Scarlet 5

Scarlet 5

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Commissioned by Citino

Word Count: 2569

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My experience in politics is limited. Unlike what crime dramas and soaps would imply, there’s few disputes regarding power amongst decent groups of like-minded individuals. Criminal gangs cannot function properly if there’s constant infighting. Once a hierarchy is established, with roles assigned, and communication lines made clear, a group functions properly. Playing people against one another is foolish at best and suicide at the very worst. Groups, no matter the kind, need to work together.

So, was it my best interest to intervene between a marriage of two Pillar Families?

Absolutely not.

Taking a single step back to take the situation into account, Sitri’s request was for me to prove myself superior to Rias Gremory’s suitor. Devils, being focused on the acquisition of power and strength, would see him as inferior upon his defeat. That would make him unworthy of marrying the princess that Rias Gremory is in technicality, due to the fact that her brother is a Satan who partly rules hell alongside three others. On paper, I’ll be knight in shining armor, who’ll save the princess through combat, and the princess returns happily to her kingdom upon my vanquishing of the monster threatening her.

I might know very little about politics, but I knew enough to know that marriage contracts between practical royalty and another family didn’t simply spontaneously come into existence.

Devils strive for power, seek it out, and attempt to grasp it in their hands and never let go. Their motivation for fighting against Heaven and the Fallen in Ddraig’s time was to hold dominion over humanity. While that might have changed now, it must be a major cultural touchstone for a whole species to throw themselves into war against forces that utterly destroy their souls with their most basic form of attack. I can simply conclude that I’ll be shattering a long-term plan between two clans, both of whom stand to benefit, because of the suffering of a girl I don’t even know. 

It would be the most idiotic thing I’d have ever done, yet refusing meant being in debt for Sitri for forging Argento’s documents and smoothing her transition under my care over, and that was something I couldn’t have over my head. Sitri was a threat that attended the same school as myself and had a power base, while the individuals I’ll be inciting will presumably stay in Hell due to their coming on Earth meaning rising tensions amongst the Three Factions… and I could hope that Gremory would put some effort towards protecting me from her own family, if she could muster up the courage to tell them the truth, with somebody’s life besides her own the line.

Doing nothing meant placing Argento in harm’s way, depending on how Sitri reacts.

Acting and doing as I’m told would make me enemies that I didn’t want to have. 

Well, Taylor, at least you can refuse if you feel your life will be at stake this time around.

Given how Sitri was training me, I very much doubted I would have grounds to refuse with the particular caveat in mind.

…

Sitri’s mouth was in a straight line, and that was the only sign of discomfort she showed, as she presented the tools that would allow me to defeat the scion of the house that gave credence to the myth of the phoenix. Given that she and my prospective opponent were both Devils, they were both incredibly weak against Holy and Light weapons, both of which caused them pain in its mere presence, and utterly destroyed their souls if they died to them. Naturally, Sitri would arm a human armed with a Longinus capable of enhancing items briefly with weapons utterly deadly to her kind.

Still, I didn’t need the posturing.

“Cover it up, Sitri. I’ve seen enough.” Sitri did her best to not sigh in relief while sealing the box, but the tension leaving her frame was blatant to see. Some color also immediately returned to her face, once the container of the blessed silver artifacts were closed. They weren’t anything special, according to Ddraig, not weapons of legend or anything. They were just a few silver coins and a kerchief to a human, but they were sanctified, holy items to Devils, and that meant my opponent was going to be severely weakened. In fact, I would probably have to hold back to not kill him. Well, after my training is completed. “The equipment is fine. Now, tell me how you expect me to fight Phenex.”

Sitri had done her homework on my upcoming opponent. Male, tall, and veteran fighter. In Devil Rating Games, where Devils gain social status by defeating one another in ritual, non-lethal combat, he was a rising star with his battleharem. In essence, I was dealing with an individual who knew how to command, make tactical decisions, and enter the field and dominate it himself if required. Against his whole force, I’d be defeated, but attacking at the reception where he’ll not have his Peerage for the sake of propriety, would give me the opening that I needed.

