Gaming Badly in DxD

-Zatren Fumigami-

‘’So, what did we learn today?’’ Mittelt chastised me from behind while massaging my shoulders, making me wince.

‘’…To remember cycling healing magic through my body at all times?’’ I tried, earning myself a frowning Mittelt who started using light magic to pinch my stiff shoulder. ‘’Ow!’’

Chrysalis, the very horny four-armed moth-girl, who had remained silent until now while watching the scene from her seat below heated covers, spoke. ‘’That Master is able to seduce any female by sheer power alone?’’ And that answer made Mittelt send a glare her way.

And the pompous, regal, and socially inept moth, who had a few days of interacting with Mittelt, simply tucked herself further in those toasty blankets, up until they reached her eyes. ‘’Sorry, Master, I tried.’’

‘Don’t worry, Chrys. You’re the best moth a man could have.’ I smiled like a fool while remembering just why Mittelt was ticked off by that response.

It was mostly because after the headpats I gave Kuroka, she went full sicko and tried to remove her clothing. Saying something about ‘’Not being left behind, nya~’’. Only to get interrupted by Azazel and a very beautiful, very embarrassed purple-haired Fallen called Benemune.

We did have to wrap up that meeting. All in all, our opponents' abilities are quite unknown, but we couldn’t just let them do as they pleased. The answer ended up being prodding at one of their bases, and see what’s in store right after— ‘’Owww! Stop pinching me already! Your man is bruised, hurt, crestfallen, you fiend!’’

"Honestly…" Mittelt sighed while releasing my side from her powerful pinching technique, before embracing me from behind, resting her small bosom against my head. ‘’To ‘not be reckless’! That’s what you were supposed to learn. You big, handsome, reckless, infuriating, reckless idiot!’’

‘’You said reckless like thrice now.’’ I provided a smile.

‘’Yes! That’s how reckless you are!’’ She countered while poking my face. ‘’Ha… I don’t know why I bother; you’ll just jump at the next opportunity to fight that crazy dragon boy. Just… be careful.’’

With Mittelt’s voice going lower and tearing at my heartstrings, I turned around, much to her surprise, before sitting her in my lap.

Now I was the hugging one, master of embraces!

‘’I will always come back to you and the girls, if that makes you feel better,’’ I whispered, seeing the tsundere Fallen blush while squirming in my lap.

‘’W-Whatever…’’ She huffed,

And, since I did cause a bit of trouble, I felt like giving back a bit. Maybe this will cheer my little crow~

‘’Here, have a gift.’’ I grabbed her hands in mine before pulling the Twin Draconids from my Inventory. ‘’Consider it your congratulations~’’

The twin daggers had a pretty robust blade made out of sharp Wyvern bone, and the leather of the handles was made from that very same creature’s hide, giving them a good grip along with a scaly, cool-looking design. Now that I noticed, the slightly curved blades looked kind of like dragon fangs.

‘’What?’’ Mittelt blinked, marveling at the very sharp weapons now in her grasp. ‘’You… you’re just giving these to me? Just like that? Hey, hey, I can sense some draconic energy from this! Aren’t they like super valuable?!’’

I chuckled as Mittelt fell into realization. To be honest, I didn’t know how valuable they were, since they belonged to an ‘Uncommon’ pull. Maybe I was just too biased because of how lucky I am with the Gacha?

‘’Channel light through them~’’ I whispered, feeling the Fallen shiver in my lap.

Then, as Mittelt stared with stars in her eyes at the now elongated short-swords made of light thanks to the Wyvern’s very conductive materials, I turned to see that Chrysalis had been staring in silence at the gift I had given my little crow.

She wanted something too, but since Mittelt’s is a ‘congratulations’, she doesn’t feel like she should ask for it.

‘Master, you cannot read my mind like I do yours!’ Chrysalis' voice blasted in my head as she turned to stare at me, indignant. ‘I do not wish for… such novelties.’

‘Chrys, I’m not even reading your mind. I can’t do that.’ I thought, watching as the moth girl hid further in her blankets at my next words. ‘You’re just that obvious~’’

While Mittelt—Who had jumped from my lap and started swinging her blades in practice—Was distracted, I took another item of similar quality from my inventory.

Hidden Bow. Another pull I didn’t have much use for unless I learned how to enchant and disenchant shit from one day to the next. Surprisingly enough, it was made of black wood, but it didn’t have a string. Yet, the limbs were still tautened back as if it did.

