Scarlet 14

Scarlet 14

…

Commissioned by Sivantic

Wordcount: 2500

…

The Exorcists weapons were unfamiliar to my body, but not to my mind. In my previous life, I’d used a knife and a pistol, even if they weren’t my primary means of fighting, both were things that I’d wanted on my side the moment I realized the dangers that permeated my new world. Having Ddraig on my side was an amazing asset, but in the end having a versatile set of tools is preferable, especially since I lacked my prior abilities. 

Hmph, with enough power, you don’t need bugs. It’s not that I’m not enough, it’s just that you’re too weak to use me to my full potential.

Yes, naturally, there was also the fact that Ddraig is a wholly different source of power and asset. Before, I’d controlled the battlefield, coordinated my team, and gained the experience necessary in order to kill and destroy Scion over several years. I’d also had many foes that I needed to overcome, so adapting my techniques to my power was necessary. Now, when I had to do the same with my new power, I felt as though I was missing things simply because of my previous tactics. Not only did I need to adapt and learn how to use my new power, but also unlearn how to use my old one. 

Therefore, I needed every advantage I could get my hands on until I did.

So, I was now examining the results of my previous fight deep in the mountains, searching for mystical creatures to fight and defeat, while letting my future in human society suffer. 

Bah, your academics won’t save you from a world that desires to kill you. There’s no secret technique in Literature or Math that’ll allow you to triumph over Heaven, Hell, and everything in between. This is the correct path. 

Unfortunately, I didn’t happen to be alone in my correct path.

“I-Issei, I’m back!” Ideally, I’d have all the time I required to train in solitude. Alone, with supplies I gathered from the nearby town and from my surroundings, I’d train and work until I was sufficiently empowered and content with my abilities. In my self-imposed exile, I was going to find opponents, grow stronger, and carve myself a reputation, so that upon my return to my home, I can face every challenge that comes my way and deter an innumerable number from even existing. Yet, with Argento deciding to come along, my plans were impended. “Thank you for waiting! Here’s lunch!”

Argento smiled at me, wearing her camping gear well, while she placed the bag of food between our tents. Needless to say, having her with me was a detriment to my planes, since she was recognizable and being hunted for her Sacred Gear. We’d first met, after all, due to the fact that I had to save her from Fallen Angels. Ergo, if I went into populated areas where I could presumably expand my search for opponents across the world, it was likely that we’d get ambushed, I’d have to fight, and then attention would be attracted before I had any reputation to speak of. 

So the wilderness of the neighboring province was the best I could currently do. 

In hindsight, it wasn’t the best of ideas, but the fact became more evident when Argento presented someone who I wanted nothing do with.

“Oh, and here’s Rias-san! She wanted to speak with you about something, Ise-kun!”

…

“Thank you for your hospitality, Issei Hyoudou.” Rias Gremory’s smile was the sort that could easily launch a thousand ships. In fact, it’s completely possible that I’m underestimating her by comparing her to a normal human being’s ability. Everything about her, from her scarlet locks, pristine skin, and impeccable form could easily drive humans mad with lust and love, until they were nothing but puppets to her whims. It took everything I had and more to look at her in the eyes, as I struggled with the corset-vest things that accentuated her form in an astounding manner. “This is the finest tea I’ve had in the wilderness. Thank you for the new experience.”

“I know! It’s very good tea in the middle of the wilderness. It feels like a dream to enjoy it surrounded by so much nature.” Argento was doing a good job of distracting Rias and answering her questions whenever I found my tongue tied. My susceptibility to the feminine form in my new body is something that I’ve logically taken into account in nearly every situation that involves women. So, with a little assistance, I was able to somewhat function even while my ears burned and as I desperately tried too keep my eyes anywhere else besides Rias Gremory’s body. From head to toe, the girl was lust personified… and was a nice person to boot. “Issei always takes time to make tea every day, no matter what, because he doesn’t like coffee at all!”