If Sitri could make me believe that I didn’t risk my life by doing so. 

“Your physical abilities are exceptional, so the main focus of your training will be training what little magic you have.” Sitri was confident in her ability to convince me, though. If she had the slightest hint of doubt that I would fail and die, she didn’t show it. Whether it was true or mere confidence, I couldn’t tell, but it was in my best interest to decide if I’m ready or not after I’ve been trained. I needed power and there was no better way to gain that by working off a foundation that was already solid. “Coupled with Argento’s presence, and willingness to heal you, you’ll also be capable of fighting with little restraint. Or, at least, I expect that you do?”

I gave her a grunt and a nod for taking that particular card away from me. 

As long as I didn’t die, Argento could easily put me back together.

I couldn’t deny that, especially since I worked so hard to keep her in my care. 

She knew her limitations and my own. Just like in those chess games she favored, both our variables, weaknesses, and moves were limited, therefore she was in her element. Not only that, but I was limited in terms of my ability to “flip the board.” Killing her was the most obvious solution, she was manipulating me and a Devil who had interest in utilizing me until I was no longer useful, but she had a Satan as a sister. Killing her, reneging on our deal, meant my own death. 

So, though we were alone together in a room, with her weaknesses on the table before the both of us, I couldn’t simply kill her and be done with this whole mess.

Though, if got strong enough from this training to stand a chance against a Satan, I wouldn’t hesitate to be rid of her.

Sometimes, I wonder why I’m with you, then you think like that and can’t help but approve.

“Come on , then. This room is making me sick. Just remember to pick that up when we’re finished.” Sitri didn’t have to force herself to walk straight, and I took down the mental time of when that effect ended. If I had a limited amount of holy items, they were better used to inflict their ailment, then used as a sort of barrier to prevent a certain route of attack. Against Devils, I could see using sanctified items as movement impediment devices that I could fit in my pocket. Very useful now that I didn’t have spiders and ants to set up traps. “What you’ll be doing is relatively basic, but you should see results rather quickly. You’re already innately utilizing magic via your Longinus, and you seem very compatible with it, so it should only take a little effort on your part to separate your power from your Sacred Gear.”

“No. We’re going to make do with what I have with my Sacred Gear fully functional.” I refused instantly. Ddraig was my advisor, source of power, and the only individual I completely and utterly trusted. Our lives were bound intrinsically to one another’s. Cutting off power from him may as well be telling me to stop channeling blood into one of my limbs, muting its senses, and allowing it to hang dead on my shoulder. “It’s not happening, Sitri. No matter what looks you’re giving me.”

One look at Sitri, after my refusal, told me that I’d made a mistake.

“So, you’re in contact with the entity within your Sacred Gear. Good to know.” Tch. I really needed to watch what I needed to say in front of her. Thinking of her as Lisa, minus the more… sensual thoughts, had to be necessary. I supposed my Kaichou was too brilliant for me to not consider as an immense, implacable threat, regardless of how innocent she seemed while quiet.  So, essentially, she was a Lisa that could plan ahead and keep her mouth shut and didn’t give any fanservice. Worst girl ever. “Oh, wipe that look off your face. That was your own fault, Hyoudou.”

“If I hadn’t refused, I’d have lost support from my partner. It was less my fault and you being ruthless, Kaichou.” I saw little reason to be pleasant to her. However, that didn’t mean I needed to be caustic. A working relationship is still a relationship, even if the balance was terrible weighted against my favor. It was in my best interest to at least be seen as a competent worker who shouldn’t be trifled with, at least until I was sure that I could get out from her thumb without risking retribution that I couldn’t repel. Until then, I needed to her to need me, and that meant not being too difficult to utilize. “At least, I won’t have to worry about you being incompetent and handling me properly, I suppose.”