The moment I threw it in Chrys' direction with a wink, she hastily grabbed it with one of her many arms. Her eyes shone brightly, which, considering the black sclera, looked quite pretty.

Then, a glowing green string suddenly appeared out of nowhere, as if it had always been there. Using one hand to hold the grip of the bow, while using the other two to pull the string back, I… didn’t see anything.

That was, until Chrysalis released the pulled-back string, and—Fwoshh—Now there was a hole— No, two holes on the floor. Apparently, each arm counted as one arrow.

Neat.

‘’I’ll put your benevolence to great use, Master…~’’ Chrysalis purred while marveling at her new weapon, before looking at me and licking her lips… from ear to ear. ‘’And I’ll repay it handsomely with many spawns for you to sire~’’

I feared the day that Chrys was in the same room as Aika. Truly, I would probably not leave that room without one or both of them knocked up.

‘Speaking of knocking up…’ I should probably call Koneko. I heard from Rias via text that she was having a medical check-up in a few days. So, I should probably go, too. ‘There was also… right. Beating Sona in chess and finally taking that grumpy beauty on a date.’

Man, my life was busy. The good kind of busy.

‘’Why are there holes in the ground?!’’ Mittelt shouted as she finished playing with her new daggers, and was now pointing one of the lit-up weapons at the head-sized hole in the floor.

‘’I just woke up,’’ I said in a bored tone. ‘’And there was a hole.’’

‘’Huh?! What does— Are you making a shitty reference again?’’ And she hasn’t seen the second hole one yet.

-X-x-X-

-Sona Sitri-

For a second time since my stay in Rome, I heard my door being knocked on at a non-standard time.

That time being, earlyin the morning.

‘’Yahoo~ Sona-senpaiii~ Are you home?’’ And, of course, it could be none other than Zatren. Because of course it was him. Even though I told him to tell me in advance when he was dropping by. ‘’Seeeenpaaaai~ Hm… Did she go out or something?’’

Taking a deep breath, I got off the couch and tried fixing my hair a bit. This vacation time has left me… a bit unorganized, I’ll admit. Much more different than the standards of discipline I’ve upheld while ruling over Kuoh.

One may say that is the whole point of a vacation, but I would disagree.

After putting on my glasses, I went to open the door. What I saw on the other side almost played with my heartstrings.

Because sitting beside the door was Zatren. Fiddling with some strings made out of water. Wrapping them around his fingers before making them slack. It almost looked childish, considering the look of wonder in his eyes as he used magic as if it were clay to make whatever form he wanted.

If anything, it was a… very simple way of training? Control training, of course…

I may have taken a picture, since the man didn’t seem to notice that I had already opened the door. A bit too lost in his own play. Yet, it was only for me to send to Rias later, because if I told her, and didn’t have anything to show for it, then she would pout at me for an entire week.

Of course, it was for Rias and nothing else.

‘’Zatren, I opened the door already.’’ I cleared my throat, feeling the heat on my cheeks die down at the same time.

Zatren’s movements stopped, and as he turned to look directly at me. His smile grew even more than when he was playing with magic, and his eyes… sparkled?

‘’My dear King~! I have come to challenge you for the right of courtship!’’ He claimed proudly.

…From his position on the ground, looking up with a big, happy smile.

Why is he asking something so… important, while looking like an excited puppy?! He’s even tilting his head to the side and everything! Was he messing with me?!

‘I want to take another picture— No. Focus, Sona. Focus.’ I stared pointedly at the man playing the fool, who was obviously not convincing enough, considering his now playful grin, before nodding. ‘’Very well. However, since you’re proposing your formal challenge instead of throwing around words, you’ll have to cease your attempts after you lose.’’

And now, that grin of his turned almost feral. ‘’Oh? That sounds like you think I’ll lose from the get-go.’’ He chuckled while getting up. Making me look upwards as he got closer.

‘’Naturally,’’ I huffed with my hands on my hips. ‘’You are quite the fighter, Zatren. But in terms of the mind, I’ll say you are… outmatched.’’

Which was the nicest way I could tell that he was kind of an idiot. At least, when fighting and magic were unrelated. Because if it were those two things alone that defined intelligence, Zatren may as well have been a genius.

‘’Counterpoint.’’ Zatren rose up a finger, and then pointed at… me? ‘’The pink dolphin pajamas don’t fit you nearly as nicely as the blue ones~’’

I blinked.

Then, looked downwards. And, just like last time, I had forgotten to change my attire before opening the door. This damn vacation was really messing with my head at this point— No, that’s not the matter.

