DxD: Like a Devil Chapter 67

Edited by: Priapus, Marethyu

– Asia –

Since coming to Hawaii, nearly all of her time had been spent around her friends. Even when split up, she’d had at least one person near her. Naturally, as they had no reason for each of them to go their own different ways, the only time Asia could remember being truly alone was at the resort, but it was practically home for the month, so what was there to worry about?

Now, forced to actually walk by herself, Asia realized how nerve-wracking this was. There was no one to talk to, no one to lead her anywhere. It was just her and her alone. Stuck with her thoughts. It reminded her of the time when she’d walked the streets of Kuoh all by herself before she’d met Akane. It was… not a good time, admittedly.

After having been excommunicated by the church, Asia had felt a sense of aimlessness. What was she to do now? Had she truly disgraced herself as a nun? Had she done the wrong thing by healing that wounded devil? Had she perhaps angered the Lord, and that was her punishment? Those questions had plagued her. They’d made her unable to argue against the church’s decision. This did not help her conscience after discovering that the devil turned out to be a terrible, terrible person.

She kept holding on to her faith, of course. After all, what else did she have left? If she had truly done a terrible act, then she should face proper punishment, which had turned into a blessing in disguise after meeting the person she could now proudly call her older sister.

Regardless, this situation was a tad too similar, but this time, Asia wasn’t so aimless. Although she was still very anxious since she was supposed to act as ‘bait’ for a bunch of bad people to take, this time, she had a purpose, and it felt good. To be focused with a clear goal in mind—not experiencing that crippling feeling of uncertainty was incredible.

That didn’t necessarily fix her nervousness, but being determined made up for it. And despite clearly being the weakest fighter in her group, Akane had told her to be more confident in herself, and if someone as intelligent as her older sister said someone as soft as Asia could take on a couple of thugs by herself, then she was probably right. Right? Right.

Asia needed to prove that Akane was right. She’d spent so much time training with her and Mizuki and had transformed into a completely different person. While Asia most definitely lacked experience, having never actually fought anyone before, she had some skill in martial arts and even spearplay, courtesy of Mizuki showing her how to use one a few times. She didn’t know how that would help her when there was no spear around to pick up, but it was something Asia was proud of, darn it.

Maybe I should’ve asked Onee-chan to make me one? Asia thought before cringing slightly. …It still sounds weird even when I say it in my head.

Eventually, she won’t feel so embarrassed to call Akane that. She wanted to take pride in saying ‘Onee-chan’.

Then again, carrying a spear of ice around in public might get me in trouble with the law. I've heard Hawaii is a lot stricter when it comes to that compared to other states. She hummed to herself, noticing that there were fewer and fewer people around her as she walked. And I don’t think carrying something made out of ice is going to be comfortable anyway…

She had no idea how Akane was doing it. How could one be ‘immune’ to the cold? Didn’t that sound too weird? No, what was weirder was how the armor spell she’d cast on Asia didn’t really feel cold either. Could she control the temperature of her ice, perhaps? Wasn’t that a very advanced technique, though? If that was the case, then it was hard to believe Akane had only started practicing magic just a few months ago. Her sister was genuinely amazing.

During her walk, Asia stopped near the docks in the southeast of Honolulu, near stores that offered the borrowing of water boats for one’s amusement. During the day, she’d noticed these places becoming swarmed with tourists wanting to take a boat or two for a spin near the shores, and for good reason. Despite her fear of deep water, she thought those looked like so much fun.

But at night, no one was here. In fact, it looked like the stores were closed, and it hadn’t taken her long to reason why that was the case. It was probably too dangerous to allow such activities in such darkness. Perhaps that was also why the beach was so empty during these hours. It’d be very difficult to see if someone was drowning.

Asia stepped closer toward the fence, glanced down at the ocean, frowned in mild discomfort, then promptly stepped away. No good. Even if she was objectively safe, she couldn’t even get close to deep water before feeling her skin crawl. She never thought she’d be afraid of the sea that much…

“Help!”

Asia flinched, suddenly hearing the echo of a cry for help nearby. Her gaze sharpened, and she looked in the direction of the noise, and didn’t waste a second before walking toward it. She didn’t know where it came from, but perhaps—

“Help me! Please!”

Hearing it a lot more clearly, Asia realized it came from the port. Other people nearby who heard the cries looked concerned, looking at each other and talking about calling the police. None of them felt brave enough to investigate except for Asia, who fearlessly sprinted toward the noise. Through tight corners and near massive cargo containers, she stopped near the edge of the port, looked around, and saw a man lying against one of the containers with his hands on his legs. His face was one of agony, prompting her to approach him without hesitation.

“Are you okay, mister?” She said, crouching next to him. “What happened?”

However, he didn’t answer as his expression switched to a smirk before he lunged at her. Asia flinched, her lack of experience making her shut her eyes and weakly put her hands up defensively instead of appropriately reacting to someone’s attack. Thankfully, the moment the man touched her face, the shield activated and exploded, freezing him whole and giving Asia an opportunity to back away.

She gasped and stood up, eyes wide in shock and concern. She blinked a few times, seeing that the statue of ice was holding a handkerchief for whatever reason. Why was he attacking her with that? Unfortunately, Asia didn’t have the time to ponder such a thing before more people jumped down from the containers and the nearby buildings. She was surrounded.

And by the looks of it, these people weren’t ones she was familiar with. Unlike the musclemen of the Barracuda, these people had regular builds, dressed regularly, and were predominantly asians. Were they from the other groups that the CIA agent warned them about?

None of them said a thing to her, quietly speaking Mandarin to each other before they got ready to attack and kidnap her. They all held weapons, as well. Some had guns, others wielded Chinese swords and spears, and a few had things like crowbars and pipes. First thing Asia noticed, however, was that they felt more powerful than the Barracuda thugs. Not massively, but definitely stronger.

Admittedly, Asia did not know what to do about this. Akane had said they might attack, and even then, it was a very, very low chance. To think they’d targeted her out of everyone else… was it because she was the weakest? Probably. She didn’t think they were brave enough to ambush her big sister or Ichi like that.

“S-stay back!” Asia squeaked out, putting her hands up. “I-I won’t hesitate to hurt you if you get any closer!”

The thugs slowly circled around her like hyenas preparing to tear into their prey, and all the confidence she had simply vanished into thin air. Being told she was strong was one thing, but having to fight several people on her own was a lot scarier than she thought it would be. And they all had weapons, too. What was Asia supposed to do? She was strong, yes, but did she truly have what it took to beat up so many on her own?