“Oh? Is that so? Well, maybe I should introduce you properly to my Queen, Akeno. The two of you would get along well together.” Now, there’s a name I didn’t even dare attach a face too. Logically, I knew Akeno Himejima. I’d even interacted with her before the Rating Game. However, from those brief interactions, I learned that she was a flirt. Therefore, I avoided her as much as humanly possible, because it was more than likely I’d find myself wrapped around her finger if I let my guard down. She hasn’t defeated me and I don’t fear her. I simply know my limits and choose to avoid her completely, therefore I win every possible battle where she’s involved. “However, that’ll have to wait for another day. I’ve already taken up quite a bit of your time with pleasantries, so I shall present to you the reason why I’m here—

Oh my god she’s reaching into her cleavage.

Taylor, I’m doing my best to repress your carnal desires, but you have to at least give me a chance at holding you back! 

R-right. Right. Control. Self-control. Oh, that’s a pretty long, rolled up parchment. Where did it all go? There wasn’t a sign of it in her shirt at all. Did her chest really hold all of that—

Taylor!

RIGHT. CONTROL. SELF-CONTROL.

“Sona-chan told me that you want to get stronger, and since you helped me, I wish to help you.” The paper unfurled to reveal some sort of magic circle, but far more extensive than anything else I’d ever seen. Thankfully, Ddraig was more than capable of comparing to everything he’s seen and giving me a rough idea of what it was.

“That’s a Familiar-binding circle.”

“Ah, you’re as well-studied as Sona-chan said! That’s great.” There was no malice whatsoever in her words. Rias Gremory was simply, truly pleased to the point of smiling and clapping at my observation. I almost felt terrible that I gained the information from Ddraig. Also, I never knew before in my life that clapping could be erotic, but here I am barely holding on to my senses with a Dragon’s assistance. They. Just. Keep. Bouncing. “Then, you should know that humans normally don’t have Familiars, since they’ve been sequestered into sanctuaries in both earth and Hell, but I’ll help you acquire one in one of regions under my family’s protection. Tonight is a Full Moon, and I’ve set aside a meeting for you to receive one from a Familiar Master.”

“Oh, goodness! That’s amazing. Issei-kun, you can find a Familiar that perfect for you! Familiars only approach people who are like them, so you’ll get a partner that’ll understand and help you no matter what!” Argento gushed praise over the offer, practically supporting it and validating it without any questions from me. The blonde, former-nun had a wide smile as Gremory’s enthusiasm infected her and she clapped as well. “I’m so glad. A strong Familiar will help you a lot in the future!”

I agreed with her, but I still had to be cautious.

“And, this offer has no strings attached? If I didn’t want to help you anymore, it still stands?” I stood while they both sat, but I resisted crossing my arms or any other negative signals. My ability to muster a straight, calm face wasn’t perfect, but it didn’t have to be. With a little concentration on my part, Ddraig was able to take care of the rest. It’s nowhere close to being offload my emotions into a Swarm, but the technique was effective. Gremory’s smile grew slightly smaller and Argento’s enthusiasm was dampened. I effectively took control of the situation and impressed logic upon the matter, thus I even helped myself keep my focus and stay undistracted. “I don’t know what Sitri-san told you about me, but I only want to be strong so I can protect those I care about. Nothing more and nothing less.”

“And, I happen to be part of the nothing more portion of that turn of phrase.” Rias Gremory was smarter than she let on. Then again, as the sister of one of the Satans of Hell, I suppose she had no choice besides to know how politics, relations, and influence worked. Only an idiot would leave those things up to fate, if they had the same life as her. She didn’t look like an idiot to me… and it’s always safer to assume your opponent is smarter than they let on, anyway. Needless to say, if I had to become her ally in order to gain an advantage, then it would have to be an obscenely powerful advantage, because she was involved in great, grand things that I wanted no part of whatsoever. “I see. Thank you for informing me that you have no intention of helping me further. Your candor is refreshing, Hyoudou-kun.”

You know, you talk big about keeping your calm, but I’m back here fighting the hardest fight of my life stopping you from keeping your pants on. 