‘’What does that have to do with anything?!’’ I accused while glaring at him.

‘’Ehe~’’

‘’What do you mean ‘ehe’?!’’

This man will send me to an early grave, I swear!

-X-x-X-

After changing into appropriate clothing in the form of a white blouse and jean pants, and fixing my hair into its proper, neat bowl-cut. I stepped into the living room with a set of chess on hand.

Meanwhile, Zatren was… staring into a point in the void while sitting on the couch. His fingers tapped rhythmically against his arm, which painted the picture that he was deep in thought.

But this is Zatren I was talking about. So, it’s probably about how to make a reference of some kind.

‘’Having second doubts, servant of mine?’’ I huffed, poking at his stupidly rash decision of trying to beat me in chess.

It brought me back, at a time when a heir of a house I don’t remember the name of asked for my hand directly to my mother. Yet, unlike Rias, who had not much of a choice in the matter, I set my foot down and put this… challenge, of sorts.

It was, supposedly, a temporary thing.

‘I would not marry a man who is any less smart than I am.’ That was the ‘’Challenge’’, with chess acting as the intermediary to decide if any suitors were ‘’worthy’’.

Of course, the few that tried failed, and those who I knew for a fact could be good chess players held no interest in the marriage proposal, only in the game itself.

It… kind of spiraled after that. So, by those silly terms of mine, Zatren was the last ‘’suitor’’ who openly challenged me for the actual ‘’prize’’, even if instead of my hand in marriage and connections to the Sitri House, he asked for something as… mellow, as a date.

‘’Hm? Oh, not at all.’’ The man took my verbal jab with a grin and gave me a wink. ‘’I was just thinking of where to take you on a date. Trust me, I love spoiling my girls plenty. So I’ll pick something nice~’’

I faltered, almost dropping the chess set on the floor as my face felt like it had been sunburned. ‘This damn man. Spouting such honey-layered words… and with such confidence, too.’

‘’You will find it unnecessary,’’ I answered simply with a pointed stare as I sat opposite to him, and placed the chessboard on the low table. ‘’I’ll have you know, I have not lost a chess match since I was but an imp.’’

I crossed my arms, ready to see doubt in his face. Yet, instead, a mirthful, cat-like grin greeted me instead.

‘’Don’t worry,’’ He reassured me with mischievous eyes. ‘’I’ll make sure you’re ready for your first time~’’

…That wording of his was also particularly distracting— Infuriating. Yes, infuriating.

‘’Blacks or whites…?’’ I ignored his answer with a huff.

Which only made him chuckle before pointing at the black pieces. Truly, just how much of a headache could this man give me in so little time?

…

In reality, Sona’s headaches had waned ever since Zatren put the idea in his head to make her daily visits.

-X-x-X-

I frowned, hands clasped together as I stared at the very few moves that were left.

We decided on a best-of-three match, just to clear any doubt. The first one was… not simple, but it didn’t last long. I just knew he was using magic to cheat somehow, because if Zatren noticed or not, his pupils dilated slightly, and his eyes moved all over the board in an unnaturally quick succession.

Something I have seen only when he fills out entire report folders in less than a few minutes.

‘That would be convenient to have.’ Nonetheless, the victory of the first match belonged to me.

The problems started when the second match started.

‘’Hey, hey, you like dolphins, right? I bet I could make some with my water magic, want to see?’’

‘’Why Rome for a vacation specifically? Are you interested in the Greek or Roman Myths? Maybe the Colosseum?’’

‘’You really missed it, but I had this biiig fight with a noble heir last week. Something, something… Dodoria? Azathot? Something like that. I beat him up, no sweat. Am I cool or what?’’

He had started chatting my ear off. Suddenly jumping from one topic to another in a matter of seconds. He wasn’t even looking at the board. Yet, I had been distracted by the conversation, and before I realized it…

‘’I guess this one is my win. So-na-chan~’’ He playfully teased. I haven’t even noticed the checkmate in four that he had planted.

‘’There’s still one more. Don’t claim victory just yet, arrogant junior.’’ I huffed, and the next match started.

And it was somehow even worse.

‘’You know, senpai, you look awfully cute when focused~’’ It had started as a playful jab, one I could… partially ignore with a nod and a non-committal thanks.

But then it got worse... again! So much worse!

‘’You know, there’s a certain charm to seeing a girl’s bed hair by arriving so early in the morning~’’

‘’I see.’’