Asia glanced at the way she came from, wondering if she was able to escape. Her hopes were quickly dashed away once she saw one of them blocking the way. This could be very bad. She had to do something soon before—

As one of the thugs rushed her, Asia caught his advance from the corner of her eye, and was thankfully fast enough to evade the swing of his crowbar. She stepped away from him, and more people followed suit, trying to attack her with their weapons. Panicking, the blond had momentarily forgotten about the ‘attacking’ part of defending herself, and focused purely on evading damage.

She thanked the Lord in Heaven that she was much faster than any of them, but eventually, she was overwhelmed, and one of the thugs hit her head with the end of the steel pipe, prompting her to cry out in pain. However, she managed to stay on her feet, realizing it didn’t hurt as much as she thought it would. Sure, it was painful, but not cripplingly so.

So she quickly recovered and, for the first time, attacked back, punching the culprit in the chest and sending him flying toward a red cargo container, smashing through it. The thugs were all shocked, and so was Asia. Knowing her strength was one thing, but seeing it for herself? Was this what it meant to be powerful? Because Asia liked that feeling. It made her feel confident.

Confident enough to defend herself properly.

“I-I told you I won’t hesitate!” She warned again, her tone ever so slightly less anxious.

That, however, didn’t deter them as they all attacked again. First, it was the gunmen who shot at her, and those weapons were clearly of supernatural origin, as, while they didn’t turn her into Swiss cheese, they hurt way more than getting hit in the head with a steel pipe. She grunted and gasped in pain, getting out of the way of the bullets.

With her eyes closed, she didn’t see where she was going and bumped into one of the spearmen, who was about to stab her in the chest with a strong thrust. But Asia barely moved out of the way and then kicked him in the side, knocking him down and making him drop his weapon.

Acting quickly, Asia grabbed the spear and used it to block the wide, vertical swing of one of the swordsman coming from behind, pushing him with a kick before thrusting the spear at his leg. Blood gushed out of the wound, making her flinch and back away as he screamed in pain.

Despite seeing it many times in recent months, watching so much blood still shook her and made her feel queasy. But this was the first time she’d been the one responsible for such an injury. She didn’t know what to do. Asia almost threw the spear away to heal him before remembering that he was her enemy, and that the wound she inflicted was not lethal. Even then, the guilt wasn’t so easy to ignore.

In her shock, Asia didn’t notice another one of the thugs coming from behind and hitting her in the head with a crowbar, making her cry out in pain and drop the spear. Unlike last time, she couldn’t dodge right away from the second attack as the thugs surrounded her and beat her with their weapons. Asia desperately tried to protect herself, and while the attacks weren’t as fatal as they looked, they eventually wore her down. She felt herself bleeding from wounds forming on her head and face.

Tears of pain and fear rolled down her cheeks, her cries muted after being forced down to the ground from the onslaught until, suddenly, the attacks stopped.

Asia opened her eyes and saw someone extending one hand to her as the other held a baseball bat. For a moment, she thought it was Ichi that had come to save her, but it wasn’t. It was someone else she recognized. Someone she had met just earlier today.

“Are you okay?” The Sage of Palekana said, his tone filled with worry.

Asia’s eyes widened, but she took his hand and he helped her up. That was when she realized that the man blocking the exit was out cold, likely knocked unconscious by the man in front of her. They’d been too focused on her and didn’t notice his presence, perhaps?

That was when one of the thugs screamed at the gunmen something in Mandarin, prompting them to aim their weapons at Bryce. For a split moment, they seemed a lot more hesitant for some reason, which made Asia quickly pick up one of the weapons dropped by the thugs and throw it at the closest gunman, hitting him square in the face and knocking him out. However, she still moved and got in front of Bryce, taking the shots for him as the second gunman started shooting, knowing she could survive.

Eventually, he ran out of ammo, and Asia used this opportunity to rush forward and strike him in the face before he could reload, sending him flying out of the port and into the sea.

“Goodness…” Bryce’s eyes were wide in disbelief. “You were shot.”

“Look out!” Asia yelled as one of the thugs got behind him.

But it was too late as the thug hit him hard in the head. Unlike Asia, who could endure such punishment, the fragile old man immediately fell to the ground, unconscious. Seeing this made her gasp in horror, but she couldn’t let this catch her off guard as she rushed forward and knocked out the assailant with a single punch.

She crouched near Bryce and activated her Sacred Gear, healing the old man as the open wound on his head closed immediately. Asia sighed, but her relief was short-lived as more and more people arrived, surrounding her again and making her bite her lower lip anxiously. What was she supposed to do now? Defending herself was one thing, even if she was terrible at it, but now, she had someone to take care of as well.

Oh, Father in Heaven… Asia prayed, growing more fearful by the second. I seek your guidance and help. Please…

As the thugs attacked, Asia shut her eyes and hoped for someone to rescue them.

Akane. She begged for her big sister. Please save us.

For a moment, Asia apologized to her sister for being so weak and wasting her shield spell, but just then, her prayers were answered as she felt the familiar warmth of the Lord wash over her, and several of the thugs suddenly cried out in agony. A violent whirlwind formed around Asia and the unconscious Bryce, keeping them at bay.

It wasn’t Akane that had saved her, but two familiar swordswomen she had come to know a while back—exorcists wielding legendary artifacts of holiness and power.

“Just in time~” Irina giggled. “Always fun to make a dramatic entrance, right, Xenovia?”

“You. Nun.” Xenovia, on the other hand, was a lot more blunt as she glanced at Asia. “Are you hurt?”

“U-um… No, I’m okay.” Asia nodded, getting on her feet. “Thank you so much! I thought I was done for.”

“You’re lucky we were in the area,” Irina said. “Heard the commotion and thought to investigate.”

“The people here are weak and cowardly.” Xenovia scoffed. “They would rather let people die than act. All they do is call the police and hope law enforcement will handle it.”

“Yeah, no, that’s the normal human response, Xenovia.” Irina sighed. “Well, anyway, you’re gonna be safe now, Asia.”

“What of the old man?” The blue-haired swordswoman asked.

“He’s fine. He tried to help me and got hit, but I healed him.”

“Hmm, so not everyone here is a coward.” Xenovia tightened her grip on Durandal as she addressed the thugs. “I will give you only one chance to leave. Take it, or I’ll use this blade to send you to stand before the Lord myself.”

“Overkill, Xenovia.” Irina sighed again.

Thankfully, that seemed to have intimidated them enough as they took her words seriously and began running away. This prompted a big sigh of relief from Asia. Oh, thank the Lord it was over…

At the same time, Asia tightly clenched her fist in frustration. Despite feeling safe now that she had two proper warriors near her, she couldn’t help but feel annoyed with herself. She had the power advantage, but she was just too afraid to use it. She was still weak.