Shut up, Ddraig. Also, thank you for your help, because Gremory’s smiles and jiggling is beyond classification in any known threat level. Seriously, how could a creature like her exist, huh? She’s just… so… everything that I happen to want, need, and desire. Gah. 

I used to strike fear in God, you know? Now here I am acting like a chastity belt. Oh, how I loathe that son of a bitch now.

“It won’t be an issue. I really only wish to help you for your efforts. Even if you only did as Sona-chan asked, you still put yourself at risk for my sake.” Gremory stood up and breached the distance between the two of us, until she could reach out with her hand. It was a handshake. A verbal and physical agreement between two individuals was imminent. It should have been simple enough to commit to, especially since Sona and I’s entire relationship was based on verbal agreements. Nonetheless, I could barely manage to raise my hand upward and nod, while she shook for the both of us. “Thank you for your help, Hyoudou-kun. You saved me from a future with a man I couldn’t stand. I wish that I could do more, but if I did you’d only attract more attention.”

Hah.

Of all the cruelest things that I imagined happening to me in my new life, I didn’t expect it to be this. I was looking at my dream girl, yet I had to hold myself back and not say a word to her. Gremory was intelligent, beautiful, and incredibly capable, but also aware of other people. Everything about her made my heart want to burst out of my chest. Anyone with half a chance with her would take it, yet, while I’d saved her from a life that she didn’t want and earned her gratitude, I couldn’t even consider asking her out for a date.

Why?

Because she’s a Devil, the sister of one the Satans, and someone who’ll stand tall in the polities of Heaven, Hell, and Earth for centuries, if not millennia. She’s part of the status quo that I need to upset, that I need to overwhelm, and to shatter. Without a doubt, even as we shook hands and exchanged pleasantries, and as I nearly blurted out an idiotic confession… she and I were going to be on opposite sides in the future. 

Yet, she’s practically the only woman who hits all your buttons physically and mentally. Your only possible lover, yet she’s to be your enemy in the future. To be honest, I don’t see the problem. Dragons try to kill each other first, before we even consider fuc—

And, that’s the end of that line of thought.

…

After Gremory took both me and Argento to the Familiar Sanctuary, I left them to their own devices while I searched for my own. It was difficult, but not in the way I expected. The sanctuary where the magical beasts of legends and stories abounded the place, and the sanctuary itself was filled with magic and seemed to be an oasis of untapped, primal wilderness with a touch of magic. To the normal human, it’d just seem to be a smattering of strange trees that emitted a pale light beneath the moon, but to my senses, augmented by Ddraig, I felt as though I was walking into somewhere familiar. 

Somewhere where I was the alpha predator who surveyed over his realm. 

Unfortunately, the other animals in the sanctuary noticed my presence, too. 

Everything fled before me. A panther-like creature that melded with the shadows and had two tails yowled before slipping away. Unicorns whinnied before vanishing in a burst of white light. Birds came alight and turned to ash. All manner of fantastic, magical creatures simply fled my presence, presumably because they could tell that my insides weren’t as human as my outsides suggested. Naturally, I’m still lose to human and nowhere close to an Angel, Devil, or even a Beast, but the fact of the matter remained that I was acclimating to Ddraig as much as he was me.

That meant terrorizing any magical creature with any sense of self-preservation whatsoever by simply existing.

So, I didn’t waste time on the big, giant alpha predators who fled in the presence of power. They’d be useless to me in the end, so I elected to search for something else entirely. Something that wouldn’t be afraid of me or anything I’d face, which would follow orders without question, and wouldn’t falter in the tasks I’d assign it. 

I wanted to find a bug, or maybe an entire colony, but magical insects fled in my presence, too. 

I cut a swathe through the sanctuary, displacing wildlife via my mere presence, until I found something that wasn’t afraid, serviceable, and didn’t flee from me. When I changed my set of rules from something to combat to something more for utility, it was easier to achieve what I had in mind. 

Since, after all, I had my pick of several species of creatures that had elected to watch me from the moment I arrived. 

Yeah, if I can’t get a powerful familiar, then I’ll at least get a means to locating and tracking my foes.