The afternoon after handing in their club applications…
"Wh—what?! Issei! Ikki! You're both joining the Occult Research Club? The one with the school's two top senpai and a loli-face mascot?!"
"Why, Ikki? You've got Kuroka on your side, but Issei too, betraying us? What happened?!"
Matsuda and Motohama rushed over with tears in their eyes. But Issei just struck a pose and asked, "Pfft! Have you guys ever been buried in boobs?"
They froze on the spot.
"Come on, Issei, Rias-senpai called us. Let's go."
"Right!"
They walked out of the classroom together. Along the way, Issei thought he might have overheard girls whispering "Ship's broken: Issei × Ikki!" or "Matsuda × Motohama!", but he dismissed it as just his imagination.
====================
On their way to the old school building, Issei muttered with a troubled look, "Matsuda and Motohama didn't remember Yuuma at all…"
Ikki responded, "Told you, whether demon or fallen angel, non-humans erase all traces once they're done."
"I didn't fully believe it until I saw them clean forget."
"Get used to it, you're a demon now too."
"...I know."
They arrived at the clubroom entrance and stepped inside together.
"Excuse us~"
"We brought our applications!"
Everyone was already there.
"Great! Hand them over," Rias-senpai said, taking the forms and signing them. "Congrats, you're officially members of the Occult Research Club!"
Joining the club felt major. The night before, Kuroka had pinched Ikki's cheek, teasing, "Oh, you're joining the same club as Haine," which left Ikki wondering whether it was familial or romantic jealousy, but he hoped for the latter.
After welcoming remarks from Rias-senpai and Juno-senpai, Issei piped up: "Actually, I want to introduce someone…"
"Introduce someone?" Rias-senpai asked, curiously.
Ikki thrust out his left arm and said, "'Ddraig,' it's on you!"
A green orb shimmered on his knuckles, and a voice echoed:
["Haah, asking your host to introduce himself to new allies is a first. I am Ddraig, the Red Dragon Emperor. Pleased to meet you, partner."]
Everyone stared in shock, already conversing with Ddraig so soon?
Rias-senpai replied, "Welcome, Ddraig. I'm Rias Gremory, Issei's master. To think we'd be greeting the Red Dragon Emperor like this… But since you can speak, why were you silent when Issei called you yesterday?"
Ddraig answered: "I wasn't silent. I awakened the moment my host unleashed the artifact's power, but he was too weak for me to make myself heard."
"So that means you can speak now because Ikki became a demon?"
"Exactly. Even as a human, I began awakening, now with his transfiguration, I can finally communicate."
"That's good. Were you able to ask about the artifact's transfer ability yesterday?"
Ikki answered, "It was late, I just learned that you and another artifact wrecker went on a rampage long ago, before being sealed."
"'Gift power,' huh? Your host is strong enough; a small catalyst could activate it. Train me well, partner."
"How do I… train you?"
Ikki looked puzzled, time for a bit of advice.
"There are three keys to mastering an artifact," he explained. "First: the strength of your resolve. Second: the host's own strength. Third: communication with the artifact."
"Communication?"
"Think of it as affinity. The higher the bond, the stronger it manifests."
"Even beyond twice your power?"
"Yeah. I once asked my teacher the same, output remains double, but activation speed, duration, and bodily strain vary a lot."
That teacher, Magari-san, knew her stuff.
Ikki reflected: Meditating with both "False Reflection of All Things" and the artifact on my lap has shown even slight shifts, my divine attribute rose from E to E⁺…
But building familiarity through dialogue with the artifact is crucial.
"Anyway, nice to meet you again, Ddraig."
"Yeah… this relationship might be good for both of us. Pleasure to meet you, partner."
====================
Ten days later…
Encouraged by the whispered promise from demons, "Become an exorcist-level demon and build your own harem!", Issei eagerly handed out flyers by bike again today.
The club had even gone to Ikebukuro to interview a headless Dullahan, who now rides a motorcycle. (They got chased for riding without lights.)
Rias-senpai is now officially "Club President Rias", she insists on the title.
====================
"Hyoudou Issei, welcome back!"
"Thanks President! Wow, so I get to take a contract too?"
"Yes! This whole flyer thing is just to spread awareness. Now it's time."
"Yes! I've got my first contract!"
"It just so happens that two summons for Kotone overlapped. I'll have you handle one, manual memorized, right?"
"Yes! I've got it!"
"Alright, Juno!"
"Yes, President."
A teleportation circle appeared beneath Issei's feet as he stood in its center.
"Off I go, President!"
It glowed, then nothing happened.
"Oops...your magic's too weak to teleport. But we can't leave the client waiting. Unprecedented, but you'll have to walk."
"…So embarrassing."
Kotone chided, but Issei protested, "Won't they send me away when a demon rings their doorbell?!"
Rias-senpai considered: "Couldn't you use Ddraig's power from the artifact to boost your magic?"
"That's a good point," she said. "Issei, boost yourself with Ddraig and try again."
"All right! Come on, Ddraig!"
"Boost!"
"Juno!"
"Yes, President!"
Juno redrew the magic circle, and this time, Issei teleported to the client,
Though he didn't win the contract.
====================
[Issei's POV]
Whew, that was rough. Morisawa-san met me, and right away she said, "Change!" when he saw me working to summon Ddraig. We chatted about Ddraig until late, but I still didn't get a contract.
We got along, but that's not a success. When she asked me what I was good at, nothing came out. Even with Ddraig's artifact, I'd be a strong guy, sure, but not enough.
Today's my day off. I'm picking up "Gentleman's Disc" from a hidden collector store and wandering around town when I hear,
"Ouch! Why do I fall when there's nothing there?"
I turn and see a flash of pure white panties, holy sister, a blonde gorgeous nun in a mini, my demon senses overloaded. My eyes are practically scorched.
Ddraig chimes, "What are you saying, partner?" I remember she's fallen, so I rush over.
"Um... are you okay?"
She grips my hand and smiles. A stunning beauty like this holding my hand, today is my lucky day!
A gust blows her veil off. I caught it.
Underneath: a blonde girl with emerald-green eyes. Absolutely ideal.
She stammers, "Um, thanks for, uh…"
"Oops, sorry! There you go."
"Thank you…"
She adjusts her veil and I notice her massive luggage.
"Big trip? Moving?"
"Yes, I've just transferred to the church here. But I lost my way, and my Japanese isn't strong yet, so finding someone fluent helped me..."
Even though I hear Japanese, she's speaking in her mind. One advantage of demons, even though contracts limit languages, we can speak anything. I still appreciate that power.
"If you like, I can guide you to the church. I'm free, and there's only one church in town."
"Really? Ah, meeting such a kind person, guided by the Lord."
She prays. (I'm not sure meeting a demon qualifies as divine guidance, but whatever.)
We approach a park, and see a little boy crying with a scraped knee.
She rushes to him: "Are you okay? A boy shouldn't cry over this." Green healing light glows from her palm, and his wound closes in an instant.
Ddraig, that—?
"Yeah, an artifact. Healing ones are rare, but perfect for a sister."
"Thank you, sister!"
The boy runs off, waving at her. He understood "thank you."
Continuing into the park, I walk with her toward the church.
"Ah... you were surprised earlier, right?"
She asks.
"True, it surprised me, but I realized it was such a gentle power."
"Yes, it's a wonderful gift from God."
At that moment, I didn't dare ask why she looked so lonely.
=============
32+ Advance Chapters Available on Patreon.com/Veltoria
200 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
Add to Library to support