“Your vitriol is noted, alongside your compliment, Hyoudou. Rest assured that I won’t infringe upon your relations any further.” Rest assured isn’t a promise. That was as good as saying that I should let my guard down and let you have your way. Truly, I needed to treat this girl like a Thinker. One that’s at least a 3, but with incredible versatility. Being able to think more quickly, with a massive base of knowledge, and apply that appropriately to any situation wasn’t someone I wanted to treat carelessly. “However, you are correct. I have no intention of losing in my mission to save my friend, while within the boundaries of the contract we’ve brokered with one another. Not only that, but as your Student Council President, it would be remiss of me to force you into any undue suffering, so make note to disregard Argento as a factor in my plans.”

“I’ll trust you, but I’d like to verify.” Some would be tempted to take those words at their face value, but not I. Words are worth little. Action is everything. A person with a modicum of experience can lie with a straight face to engender faith. Sona Sitri, thus far, has been nothing besides conniving and manipulative in her pursuit of saving her friend. I am of no value to her, despite her words, and that fact is actually supported by her actions. I was just a pawn for her to use at her convenience because I owed her a debt I couldn’t renege own. And, her position as Student Council President could mean as much to her as trash on street, given the fact she was a Devil related to one of the Satans. “I prefer action to words, Kaichou.” 

“Hmph, very well then. I see that I will have to prove myself to you, Hyoudou.”

You know this almost sounds like flirting. Just a little. 

Quiet, Ddriag.

Some jazz. A little darkness. A little more jazz…

Ddraig…

…

Training magic meant peeling potatoes.

Not what I expected, but a welcome surprise.

Cheap, ergonomic, and something I could do any day of the week.

“You are taking to this task rather handily, Hyoudou. I am impressed.” Sona Sitri examined my work as I progressed. The focus was on using simple magic to shear away the outer surface of a potato from a distance. I pointed my hand at the offending tuber, willed my arcane energies to act, and the potato’s skin was to be removed from it’s starchy stature. The first batch became mash, the second pulpy mash with less skin, and the third I managed to be rid of one side, allowing me to turn them over and do the other. Now, on my fourth batch, I was slowly inching towards the fine precision of mimicking the mechanics of a potato peeler. “Most of my peerage took two days to reach this point. Despite your depressingly low amounts of free energy, you might have a future in utilizing base magics.”

I grunted my thanks, but my focus was more on the actual feeling of using magic.

It was like using an untrained, atrophied limb that I couldn’t feed enough blood into to. However, that same limb was capable of explosive amounts of power, if forced… and unerring precision with enough focus. As a tool, it was just what I needed. A lethal weapon I could utilize and call upon when required. While having a gun or a knife was still high on my list of objectives, my magic was essentially a concealed, versatile weapon that could fulfill either requirement. 

Kame…hame…

A Dodonpa that’s thread-thin or a Destructo Disc that’s palm sized would be more than enough. 

You have no respect for the classics.

I like living and that means being as underhanded as possible for humans, Ddraig.

Point, but let’s talk about this when you can tank mountain-busting punches, okay?

You got it.

Anyway, Sitri had peeled a potato via magic by separating its skin with a single strand. While easy to look at, the miniature required focus, strength, and precision. I needed to guide my magic perfectly along the surface, utilize the same amount so no ragged patches of skin remained, and maintain the depth of my magic across several rounds about the potato.

The benefits of perfectly mastering the skill were obvious, even with my limited amount of power.

If I found the correct combination of focus, strength, and precision, I could utilize this skill on a stronger targets with deadly effect. A knife’s edge might not be much, but the closer to my skin the effect was, the less power I wasted on projecting my meagre reserves, granting me a sharper edge. Better control over that sheathe of energy, such as being able to have it circulate rapidly around my hand while retaining its edge, would also grant my theoretical blade oscillating properties and more lethality. Finally, overloading it in a single strike with all my reserves meant creating a simple, but deadly attack. 

Then, if I added Boosts to it…

It’s the Demonic Piercing Light Murdering Gun!

It’ll have to do until I could have more skill, but yes. That was the goal. 

Not bad for a technique meant to mimic a potato peeler, Taylor!

Yep, not bad at all.