The hot spring's steam clogged my brain, my face burning hotter after the lust-fog disaster. Illusions? Really? One minute I'm the star of my own R-rated fantasy, the next I'm waking up with my face squished between Lavinia's thighs. My life felt like a bad hentai spin-off. I flailed out of the water, splashing like a spooked fish, desperate to pretend that nothing happened.
"Ara ara, Rei-kun, you're all red~" Lavinia giggled, floating out of the spring with her effortless grace. Her voluptuous figure shimmered into place, and she tilted her head, eyes twinkling with slight mischief "You were making such good faces~ Fufu, tell big sister everything!" Her voice bubbled with delight, but her warm smile said she was just teasing, not judging.
"No way I'm telling you anything!" I sputtered, my cheeks blazing as I rubbed my face "Can we just… bury this? Like, forever?" The green fireflies twinkled while I recalled I was here to master my Ki, not to fuel Lavinia's giggle-fest.
She tapped her chin and walked up to me, making my little brother struggle at such sight "But you're so cute when you blush, Rei-kun" She drifted closer, her tone a playful whisper "Don't worry I won't tell anyone~ She winked, and I groaned, bracing for her next teasing jab.
A sharp crack split the air like thunder making my head snap to the right. The ground quaked, and the fireflies scattered as a pulse of dark, electric energy surged through the area. My Ki wrapped around my arm to be prepared of whatever was coming next. Lavinia's giggle faded, her eyes narrowing, though her voice stayed playful "Oh my, that's not very polite" she murmured "Rei-kun, stick close, okay? I got you~"
"Y-Yeah, sure" I stammered, my heart racing. What now? My brain rifled through possibilities—fallen angels? Stray fallens? devils? Stray mages? Whatever it was, it wasn't good news.
The trees burst apart, and she strode in. A girl my age, raven-black hair with crimson streaks, violet eyes. Her leather jacket and ripped jeans oozed rebellion, and the air around her crackled with power. Black wings flared behind her, then vanished in instant. She gazed at us with a smirk curling her lips as she sized us up.
"Well, hell, what's this hentai rehearsal?" she drawled, as she walked up to us and stopped in front of girl beside me "Lavinia, you babysitting now? This kid's glowing like a damn lighthouse" Her gaze analysed me from up to down and then noticing my little brother, she smirked, as I acted that I was fully dressed "Yo big one, you trying to attract every stray in Hell with that weird energy of yours?"
My jaw dropped. Who is this chick? My DxD knowledge hit a wall. Those wings screamed fallen angel, but I never saw such girl making an appearance? I'd binged the anime, read the light novels, even scoured wikis— there was no trace of her. Was she a background character? Her aura was insane, and Lavinia seemed to know her. My mind raced, shock and curiosity colliding but it all came to an end with my idiocy.
"Uh, w-wait, who are you?" I blurted, trying to stay calm, but failing to do so "I mean, those wings, that power—you're not… uh, human, right?" I winced, sounding like a total fool, but I needed answers.
She laughed, that echoed around, which was half-mocking "Human you say? You're not well informed, are you? Name's Kael, the ruler of this turf" She leaned closer, violet eyes glinting with mischief "Now spill. Why's your energy screaming 'fight me' to every lowlife around?"
"Kael-chan!" Lavinia chirped, her voice bright and scolding, like a big sis "Don't scare Rei-kun! He's working so hard~" She floated between us, hands on hips as she stood in front of me "And you're crashing my training spot again, naughty girl! Shoo, shoo~"
Kael smirked, tossing her hair "You're still fine as ever, Lavi. You know I don't follow anyone's orders. I'm here cause some stray devils are causing mess in my turf, and I'm not letting those bastards run wild" She nodded at me "This kid's Ki is like a damn flare. I felt it from miles off, and I bet they did too and are heading here any moment"
"Wait, my Ki's pulling in trouble?" I glanced at Lavinia.
Lavinia's smile softened, her eyes kind "Mmm, Kael-chan's got a point, Rei-kun~. We'll work hard together to hide it, okay? Big sister's on it~"
"Great," I muttered, raking a hand through my hair "So I'm a walking target. Awesome" My brain was still stuck on Kael, fallen angel with a foul mouth and Lavinia's familiarity with her only raised more questions.
Kael snorted "Welcome to the Underworld" She glanced at Lavinia, her tone shifting to serious one "They were afar when I tracked them but they are making their way on here and I Bet it's him that got their attention" She jerked a thumb at me.