If only she hadn’t been such a pushover, then maybe…

“Nun.” Xenovia sheathed her sword and looked at Asia. “Will you be okay on your own? Do you need us to escort you somewhere?”

“U-um…”

“Aw, look at you being nice to the ‘Disgraced Nun’~” Irina snickered. “Maybe you do care about her after all~”

“False,” Xenovia said. “It’s my honor as a swordswoman and a woman of God to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Whether she’s disgraced and lacks the light of the Lord is irrelevant.”

“Uh-huh.” Her partner smirked. “Keep telling yourself that.”

“You’re so annoying.” The blue-haired swordswoman scowled. “Why would I lie about something like this?”

“What are you talking about? I never accused you of lying.” Irina shrugged, making Xenovia click her tongue. “Anyway, come on, Asia. Let’s take you somewhere safe.”

“What were you doing by yourself, anyway?” The other exorcist asked.

“It’s… complicated.” Asia sighed. “Um, I know a place, and I’m sure Akane will explain everything.”

“Very well.” Xenovia nodded, eyes sparkling as soon as Asia uttered her big sister’s name. “Lead the way.”

With how persistent the blue-haired exorcist was and constant demands to duel her big sister…

Akane may not be pleased about this.

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– Akane –

This displeases me greatly.

I watch the two dumbass exorcists make themselves at home in a place that doesn’t need them. Really, what the hell was Asia thinking bringing these two morons here? This tiny bar is crowded enough as is. We definitely don’t need two amateurs involved in this whole conspiracy. They’re just gonna make it worse. Or be deadweight to us.

But honestly, I can handle them. Irina isn’t really that annoying and tends to keep Issei distracted and away from me, so I can’t hate her. And Xenovia, despite being an infuriating little bitch, can be useful. She’s nowhere as strong as I or Ichi, but she’s definitely up there. Really, I’d say the third strongest, not counting Magnus. So yeah, I can tolerate that.

No, what’s really displeasing is watching Asia enter the bar looking all beat up. Bruised, beaten, scratched— turned her adorable little face into a mess. First of all, why didn’t she text me or anyone else that she got into a fight? Is she fucking stupid? Second, why didn’t I feel the explosive armor I cast on her go off? That was part of its function. What, was I too focused on Yamai to notice it? Did they set up some kind of device or spell that blocked sensing? Third, why the fuck did she not heal herself before entering? Did she forget she could do that?

Fourth, and finally, why in the hell did she bring the old man to the bar instead of a hospital? She explained what happened already, with him showing up to help and all, but why do we need him here? What does he bring to the table beside some dumbass wisdom that would probably do us no good in the long-run?

This is a mess. I knew she’d make good bait since she was the weakest, but I didn’t expect things to go that south on her part. Partly her fault for not calling anyone for help. It’s almost like she wanted to get kidnapped or something. Idiot.

I resist a sigh once Asia gives me a strained smile after she notices me staring. I would’ve been a lot more mad if she’d made this situation any more difficult than it had any right to be. She should be glad she’s still here, or I might’ve spanked her in front of everyone. I might actually just relegate her to a pretty face to be looked at rather than someone reliable if this happens again.

On the flipside, some good news. Thankfully.

“I can’t believe you already captured one of their leaders,” Magnus mutters, looking very surprised as he stares at the knocked-out form of Yamai on one of the booth couches. “Barely a day…”

“Told you I’d figure it out.” I shrug with a smug smirk.

“I’m gonna go on a limb and say we were just really lucky,” Ichi responds, looking at me with an exasperated expression. “What are the odds of you stumbling on one of the leaders, anyway?”

“Nope. Zero luck involved. All peerless skill and unrivaled intellect.” I wink and tap on my forehead. “Though, then again, he was talking about my father a lot…”

After I’d beaten up Yamai and knocked him out, I dragged him to the bar with Ray in tow, who had no idea what was going on the entire time. Thankfully, when I told her to wait until we arrive at the bar, she kept the incessant questions to a minimum. She’s a pathetic weakling, but I gotta admit, I really love this type of obedience. I don’t even know what I did to make her so submissive, but really, I shouldn’t be surprised.

I am me, after all.

Regardless, once we arrived, I sent a text in our group chat recalling everyone back to the bar. We already got everything we need in the form of the unconscious Yamai, so letting them run around uselessly would do us no good. I mean, we got one of the leaders. Anything else would be automatically worse, right? Then again, I do feel somewhat worried. He mentioned trying to find out who the Overseer was for years with no luck.

He could be lying, of course, but something tells me that’s not the case. I don’t know what we’re supposed to do with him if he does end up being useless, but a second ass-kicking would most definitely be in order. Seriously, how dare he show up if he has nothing of value to offer me? People like him should be ashamed of themselves. A boss mob, regardless of how weak it is, must drop valuable items. That’s how it works.

“Perhaps he was an old enemy of your father?” Kiba wonders out loud. “And he simply wanted revenge?”

“Maybe, but I highly doubt it.” I shake my head. “He spoke about him with a tone closer to respect than anger. Besides, I asked Majima about him. He has no history with my dad.”

“Then why did he attack you?” Issei questions. “Gotta be a reason, right?”

“Nope.” I snort. “Just yet another battle junkie biting off more than he can chew. You know how it is.”

Xenovia does not appreciate the smirk I give her when I say that.

“I’d say he’s a moron for picking a fight he knew he’d lose,” Magnus says. “Was this under the Overseer’s orders, perhaps?”

“I don’t think so. He told me he doesn’t work for the Overseer.” I tell them, glancing at the CIA agent. “The file you gave us might not be as accurate as you thought it was.”

“Could be a lie.” Ichi points out.

“Could be.” I shrug. “That’s why we’re gonna wake him up and get answers directly from him. Asia, heal him.”

“Are you sure that’s safe?” Raynare asks.

“If he thinks he can do anything with everyone here, then we can safely say I’ve accidentally given him brain damage,” I respond. “Let’s just hope that’s not the case.”

As I give Asia the OK, she obeys and activates Twilight Healing. The wounds I gave him disappear, scratches closing up, and bruises heal in less than five seconds. He doesn’t wake up yet, of course, but that’s why I went to fill a glass with water before pouring it on his face. Yamai gasps awake, eyes widening in surprise and confusion, before he sees everyone in the bar staring at him. His eyes are then drawn to me and my smirk, his own expression falling and returning to a frown.

