AGG: Rise Devil Side Stories

Rias 1

…

I wondered if I should hate Li Song.

It is a strange feeling, since he’s done so much for the world. Yet, I cannot help but be bitter regarding his existence. 

The moment he’d entered my life, everything changed.

Monsters came, opponents arose, and those I cared for died or were grievously injured. 

But, perhaps most worrisome of all, my best friend from childhood became a hero.

Even now, he’s currently in Hell, doing odd jobs. He does so to increase his reputation, to gain fame, and become well known. Naturally, as a Human in Hell and a Longinus User, he was already the star of many gazes, but his actions spoke for themselves.

Twelve victories in the Arena, seventeen counts of public lechery, and a multitude of odd jobs completed. Most were fetch quests, idly done for a few credits, but over the course of a month he gained a client base, and he started being looked at as an individual truly willing to work for his goals.

Of course, Devils would take notice of him.

“Are you still watching Issei, sister?” Aria interrupted my thoughts. Her expression was haggard from training, but I could tell that she was growing stronger at a rapid pace. I was, too. However, there was no denying that my sister was more rapid in her rise to power. I had no doubt it had something to do regarding her relations with Li Song. “How is he?”

I wanted ask her why she didn’t look herself, but I already knew the answer. It would consist of a be raised brow, crossed arms, and a smirk. I didn’t feel like allowing for such an attack, so I simply chose to answer her query.

“He’s currently escorting an old lady to the grocery.” The crystal ball was a useful item, especially in Hell. Well, to be exact, my brother’s surveillance system was extremely useful in Hell. He was a worrywart, so he could see anywhere that wasn’t private, and some private areas as well. I had no use for it until Issei decided to come to Hell. “That little girl’s by helping him out. Again.”

“Jealous, Rias?” Aria teased me mercilessly, but I did not react. Why would I be jealous of a fifteen-year-old girl who just met Issei a few days ago? I’d known him for years! So, what if she’s always with him nowadays? I’ve spend more time with him than she’s been alive! I was not jealous in the least! “Why don’t you go visit him, then? You can take a break. Go on a date. Establish dominance. Make your claim clear.”

“I-I don’t need to establish anything.” Indeed, I didn’t need to do anything. As of this moment, I was currently training with my brother to become stronger, more capable, and mighty. It was time to level grind, not spend times interacting! That progressed the storyline too quickly! I couldn’t do that before I was ready! “Nor do I need to make anything clear, sister! You and I both need to keep training!”

“Says the girls pining over a crystal ball every time she’s able.” I did no such thing. If I did it every time I was able, I wouldn’t be able to get my daily quests out of the way, or keep up with my web novels! Watching Issei gallivant with a young, cute girl with the ability to kill gods took up ten percent of my time, at most! “You know what, I know you’re not going to do anything if it’s just left up to you, so…” Aria took out her phone, dialed a number, and immedietly tossed it to my direction. In the crystal ball, Issei blinked and took out his own. I found my sister’s phone in my hands a second later. Oh, no. “Oh, yes. See you later, little sis!”

With that, she vanished, and Issei answered his phone.

“Moshi moshi?” Issei replied with his usual, Japanese mannerisms. It’s been too long since I’d heard Japanese in real life! I’ve had to subsist on streaming for four months now! I’ve gone from being a diet to having all I could want in seconds! This is too much! It’s a cultural overload! “Aria? Is this you? How are you?”

For a second, I considered my choices.

First, I could simply hang up. That was the easiest, wisest way out of this mess. However, that was what Aria wanted me to thing. If I did so, she’d know I didn’t talk to Issei at all. That would open me up for attack later. Unacceptable. Deleting the call history alone would be evidence that I did, not even mentioning the possibility of Issei calling Aria later to ask for an explanation.

So, thus, that optioned died.

The second option was to simply answer—

“Hello? Aria-san? Are you there?” Issei spoke again, interrupting my train of thoughts. No, there wasn’t time to talk! Checking him in the crystal, I could see that he wanted to go back to his job helping the elderly Devil, meaning that he was about to hang up! He’d call later and Aria would have her vector of attack secured! I had to answered. “Hello? Aria? Are you—

“Ummm, it’s Rias! Don’t talk too loud, I took Aria’s phone while Nii-sama’s focusing on her training!” I lied! Oh, I was lying to Issei! Oh, he’s going to find out and he’ll hate me later! But, for now, I had to lie! He couldn’t know the truth, anyway! I couldn’t tell him I was watching him through a crystal ball! That would be creepy beyond belief! “I-I just heard about what you’re doing, and I wanted to know if you needed any help.”

I had to continue watching him on the crystal ball, so I had no choice but to watch a smile form on his face.

Yes, that’s right.

I had no choice in the matter.

None at all. 

“Oh, Rias! Thanks for calling! I missed you!” As always, Issei was cheerful. He spoke with a wild smile and a cheerful voice. Already, I could see his enthusiasm catching one with everyone around him. Well, save for that little girl following him. “Oh, ummm, I guess you’re short on time, right? Well, I’ll make this quick then!”

I kept myself silent at his words, after all they were correct. 

I was technically training. 

“I really appreciate the offer, but I think I got this handled! I’ve gotten strong over the last couple weeks! I have to keep up, y’know?” Oh, I wish you didn’t. I truly wished you didn’t. But, I understand. “Besides, I need to do this myself, so that people can trust me! So, thanks for the offer, but I need to do this myself!” 

For a brief second, only for a second, I wanted to insist that I could help him, but I knew better than to do so.

“Okay, Issei. I’m glad to hear that.” I needed to get stronger, too. I wanted to be the protector instead of the protected. I couldn’t do that if I allowed myself to stay the same. Issei was right. He needed to do some things himself, just I needed to do somethings myself. Still, I couldn’t help but utter a few more words, just in case, for my best friend. “If… if you need anything, call me, alright? Don’t hesitate, okay?”

His smile seemed to grow smaller, but warmer at the same time at my words, so I didn’t have time to regret being Rias instead of a Twin of Destruction. 

“Okay, Rias.” Issei, my best and only friend, told me. “The same goes from me to you. If you need help, call me, okay?”

For now, because of this utterly changed world, all he and I could be were the closest allies.

I suppose that was why I disliked Li Song the most.