same lines, then proceeded to apply a solution while I was still wondering what to do. Hmmm, did becoming part Dragon make it more difficult for me to settle things diplomatically?

Considering your past life… no. 

Right, maybe I’m just terrible at diplomacy and handling things gently.

“Maybe.”

“You are the user of Twilight Healing… you were said to be excommunicated after you healed a Devil. Why should we trust your words, especially when you now live in a town governed my Devils, and under their protection?” Xenovia Quarta frowned and crossed her arms. Her stern look, despite the amazing things skintight fabric did when pressure is imparted upon them, nearly made Asia wither. Wait. Asia’s a girl and not interested in girls, so she deserves far more credit that I implied there. “Is there any reason at all we shouldn’t consider your words lies?”

Tempted as I was to speak up for Asia, I knew that she already had things under control. While what she did is undeniable, her actions and demeanor spoke for her. Already, she has the sterner, more doctrine-focused Exorcist questioning things instead of steadfastly following procedure. That, in itself, was progress worthy of applause. 

“Because… it is the truth! Ise-kun never worked with Devils, until he needed their help in order to protect me! If he and I never met, I’ll be snatched away by Fallen, my Sacred Gear stolen, and he’d be living an ordinary, quiet life!” While the latter was a bit of a lie, given the fact I was abusing my knowledge from my former life to make my life now much more comfortable, Asia conveyed all of her words with such earnestness that Quarta grit her teeth and tightened her grip on her arms. They were signs of forced aggression, ergo Asia was getting to her, despite her best efforts.  “I owe my life to him, and he’s working with Devils, because the Church won’t accept me… and the Fallen are after me! He can’t take the entire world on all alone!”

Quarta’s teeth were grinding, as the anger she mustered kept slipping away, and I wondered whether she’d crack and do something she’d regret to Rias’s advantage when Irina spoke up.

“Wait. Exorcist? One that works with the Fallen? Could you be talking about this man?” Irina produced a picture from one of the pouches on her belt, and sure enough the madman who attacked me a few weeks ago was on it. I nodded and both Irina and Quarta’s attention focused upon me. “Where is he? How did you get away from him? Ise, please, tell me everything you know about this thief who stole three Excaliburs!”

I was ready to answer, most likely because Irina was suddenly leaning against me and engulfing my arm between two peaks that weren’t there the last time I saw her, but Rias stopped me in a very Rias-like way.

Her hand softly drifted the entire length of my upper thigh. 

Forget answering questions. I had to work on not swallowing my tongue. 

“Then, it seems we have good reason to work with one another. We are currently looking into this matter ourselves, and will share our information, as long as we establish as a truce.” Rias smiled and placed bother her hands on the table, easily attracting the attention of both Exorcists and her Peerage. Well, except for Himejima, who was eyeing my sudden reaction quite intensely… and that her bare foot on my calf. Between Rias, Irina, and Himejima… I am going to die before this dinner ends. “It doesn’t need to be an alliance. Merely assurance that you will not harm Devils here while you investigate… and I will even happily provide lodgings and food for the both of you, while you stay and provide us your aid.”

Quarta and Irina shared a glance, which let me recover my arm from its perilous position for a second, my childhood friend took it again and locked my hand between her thighs for trying to escape. 

I can see why Harem Protagonists never react properly now. They’re like you. They short-circuit and become incapable of thinking. 

Stop using up vital brain-meat, Ddraig, I need to focus and—Rias is caressing my leg under the table suggestively again.

It felt like an eternity before Quarta and Irina agreed to Rias’s terms… and that was when Asia ran over to me and began checking me for wounds in her usual gentle, kind, and wonderfully-scented way.

Yeah.

It’ll be an eternity before I get up from my chair without embarrassing myself. 

However, an accord between Exorcists and Devils have been reached, and it’ll be handling loose ends that I didn’t know existed.

Which is a huge plus, in my book.