“Good morning~ Had a nice nap?”

He doesn’t say anything for a moment, realizing that his injuries aren’t there to bother him anymore.

“You can thank her for that.” I point at Asia once I pick up on his confusion. “But you’re about to get hurt again real soon if you don’t answer my questions.”

Yamai doesn’t seem intimidated as he sits on the couch properly.

“I told you already. I don’t work for him.” He answers before I can ask. “I don’t know who he is or where he’s hiding, and I’ve been looking for him for years.”

“My informant had pointed you out as one of three gang leaders who worked directly for him.” Magnus disagrees. “We have the evidence; in 2014, you, Dwight Mendez, and Wong Tou were involved in a large-scale search all over Hawaii looking for a treasure called the ‘Esperanza’. Care to explain the discrepancy?”

“Treasure?” Ichiban blinked. “Like, actually?”

Treasure, you say? Isn’t that interesting?

“Oh, I’ve heard about it.” Ray chips in. “The Esperanza is the name of a Spanish ship loaded with silver and gold looted from Incan temples. It’s a long story, but eventually the ship was destroyed and the survivors managed to bury their treasures somewhere in Hawaii. Happened during the early nineteenth century, I think.”

“Pirates attacked them, I assume?” Xenovia questioned.

“That and bad luck with the weather.” Raynare nods.

“Interesting trivia.” Kiba hums. “Perhaps I should look it up when we return to the resort…”

“I didn’t join the search under his orders. I did it to take what he was looking for before he could.” Yamai says as we return to the subject at hand. “Whatever this ‘Esperanza’ thing was, it can’t just be gold and silver if it was important to the Overseer. I thought by getting it first, I’d have a chance at getting rid of him.”

“Heh.” I chuckle. “I’ll say, old man. I like the way you think.”

“Did you find it?” Issei asks.

“I didn’t.” He shakes his head. “Whatever it is, it’s definitely not in Hawaii. I checked every island, small and big, and found no trace.”

“Then, can we safely assume the Overseer hasn’t found it either?” Magnus questions.

“No. He most certainly found it.” Yamai says.

“How are you so certain?” I raise an eyebrow.

The former tojo yakuza looks at me.

“Because he stopped looking for it.” He says. “And if there’s one thing I know about him, it's that he doesn’t give up.”

Hmm… could this Esperanza be the artifact he wants to use? Should be. Everything is lining up perfectly, but I’m still curious. Is it just a ship, or something more than that? Can a ship even be powerful enough to threaten the entire world? If so, then taking it for myself might not be possible after all. I mean, I can hide an artifact or a weapon in my inventory, but I can’t store entire vehicles. One of the system’s dumbass ‘rules’ I guess.

Cosmic force of unrivaled might my ass.

Nevertheless, I’m still interested in it. Sure, maybe I can’t have it, but I sure as fuck can still study and examine it. Whether it’s magical or mechanical, I can incorporate what I learn from it into my tech, because if it’s a thing that can destroy the world, then it sure as fuck is worth my time. That’s if it is a ship, of course. It could still be a regular artifact I can hold in my hands, which would be even better.

Regardless of what it is, I’d still benefit from it.

“I realized soon after that he found it first. At the time, I thought he had become out of reach.” Yamai continues. “But now he’s looking for something else. Something he hasn’t found yet.”

“Oh?” I cross my arms, looking intrigued. “And that is?”

“He’s searching for someone called Lani.” He says, making me pause.

Huh. That name sounds oddly familiar.

“Lani? Lani Mililani?” The old man Asia brought with her parroted as he sat properly, finally up from his nap, seemingly. He looks at Yamai with an expression of concern and shock. “Are you certain?”

Yamai blinked and nodded.

“Yes.” He answers. “…You’re the Sage of Palekana, aren’t you? Owner of the orphanage? I thought I recognized you.”

“Why is he looking for her?” The Sage asks. “What could she possibly have that this… ‘Overseer’ would want?”

So it’s all connected in the end. It’s the girl that was kidnapped by the bitch who has my name, which I planned to deal with once I got rid of the bigger problem. Now I can hit two birds with one stone. Very convenient.

“I don’t know,” Yamai says. “I just know that he turned Honolulu upside down trying to look for her. He is still looking for her across Hawaii. If he doesn’t find her here, he’ll probably try to branch out to other states.”

“Doubtful.” Magnus quips. “CIA presence in the mainland is huge. If he values secrecy that much, he wouldn’t risk it.”

“Point is, if he’s still looking for her here, then he probably has a good reason to believe she’s still in Hawaii.” I point out. “Meaning we have our way in. If we find Lani first, the Overseer won’t have any choice but to show himself.”

“And that’s when we strike.” Ichiban agrees. “I mean, call me cocky, but I don’t think he’d stand a chance against all of us combined.”

“Dunno about cocky. I think the confidence is warranted. C’mon, look at us.” Issei grins, patting Ichi on the back. “I doubt anyone could hold a candle to us when we’re together. Imagine if Rias and Sona were here too?”

“We’d be unstoppable,” Ichiban responds as he and Issei share a fist bump. “Hell yeah!”

“Hell yeah!”

“I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves, friends,” Kiba adds, reining them back in. “We have to actually find Lani first.”

Which wouldn’t be tough without my Spyders, but fuck me I guess.

“At the very least, we know what to do now.” I nod, glancing at Yamai. “What about Dwight and Wong, though? Are they gonna be a problem?”

“They don’t measure up to you lot in terms of strength, but they’re gonna try to stop you anyway,” Yamai answers, standing up. “If you’re really planning to look for Lani, the Overseer is gonna know what you’re up to immediately, and he’s got both Dwight and Wong by the balls.”

And the only slightly worrying thing is whatever Patient Zero the former has locked up. Wong might have something similar, though—an ace of some kind. I can’t ignore the possibility.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I raise an eyebrow as he walks toward the exit.

“If you need more info, then you better start looking for Dwight and Wong.” He says. “I told you everything I know.”

I don’t bother myself by trying to stop him, and neither does anyone else. I mean, hey, we pretty much wrung him out of all the info he might have, I can tell that much. And while the smart thing to do right now is to either kill or imprison him so he stops being an annoyance later, I doubt he’d do something like that. Like he said, he doesn’t work for the Overseer. That’s why he told us all he knew without struggle.

So, you know, I might as well show him mercy. I’m not without it, after all. Besides, I’d rather not kill a potential devour target so uselessly. He doesn’t have any strong skills or perks I can steal as far as I’m aware, but stats are stats.