‘’And, you know, I really like girls with glasses. It just gives pretty, playful, or serious girls that smart and sharp look that just takes my breath away.’’

‘’I see…’’

‘’Ohh~ I bet you will rock a business suit, or maybe just sharp, fashionable, and slightly formal clothing. Trust me, you are stunning, my King~’’

‘’I… see…’’

‘’Did I tell you I met your mother at that party Riser made? She was incredibly classy, beautiful, and polite. I’ll say, she definitely passed that down to you~’’

‘’…’’

How was I supposed to keep my head in the game with this buffoon sputtering nonsense at every and any opportunity?!

It has been like thirty minutes of this match! Does he just not run out of stupid things to say?! Is that his divine domain? A god of absolute nonsense and baseless flattery?!

‘’Heyyy, Senpai. It’s your move, you know?’’ His fake worry didn’t move my heart an inch. Because that devilish grin on his face knew exactly what it was doing.

With a deep breath, I moved my Pawn. For some reason, Zatren had let it reach the last square. Now, I could promote it to a Queen. A great boon, considering that early in this match, we had exchanged Queens when I made a slight mistake.

Now, I only need to move my remaining Rook, and I’ll have a perfect checkmate—

‘’Checkmate~’’ Zatren happily called out.

I blinked, eyes wide in shock as I checked the board once, twice, and thrice over just to make sure.

Indeed, just like when I thought I had the victory in my hands, Zatren had been diverting my attention from his real attack.

In his last move, he placed his Rook on the same row as my King, putting it in Check. My piece was barely surrounded by two pawns, but they didn’t cover enough space, and previously in the match, I had discarded the Knight that had made its way close to my King, since it couldn’t do much from its position.

I was fooled. Zatren’s many distractions have diverted my attention from a slightly different, but very recognizable ‘’Anastasia’s mate.’’

If I moved my King forward, then I would lose, captured by the Rook.

If I moved my King to the left, then I would lose, captured by the Knight.

And, the only other remaining move was blocked by my own two Pawns.

‘’I lost…’’ Yet, why did the feeling bring less annoyance than I thought it would? Why did it warm up my chest instead?

Huuuuuuh… It’s all his fault! It’s all this bastard’s fault! How am I supposed to put my head into the game like that? Why am I not even that mad that he actually won?

Suddenly, the image of his promise, a nice outing, with planned places, which he particularly settled for my own interests…

‘’Trust me, I love spoiling my girls plenty. So I’ll pick something nice~’’ He had said, with that stupidly bright smile and shining eyes. Acting excited at the prospect as if he were a damn puppy.

…Damn it. He'd better take responsibility for this!

-X-x-X-

-Zatren Fumigami-

“Well then, I believe this makes me the victor?” I teased, amused at how wide-eyed Sona was while staring at the board.

Beating her, even while doing a little bit of cheating, was hard as hell. Unlike the last time we played chess, Sona went all out now, probably because she tried to prove a point.

However, I didn’t just play. I teased, I made jokes, and I was a complete distraction by mentioning embarrassing topics.

…Like when I flirted with her mom.

Sona’s analytical, smart cookie-brain was not able to play to the fullest with all the blood flow going to her cheeks. And now, I had ‘earned’ the right to take my dear King on a date.

And because I was feeling like a little shit, I Shadow Step-ped behind her chair, and put my hands on her shoulders. I didn’t get too handsy, however.

The following surprised squeak was cute.

“You…” Sona started, darting her eyes from me to the board, before settling on my eyes with a frown. “You cheated.”

“All is fair in love and war, right?” I chuckled, fixing the hair above her ear before whispering. “Besides, if you knew that I cheated, but I still won, doesn’t that mean that you were outwitted?”

The realization fell on her like a bucket of ice-cold water as her eyes widened like dinner plates. Due to my close proximity, her face also broke into a blush. “That’s… That’s not the same! You just… You’re just…”

“Handsome? Intelligent? A Chessmaster? A mind-reader?” I raised an eyebrow while holding back a laugh.

“An annoyance.” She scoffed. My, wasn’t she adorable while frowning, too? Really beautiful.

“That too,” I nodded, and in a daring move, I moved in front of her while grabbing her chin.

“What are you doing now, you fiend…?” Her tone was reproachful, but the blush on her face and the way her face almost searched the warmth of my hand told me another story. “I-I’ll have you know, I’m still your King,and you should…”

I silenced her protesting with a kiss on the cheek, close to the edge of her lips, but not quite.