"Oh my" Lavinia gasped "That's no fun at all! Rei-kun's too cute to be devil's food"
"No clue what you smoking, Lavi" Kael said, shrugging. "But they're not your usual grunts. Someone's sending them in our turf lately, and I'm itching to bust heads" She grinned, placing her arm around my shoulder "You in? Or you gonna hide behind Lavinia?"
I nodded, prepared to face whatever was heading towards us "I'm not here to die, but I'm not running either" I met her gaze and replied firmly "If they're after me, I'll fight. Even if I am not strong as you girls"
Kael's grin widened, a flicker of respect in her eyes "Not bad. You got some spine. Let's see if it holds when you face those shits"
A guttural roar shook the forest, followed by snapping branches. The air reeked of thick weird smell and energy that made my skin crawl. Kael's wings snapped out, and she summoned a whip of light, cracking it against the ground "Game on, bastards," she growled "Time to dance"
"Kael-chan, Be careful!" Lavinia said, but her eyes sparkled with excitement. She floated beside me, patting my shoulder. "Rei-kun, you're strong. Just stay relaxed and you'll do fine. Good luck!"
"Thanks, Lavinia-san" I said, my heart pounding with excitement. Focus. Don't panic. My brain was still in turmoil but Kael's fire and Lavinia's cheer kept me steady. I activated my aura, white energy flaring around me, sharper than before. Let's not die here today.
The forest erupted as three massive devil creatures charged in, their bodies etched with pulsing and multiple tentacles having sharp claws at the end. Their red eyes glowed, claws dripping venom. Kael didn't flinch, her whip slicing through one devil's arm with an ease "That's right, losers!" she yelled in pure war cry glee "Bow to your queen!"
Lavinia twirled, her runes bursting into barriers and starlight blasts, keeping the other devil's at bay. "Rei-kun, now!" she called, her voice bright but firm. "Hit them with your Ki, like you showed me earlier!"
I nodded, closing in on the nearest demon, its claws swinging my way. I channelled my Ki, recalling the Ki slashes, guiding the energy into a singular point. My hand glowed white, and I swung, unleashing a crescent of energy that tore through the devil's chest, dropping it hard.
"Hell yeah," Kael said, pausing mid-fight to stare, her whip crackling the brains of one of devils "Fuckin awesome! Maybe you're not just a glowstick"
Lavinia gave me a warm smile while blasting another demon back as I slashed the demon horde one after another, doing my end of job, with best of my current level.
Kael laughed, diving back in, her wings a blur of motion. We fought as a messy trio—Lavinia's barriers to safeguard her cottage and farm, Kael's blatant madness and my wild, barely-controlled ki slashes. By the time the last one fell, the clearing was a wreck of scorched ground and shattered trees with blood splattered all over the place around the bodies of deceased strays.
Panting, I leaned against a tree, my aura flickering out. Kael walked over, wiping blood off her jacket "Gotta say, having devil's boundaries touched to our territories was the best decision father made in his entire lifetime" she smirked, "And you're a tough one. I thought you would hide like a bitch, but you're brave. Good job, big one"
"Uh, thanks?" I said, catching my breath, while recovering the ki inside my body as Lavinia began to clean the place with her magic.
Lavinia floated over, beaming with a smile as she enveloped me in hug, not minding her naked form at all. I was on the verge of passing out with nosebleed any moment "Rei-kun, Well done"
Kael cracked her knuckles, her grin sharp. "No one screws with my turf"
I made my way out of her bust and looked up at Lavinia, lowering my voice "Lavinia-san, who is she? I mean, Kael—those wings, that power" My DxD brain was screaming for context. She wasn't in the lore, and that bugged me with each passing moment, refusing to admit that she might be some background character who never got mentioned.
Lavinia's eyes twinkled with mischief, and she giggled, twirling a lock of hair. "Ara ara, so curious, Rei-kun~ Kael-chan's… . Don't worry, big sister will tell you~" She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a playful whisper. "But not now. Let's get back to the cottage first!"
Kael snorted, overhearing her conversation "Nosy, huh? Keep up, and maybe you'll earn some answers." She grinned as she strode ahead towards the cottage.
As we headed back to Lavinia's cottage, the Underworld's alien sky glowed above, promising more chaos. I trailed behind, my mind racing. Who's Kael, really? Lavinia's dodge only fueled my questions. We reached the cottage, and as Kael stepped ahead to scout, Lavinia pulled me aside, her smile turning secretive.
"Rei-kun," she whispered finally revealing me the identity of this new girl "Kael-chan… she's Azazel's daughter. Quite a surprise, hmm~?"
WHAT! But how?!
"Lavi, you got something good to eat? Or am I getting cup noodles once again!!"