“One last piece of advice,” Yamai says as he stops at the door. “The Overseer is no pushover. I don’t know how he does it, but each time he avoided me, he did it in a way that made it seem like he knew all of my plans. Plans I told no one about.”

“Yeah, maybe it’s because you’re a predictable battle junkie.” I scoff. “We’re in completely different worlds. You don’t compare to me.”

Instead of this offending him in any way, Yamai just snorts in amusement and says his farewells.

“Good luck, Amamiya.”

As the door closes behind him, Magnus speaks.

“Can’t say I’m not surprised by how cooperative he was being.” He mutters before smiling at us. “You kids are a lot more effective than I gave you credit for. Well done. Don’t think this would’ve gone as smoothly without you.”

“See?” I smirk, one hand on my hip. “I killed Kokabiel and Shalba Beelzebub. This is nothing to me.”

“Your ego is showing again.” Koneko deadpans.

“Yes, and you should bask in my divine presence. Really, you should be grateful you’re on my side.” I giggle. “Have you ever seen someone this gorgeous be so powerful, intelligent, and competent at the same time? I bet not. I’m literally the Chosen One.”

Koneko tries to respond, likely by saying something blunt and scathing, which would roll off me as smooth as butter, seeing how awesome I am, but Ichi puts a hand on her shoulder and shakes his head.

“Don’t.” He tells her, a weary expression on his face. “Nothing you say is gonna work.”

Because everything I said about myself is already true.

I know what I am.

“Are you okay, Mr. Bryce?” Asia asks the Sage, who, unlike us, seems very distraught.

He takes a moment before he responds.

“All this time, I thought Ms. Akane had kidnapped Lani for vile reasons. Perhaps for ransom or to use Lani’s incredible blessing for her own selfish gain.” He says, his tone quiet, sorrowful, and almost defeated. “But she was just trying to protect her?”

My lips thin as I watch him on the verge of breaking down into tears, not really liking what I’m seeing, but not sure why I don’t. I bring up his stats to see if that helps, but his ‘thoughts about you’ section says nothing out of the ordinary. I already know I’m a ‘powerful person’.

Hmm…

“What are you talking about?” Xenovia blinks. “Akane is right here.”

“Another Akane,” I tell her.

“Really? Huh. What are the odds?” Ichi scratches the back of his head. “That’s three Akanes I know.”

“Three?” I blink. “There’s a third?”

“My boss’ wife.” He says. “She’s also named Akane. She passed away a long time ago.”

What are the odds indeed… My name is relatively standard, but that's pretty unusual.

“By her grace…” Bryce mumbles. “I… I need some fresh air. I need to think.”

“Let me aid you,” Asia says, helping him up. “Would you like me to walk you to the orphanage?”

“…Yes. Yes, I would.” He smiles at her gratefully. “Thank you, young lady.”

Asia glances at me, and I give her permission by nodding. She nods back, smiles, and leads him outside. I stare directly at Bryce until he and Asia exit the bar. Probably my imagination, but it doesn’t hurt to be careful…

“Koneko, think you can go with them? To make sure they don’t get attacked again.”

The cat gives me a thumbs up and follows after them.

“Anyway…” Magnus clears his throat. “You lot should take the rest of the night off and rest. I’ll report everything we’ve learned, and then we can think about what we should do next. Sounds good, Ms. Amamiya?”

“Sure. It’s getting late anyway.” I shrug and stretch my arms. “And I’m getting hungry. Anyone up for pizza?”

“Oh fuck off. Again? We had pizza like ten times already.” Ichi clicks his tongue. “No, we’re gonna eat something else.”

“Too bad,” I respond smugly, showing him the order on my phone. “Already ordered.”

“Wha– how?! When?!”

“Not telling~”

What other purpose could my genius intellect serve besides developing an app for my phone that instantly orders pizza from the nearest location with just one touch?

I’m the most intelligent person on this planet.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

– Asia –

Despite everything that had happened, Asia felt an overwhelming sense of frustration with herself. And why wouldn’t she? All this training with Akane and Mizuki— all those times she’d promised herself and the people around her that she wanted to be more determined and sure of herself meant nothing. All of it had crumbled at the first sign of danger.

It felt humiliating. Degrading. Was healing others all she was capable of? Was staying back as everyone risked their lives the only thing she could do? Was Asia's fate being saved by those more competent than her? She hated that. She didn’t want that to be true. But how could she disprove that notion if she couldn’t even pick off a couple of ‘weak mobs’ as Akane put it?

Even though she was stronger, even though she’d trained so hard for so long, she’d still failed to even remotely defend herself. Was she really that hopeless? Was she truly that timid and weak, and was there nothing she could do about it? It was painful and disheartening. The mere thought almost made her sob.

And to make matters even worse, she could see and feel the disappointment in Akane’s reaction to what had happened. While her worry and concern for Asia’s well-being were obvious to see, her subtle staring and quiet sighs tore Asia’s heart to shreds. It made her want to curl up in a ball and cry until no more tears could be shed. She was weak and utterly worthless to have disappointed her big sister like that.

How could Asia be trusted again if her first real ‘mission’ ended in such disaster? No wonder Akane sent Koneko with her. Asia wouldn’t trust herself to walk an old man to his house either. She’d somehow mess that up and end up in a situation she needed saving.

Silently, as she and Koneko walked Bryce back to the orphanage, Asia clenched her fists tightly, her lower lips trembling as she resisted a cry of frustration. Frustration at herself for being a weakling. For being a big crybaby that’d never amount to anything more than that. How could she even stand next to the likes of Akane and Ichi? Someone as pathetic as her…

Asia paused and glanced at Koneko beside her, who suddenly held her wrist gently. Koneko looked at her with an expression of worry.

“Are you okay?”

Asia’s expression relaxed somewhat, but she didn’t answer as she looked down at her feet.

“You seem upset,” Bryce said as they stopped near the orphanage, noticing her troubled look.

Asia hesitated, then exhaled.

“I…” She mumbled, not making eye contact with either of them. “I feel… useless.”

They waited for her to finish.

“Compared to everyone else, I— it feels like I’m out of place.” She adds. “Everyone is so proactive. They have roles and contribute so much while I do nothing of value.”

“That’s not true.” Koneko disagreed. “Of course, you have a role. You’re our healer. A lifeline.”

“You’re trusted. You’re relied on to do big and dangerous missions. To do more.” Asia argued as tears began to stream down her cheeks. “But me? What do I do?”

Koneko wanted to respond, but couldn’t.