“I still won, my dear King. So, about that date…” I grinned like a fool, watching as she fell silent and her face got even redder. “Tomorrow sounds good? I wanted to make it extra special. Like, a whole day thing.”

For some reason, Sona suddenly clutched her chest while looking to the side. I couldn’t even tell what look she had in her eyes, since that thing in anime with the shining glasses covered them. Weird.

“T-tomorrow is alright.” Taking a deep breath, she extended one of her hands to me.

I raised an eyebrow before shrugging and getting on one knee. Then, I took her hand and pressed a kiss on her knuckles. It was strange that she asked for that all of a sudden, but I do remember doing something similar for Lady Sitri.

Yet, when I looked up at her face again, she was blushing like mad, while trying to look anywhere but at me. What?

“I-It was a handshake, you fool! To validate our contract! Just what are you doing?!” She suddenly sputtered.

Ah, that was on me then. My bad.

I, of course, pressed another kiss to her knuckles and watched her squeak once more before pulling her hand away while muttering something about a “puppy”.

‘I wonder what that’s all about?’ I shrugged, focusing on planning our date instead.

-X-x-X-

And at last, I had everything planned!

First, it was a small surprise in the morning, followed by a small walk, maybe see if there are any bakeries and the like open early in the morning. Then, it was supposed to be lunch at around noon.

After that, there was one museum I just knew she would like. Not only did they have those apparently ‘’realistic god paintings’’ I heard about, but some common history books. And I bet Sona would be intrigued by things like that.

As for the evening… I’m going to be honest, I was running out of ideas, but I think there’s a beach somewhere around here. It was my fish-creature instinct.

Trust me, I smelled the sand. The fish yearns for the salty soup.

…

Anyway, that meant I stopped by the restaurant to make a reservation. The nice lady behind the counter even put us in an out-of-the-way spot. She was also… very interested in the details. Her stare got quite intense at one point.

…I also think I saw her hair move by itself, but that may have been me.

Just before I crossed the street, I turned to look at the name of the restaurant. It was a simple, classy thing, only the letters in black and gold.

‘’GorGourmet…’’ I tried the name on my lips, then I frowned. ‘’Gor…go… Gorgo… Gorgon.’’

…

‘Did I just get my reservation taken by a Gorgon?’ I hummed. It’s not like I just Analyse every person I cross on the street. That was plain rude, and I wasn’t in my early grinding days anymore. ‘’Neat, I guess.’’

As I crossed the street and turned left into an alley that I had taken as a shortcut the day before, I heard something.

‘’Meow…’’ I blinked and looked downwards.

There was a black cat with a red collar, which held a bell that didn’t make any sound even as the small feline approached. Suddenly, it started rubbing itself against my legs.

‘’Well, hey there, buddy…’’ I cooed and picked up the cat by the sides. Immediately, I felt it starting to purr like the happiest little engine. ‘’Do you have an owner?’’

Looking around, there was no one. Yet, when I turned to see the cat again. I swore that for a single second, I saw a playful grin on the black cat’s face. But that couldn’t be.

Right?

I stared at the cat for a few more seconds before my brain supplied to me that I had just interacted with a mythological creature without even knowing.

Analysis.

Kuroka

Of course, she was.

‘’Nyahaha~!’’ The surprisingly friendly cat I had found in a deserted alley suddenly turned to a skimpily dressed, barefoot Kuroka, who only made a paw gesture with her hands while giving an impish smile. ‘’Almost fooled ya’, nyan~’’

‘’I want the little cat back. Give me back Reggie the Fourth.’’ I deadpanned.

‘’What’s that shameless response?! And you had a name prepared already, nyah?!’’ The… not that tall Nekoshou complained while I kept her in the cat’s biggest weakness. ‘’Why can’t I move right nyaow?’’

I grinned, giving my best crazy people impression. It wasn’t hard, actually.

‘’For the crime of faking being a cute cat…’’ I started with fake disgust. ‘’You, Kuroka Toujou, have been sentenced to air jail.’’

‘’Nyooooohhhhhhhhhh!’’

Well, Kuroka was more fun than I expected, at least.

-X-x-X-

“So, why were you tailing me?” I was not looking where her tails hid behind her robe, I swear.

“So cold, meow~” The black-haired girl across the table gives me a knowing grin. “Just wanted to have a chat, and that big old birdie sent me something for you~”

After I released Kuroka from her just imprisonment (I couldn’t resist the flat ears and a pout), I thought it was better not to speak supernatural shit on a street or alleyway.

Finding a cafe was easy enough, and considering the hour, it was pretty empty.