“You barely ever needed healing outside of training. I barely saved anyone ever.” She sobbed. “And when it was time to rely on me, the moment Akane trusted me to do something more than healing, I failed. I-I was too weak to live up to her expectations. What does that make me?”

“Asia…” Koneko frowned, clearly not knowing what to say.

“I’m just… tired of being saved. Of being so scared and meek.” The blond sniffled. “I want to be like her. I want to be strong and confident. I want to be assertive and do more. I want to be someone Akane can rely on beyond just a healer.”

But that was never gonna happen at this rate. The way Asia had handled the ambush was utterly catastrophic, given that it had no right to be. She knew she was stronger than all of them combined. She knew that, if she weren’t so timid and inexperienced, she would’ve defeated them all. She wouldn’t have needed saving. Asia may not be physically weak, but her character? She was absolutely pathetic.

It was sickening.

“There’s no shame in stumbling, Ms. Asia.”

Asia paused her sobbing and looked at Bryce, who gave her a sympathetic and understanding smile.

“Whatever it is you’re going through, you mustn’t give in to those thoughts.” He said. “No one believes you to be useless. No one thinks less of you for failing. Those thoughts tend to cloud your mind. Make you believe falsehoods to be the truth.”

“But it is the truth!” Asia argued. “I’ve seen the way she looked at me! If I had done better, she wouldn’t have—”

“You saved my life, Ms. Asia.” Bryce interrupted, making her breath hitch. “Shouldn’t that be something to be proud of?”

“I didn’t.” Asia looked away. “Xenovia and Irina were the ones who saved us.”

“Haha, you misunderstand.” He rubbed the back of his head. “I meant this. Your power of restoration.”

Asia said nothing.

“It may not be a lethal bullet wound or something similar. But I’m an old man.” He added. “Even a concussion could very quickly be the death of me. And you made sure that I lived to see another day.”

“I…”

“Truth be told, I feel ashamed of myself.” He told her, making her blink in surprise. “I’m not much of a fighter, yet I tried to get involved in a battle that would’ve surely been the end of me had it not been for you. I was in over my head.”

“That’s not true. You just tried to help me.” Asia disagreed.

“I did, didn’t I?” Bryce’s smile turned playful. “Then why won’t you give yourself the same courtesy?”

The blond opened her mouth to argue, but no words came out. She then looked away, still unsure of herself. Regardless of what he was telling her, she couldn’t change the fact. Asia had still failed. She’d still failed Akane. And nothing could change the soul-crushing feeling of disappointing the one she looked up to the most.

“You are a Christian, yes?” The Sage suddenly asked as he eyed her cross necklace.

“Um…” Asia nodded, somewhat taken aback by the question. “Yes, I am.”

“I see. Pardon my limited knowledge of your faith, but don’t Christians believe that God never tests his believers beyond their strength?” He said. “Perhaps this is only a test for you, Ms. Asia. A test that your god knows you’re capable of enduring.”

Asia’s eyes widened, then she looked down and clutched her necklace as she was reminded of her faith. Was it that simple? Could this really be a test from the Lord? These feelings of defeat. Of worthlessness. Were they really mere tests to see if her faith still held true?  By His grace and mercy, Asia would’ve learned to move on from them. But she was shaken.

Was this why she felt so strongly about her own weakness? …No. Those feelings were hers. Feelings not influenced by anyone or anything. Even with her Lord at the forefront of her mind, Asia still felt frustrated in her failure. She still felt the need to prove herself to her friends.

But now she knew not to let that desire take control of her. This utter despair she experienced— it was because she had forgotten the most important thing to her. She’d forgotten her faith in God.

She took a deep breath and calmed her nerves, her expression that of determination.

“…You’re right,” Asia said, wiping her tears. “I can’t let this put me down. With the Lord by my side, I know there’s nothing to worry about.”

“I am glad. A bright and gentle soul like you shouldn’t be feeling that way.” Bryce nodded. “Then I bid you farewell. Thank you for your time, Ms. Asia. And you as well, Ms. Koneko.”

Koneko nodded.

“Goodnight, Mr. Bryce.” Asia smiled. “Thank you for your word of advice.”

“Haha, it’s the least an old man like me could give.” He chuckled, waving at them as he entered the orphanage. “Goodnight.”

Once the door closed behind him, Asia glanced at Koneko.

“Sorry. I must’ve been a real downer just now.” She apologized. “I know you were just trying to help.”

“Mhm, it’s fine.” Koneko smiled back at her. “Let’s go back.”

Asia took her friend's offered hand, and together, they walked back toward the bar, the blond feeling better than ever before.

If this truly was a test from the Lord, then Asia would do her best. She wouldn’t fail.

Not her Lord, and not her friends.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

– Akane –

“Well, this is new,” Lucifer says, watching me work on a new device. “And here I thought you wanted to keep your machines hidden away in your new base. Rather bold of you to build something around so many of your friends.”

“Oh, there’s nothing to worry about on that front,” I respond, making sure to keep my voice down. “I’ve got everything covered.”

“Do you, now?”

After a little pizza party at Revolve, which included Raynare, the dumbass duo exorcists, and the CIA agents, we decided to head back to the resort for the night. There’s not much to do when it’s gotten so dark, and we’ve already done plenty today. I’m satisfied with our progress. I got to beat up an old man, prove to another old man that I’m superior and literally perfect, learn about possible treasures to loot, and eat pizza. Best day in Hawaii so far.

Once we made it back, almost everyone went to bed. Koneko immediately went to bed, saying she felt too tuckered out after too much work. Asia as well, though she looked like she was feeling a lot better since I saw her walking the Sage back to his orphanage. Kiba went to bed too, and Issei is the only one awake, watching a movie in the living room.

Ichi’s taking a shower, and I, the most diligent of them all, am working on a new, shiny, and useful device. Right in my room, where anyone can see. Why do such a thing when I value my secrecy so much? Because this time, I want them to see what I’m working on. I want them to look at it and think, ‘yup, that’s Akane’s toy alright’. And there’s a good reason for this.

Unlike my real stuff, this new machine has an entirely different design philosophy. It uses none of the intricacies I built into my Amon-inspired stuff. The same stuff that got compromised by some dipshit’s EMP nuke. There’s zero link between this machine and my true and powerful tech.

Like the armor I used in the tournament, and the newer armor I brought with me here. They’re 100% original and use none of what I learned from dismantling Amon tech. This makes it impossible to link my two types of tech. If whoever disables my Spyders disables this thing, they’d think completely different people made them.

“I’m just being prepared, is all.” I shrug. “Really, I should’ve thought about this from the beginning, but I guess I didn’t have an opportunity until now.”

“So you say.” Lucy hums. “But you’ve not explained what you’re planning yet. What is this device? What is it for?”

“Well—”

Before I can answer, Ichiban, who is shirtless, enters the bedroom with a towel around his neck, using it to dry his hair. I have no idea how, but after wiping his hair a little, it’s somehow back to its afro state. But I mainly focus on his abs.

Nice~

“Man, showers here are way better than the ones in my apartment.” He says, blinking once, he spots me. “Huh? What are you doing?”

I give Lucy a quick glance and he shrugs, so I beckon for Ichi to come closer.

“Come look upon my new masterpiece.” I tap the spherical device. “Praise me for my unparalleled intellect. My ultimate genius.”

“Right…” He gets closer, wraps an arm around my neck, and looks at the machine. “What am I looking at?”

“This, Ichi, is a scouting bot,” I explain. “As the name suggests, it’s mainly used for scouting. It flies around and records whatever it sees, directly sending the footage to my phone.”

It also has another function, which is to work as bait to lure out the asshole that destoyed my Spyder. Knowing his identity is at the top of my priority list. More than finding Lani. More than killing the Overseer. And more than getting the Esperanza treasure for myself.

I cannot have anyone, ANYONE, figure out my alter ego. No matter what I have to do and no matter who I have to kill. That identity must stay a secret until I’m ready to reveal my true self to the real world.

“Woah. For real?” He looks amazed. “Hold on, it can fly? How? Does it have like boosters or something?”

A valid question. The device is just a bronze sphere with a big blue lens on the front. There’s no indication of any boosters or wings it can use to float around. So, how can it fly? It can fly because I designed it to fly. No, I’m not gonna go into detail.

“If I try to explain that, you’d probably fall asleep.” I roll my eyes.

“Heh, yeah. Probably.” He agrees. “Still, though. This is gonna help us out a ton in looking for Lani, won’t it?”

“Yup. That’s why I made it.” I nod. “I mean, one isn’t gonna be enough, though, so I plan to make like a dozen more. Imagine them flying all around Hawaii? We’ll get to her in no time.”

“For real.” He says, rubbing the back of his neck. He still looks in awe. “Damn, you really are a genius.”

“Only the most intelligent and capable person on Earth,” I respond with a smug smirk. Yes, praise me more~ “What else would you expect?”

“I said it once, and I’ll say it again: You could do without the ego.” He sighs, smiling at me. “But I guess it wouldn’t be you anymore.”

For once, he actually works up the courage to make a move first, and although it’s a little embarrassing doing something like that in front of the spirit of a dead devil god, I don’t stop Ichiban from kissing me.

“You’re getting really good at this, you know?” I offer him some praise as he pulls away.

“Well, what can I say?” He replies. “Having a girl as attractive as you really motivates a man.”

“That’s adorable~” I giggle as I feel his hand going down my back and resting on my rear. Before I swiftly but playfully push him away and onto the bed. “But I can’t afford any distractions.”

“Oof!” He grunts, his expression dropping into one of mild disappointment. “For real? Why get my hopes up, then?”

“Sorry, Ichi~ Work is work,” I say. “But how about this? If you manage to stay awake until I finish, say, six more of these scouts, I’ll let you take the lead for once.”

“Seriously?” His eyes open wide.

“By the time I’m done, I’d feel too tired to do anything else,” I admit. Even riding him would sound exhausting. “But at the same time, I don’t wanna frustrate you too much. I can show mercy sometimes, y’know.”

“Deal!” He responds excitedly. “I won’t even close my eyes!”

“I’m sure~” I smirk at him. “Tell me, who’s your goddess again?”

“You.” He claims without hesitation. “You’re really a goddess. I’m honored to be in your presence.”

He’s so cute~

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

– Ichiban –

“Whew. I’m finally done.”

Jolted awake from his not-sleep, Ichiban blinked a few times and wiped the drool off his face, looking at his girlfriend stretching her arms with a satisfied groan on her chair. His brain hadn’t entirely caught up with what was happening before she turned to look at him, tilting her head at him curiously.

“What? You fell asleep?”

He blinked, still processing.

“I guess you’re too tired as well.” She said, shrugging and getting off her chair. “Better go back to bed. It’s already late enough as is.”

As his brain fully processed what she meant by that, and as he remembered her promise just a few hours ago, Ichi sat up properly.

“No. Nope. Nuh-uh.” Ichiban shook his head. “Still awake. Didn’t even get a wink in.”

Akane giggled.

“You sure?” She asked, getting on the bed next to him. “You look like you’re about to collapse.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He insisted. “I feel energized. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever felt this energized in my life.”

She hummed, smirking at him smugly.

“Well, if you’re sure…”

Truthfully, while Ichiban didn’t hate her taking the lead and in fact liked it when she rode him until he began shooting blanks, he never really had a chance to be the top. Every single time they made love, it would be on her terms. She’d be in control. Never him. And admittedly, Ichi never felt brave enough to talk about that. After all, it wasn’t like he disliked it.

But getting the chance to switch things around for once? Of course, he’d be thrilled. It was an opportunity to dom his otherwise indomitable girlfriend. And yes, he did try to turn this on her during sex. Suffice to say it never worked. Not when she was vastly stronger than he in their base states.

So really, what man wouldn’t be happy about that? Especially seeing that he’d get the chance to wipe the smirk off his face once and for all. He could only take so much brattiness before feeling that way.

“Then go ahead.” She said, lying on her side.

Ichi blinked, watching her try to go to sleep. She did not try to beckon him to try something. In fact, she didn’t tell him anything at all. Wasn’t the part where they’re supposed to undress? Or maybe make out first?

“Um…” Ichi paused. “So uh, should I… be doing anything?”

“I just told you to go ahead.” She glanced at him with a raised eyebrow.

“Y-yeah, but you’re not doing anything.”

“You’re supposed to take the lead. You do stuff.” She chuckled.

Was he supposed to undress her? Was that what she meant?

“Well…” He glanced at her butt and rested a hand on it. “Don’t mind if I do.”

Ichiban pulled her pants down, kneading and stretching her heavenly soft rear. For the hundredth time he asked himself, how the fuck had he pulled someone like her? She was out of his league by every stretch of the imagination. Ichi knew she was just exaggerating and being funny, but she really was unnaturally beautiful, and her body was that of a goddess. Fit, huge butt, amazing tits— what else could a man ask for?

Yet it pissed him off to no end. What the hell was wrong with her, flaunting her body at him every chance she got? A hot-blooded man like him could barely keep to himself, even in public. Didn’t she know what she was doing to him? Didn’t she know how mortifying it was to get an erection in public because she kept subtly flashing him when no one was looking? No, she probably knew. She loved annoying him. She loved seeing him in agony. She wanted him to react, knowing that no matter what he tried to do, she’d still be on top. Literally and figuratively.

Didn’t she know what her brattiness could do to a person?

Ichi forced her to lie on her stomach, making her giggle. This only served to annoy him further as he knew she wasn’t taking him seriously yet, so he lifted up her shirt and used his other hand to play with her breasts. He went as far as to pinch her nipples, making her react as she shuddered.

“Aw, is someone mad~?” Akane said, turning her head to look at him. “Did I do something to upset you, Ichi~? Aw, I’m sowwy~ Do you want me to make it up to you~?”

Her smirk had a tendency to irritate him, yes, but it had never pissed him off this much before. So instead of responding, knowing he’d just give her more fuel to mock him, Ichi cut her off with a kiss. He would teach her a lesson not to mess with him.

He then trailed one of his hands down her toned belly and to her crotch, slipping under her panties and touching her wet, needy pussy. Even as he inserted two of his fingers, Akane only flinched slightly, but made no other reaction, still smirking at him with smugness up to the max.

“You say that…” He took his fingers out of her and showed them to her, slicked with her juices. “But you’re already this wet. It’s like you want to be dominated, but your ego never allowed it until you found a good excuse.”

“Oh, please.” She rolled her eyes, utterly unfazed. “Obviously, I’d feel excited when you’re this adorable. Makes me want to eat you up~”

This bitch… Ichi’s eyes twitched. You know what? Fuck foreplay.

Instead of playing into her hands, Ichi decided he’d had enough of her and pushed her toward the pillow, pulled her panties down, and lined up his painfully rigid cock toward her pussy. Once again, Akane simply giggled at him, but he shut her right up as he shoved his whole length into her in one thrust.

Surprised, Akane gasped and trembled, giving Ichi enough confidence to grin.

“How about this, then?”

Akane said nothing, and he couldn’t see her expression from behind. Not wanting to give her a chance to recover, Ichi went to town on her. He thrust into her as hard as he could, feeling her velvety insides tighten around him to a point where, if it got any tighter, he wouldn’t be able to pull out of her. And it felt like heaven for him.

As for Akane, she was as stubborn as always, not even letting out a peep despite how hard he was going. She quivered and flinched every once in a while, and Ichi could tell that she was enjoying it nearly as much as he was, but she refused to give him the satisfaction. Fine. He would make her scream his name.

Watching her butt jiggling with every thrust was hypnotizing, almost beckoning him to do something, and Ichi was unable to keep to himself, so like any other man would do in his place, he spanked her, making her cry out in surprise for the first time.

“Taunting me with your huge ass everywhere we went…” He growled, spanking her again. “I have limits too, you know?!”

As she stared back at him, her expression was one of annoyance, but that quickly disappeared and was replaced with her usual grin once again. Why the hell was she looking at him like this? Didn’t she understand the situation she was in?

“Lil baby Ichi can’t keep his hands to himself~” She rolled her eyes. “And here I thought you had a lot more resolve than that. Color me disappointed~”

“You bitch…” He growled.

“Ah, did I make you mad again? I’m sowwy~ Pwease forgive me~” She laughed, her tone that of pure mockery. “Hahahaha— Ahn~!”

“I’m getting real sick of you not taking me seriously!” He intensified his pace, finally hearing a moan from her.

His spanking barely had any effect on her anymore, even as her butt cheeks turned red from how much he toyed with them. God, she pissed him off so much. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t wipe that smirk off her even though he was in control this time. It’s like it was permanently etched onto her face by some magical means—a cosmic law.

As if the balance of the universe hinges on whether Akane Amamiya was smug or not.

Truthfully, the longer this went on, the harder it was for him not to bust inside her. Despite his tough act, she was still squeezing him out of his willpower, physically and mentally. And she was barely doing anything. It annoyed him immensely since he knew she couldn’t keep this up either.

Because now, with him going hard enough to reshape her tight pussy, she was a lot less stubborn. She moaned in between giggles, groaning in pleasure and swearing under her breath as she, too, was close to her orgasm. At least he had that going for him, because cumming before her after all that would be beyond humiliating.

But just in case, Ichi knew simply humping might not be enough, so he pulled her up close to him, and toyed with her body to bring her closer to the edge. One hand played with her breasts and nipples as another rubbed her pulsating clit, her moans getting loud enough that, if not for the noise cancelers she’d installed a few days ago, everyone in the resort would’ve heard them fucking like wild animals.

Fortunately, this was enough to make her cum first as she quivered violently, letting out a silent moan. At the same time, she tightened around his cock so much that Ichi simply couldn’t resist, releasing inside her and painting her womb with his seed. Exhausted, the two lovers panted in the afterglow of what felt like an intense battle rather than sex. And honestly? He didn’t feel like he won.

Ichiban knew what they were doing was extremely dangerous and irresponsible. Sex without protection, that was, but Akane always seemed insistent that he cum inside her every time for some reason. He didn’t ask, but he trusted her to be prepared. She was probably on plan B or something like that.

Besides, admittedly, he didn’t think wearing a condom would feel as good as doing it raw.

“Good boy, Ichi~” Akane suddenly said with a chuckle. “If you were going to be this enthusiastic, then maybe I should let you do this more often~”

“Why you…!”

As he flipped her and made her lie on her back, Ichiban immediately thrust into her again, his irritation revitalizing him with energy out of nowhere. Akane moaned, but didn’t try to stop him as she grinned at him widely. Whether he violently kneaded her breasts or roughly kissed her, her expression wouldn’t change.

“You’re so— Mhm~ easy.” She claimed.

The claim only made him want to fuck until morning. Until she started taking him seriously. But no matter what he did, she never gave him the satisfaction. Even as this went on for hours, even as he fucked over the bed, desk, window, and floor, even as he made her cum over and over again…

She just wouldn’t fold.

Which was when he understood. The smirk she gave him wasn’t one of mockery. It didn’t say she didn’t take him seriously. It told him that, despite Ichiban ‘topping’, she was in control. Not him. And there was nothing he could do about it.

This… was a lot worse. It made him realize that there was nothing that could really ‘punish’ her, and a brat that couldn’t be punished is a very, very dangerous brat. She had a reason to be cocky, and right now, there was no one that could knock her down a peg. He knew. She knew.

And yet, somehow, for some reason, Ichiban suddenly found her annoying smirk to be incredibly sexy.

There really was no winning against her.