She used some sort of… Yokai magic? I couldn’t really tell, but it felt different than Senjutsu or Touki. And used it to make sure we weren’t overheard by the staff unless they got right beside us. They didn’t even notice the twitching cat ears on top of her head.

That was either more illusions, or they just believed it was cosplay.

I blinked as a small, purple gadget was placed in front of me by the incognito cat-girl. A single look and a touch were all I needed to feel what it was.

One of the Vritra pieces.

‘I was actually wondering when I was getting this thing~’ The real question would be how to shove this thing inside of Sachi. “Don’t mind if I do.”

Quickly storing it inside my inventory, I was now much happier, going full smiles and sunshines at the Nekoshou, who just looked in amusement.

“You really are greedy, nya… Though I guess it would be worse if you really were a goody-two-shoes and nothing else.” What did she mean by that? And what’s that scary stare for? “Now, about my sister’s future kittens, or more specifically, her pregnancy…~”

Ah, that’s what the scary stare was for.

“I’m not knocking you up just because.” I shrugged. Though the idea of both sisters carrying my children was a very tantalizing image— No! Do not fuck your crazy sister-in-law, Zatren. You’re stronger than this.

“Oh, this isn’t about that.” She replied with a grin, which turned lecherous a moment later as she bent over the table a bit, showing me more than a fair share of cleavage, enough to tell me those ‘kitties’ were not held by a bra. “But don’t worry, I’ll get my kittens eventually, nya~ I can be very purrrsuasive~”

You’re weak, Zatren. Big ass, grown-up divine fish, and you still daft enough to see the red flags and say “red is my favorite color”.

Of course, I took a good look anyway.

“Sure. Then, about Koneko?” I deviated, ignoring Kuroka’s smirk.

I… was a bit worried about her. Last night, when I checked with Rias, she was still feeling sleepy most of the time. She was actually more asleep than she was awake. That’s why she has a check-up soon.

Running into her sister may have been a boon, after all.

“Yes…” Kuroka’s tone suddenly went serious, and she even dropped the cat sounds. “Shirone is… a bit too underdeveloped to have kids. Not in the ‘age’ or ‘body’ sense, but in the spiritual one.”

“Spiritual?” I frowned. “You mean, because she has been suppressing all manner of Life Energy practice until recently?”

Kuroka nodded, her fingers reached and played with the rim of her mug, and her gaze wandered from time to time. She was distracting herself.

“Pregnancies for Yokais are… different than most races, considering that we are, in a sense, spiritual beings.” She sighed, then looked me right in the eye. “As she is now, Shirone may die during labor…”

I haven’t noticed how tightly I was gripping the table until I heard it creak under my fingers.

“Don’t get your scales in a twist, nyah~” And all of a sudden, she went back to her usual self, tone and all. “I say ‘may’, but it’s just a very low chance, meow~”

I slumped in my seat, releasing a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Of course, my good mood was gone, and I just glared at the idiotic cat.

“Don’t joke with that shit.” I scoffed, tapping my fingers on the table. “So… what do I do to make that 'low chance' into zero? Negative, even?”

“Nyahahaha~! The fact that you are angry means I’m choosing well~” Her bout of laughter mixed with that cat interpretation did not help my mood at all. “It’s veryyy simple, really~”

I raised an eyebrow, and then her golden, almost glowing eyes eyed me like a particularly tasty piece of meat. “She has to learn under a Sage~ Lucky you, you have one right in front of you, nyan~”

And the problem with that is that Koneko probably still hated her sister’s guts. It also didn’t help that Kuroka was crazy. Maybe not Senjutsu crazy, but she surely had a screw loose or two.

“And the other option?” I asked, probably already knowing the answer.

Kuroka shrugged, though I did see her smile drop a smidge at my question. Even if crazy, I bet she missed her sister. Maybe Koneko did, too, under all that pain and sadness.

“You’ll have to perform a particularly straining ‘spiritual art’ with her, for she can rely on your life-force as a source of ‘energy’, so her little kittens don’t take it all away~” She purred, and I had the feeling this ‘spiritual art’ was not all that innocent considering that lecherous gaze of hers. “So, you’ll have to learn under me, then, nyah~”

I groaned, mentally looking at my schedule with Thought Acceleration to fit whatever training I’ll need to be doing in the near future.

It’s annoying, considering that my lowest stat to date was SPI, sitting at a bland E+. For some stupid reason, the “sage arts” wanted to elude me like the plague.

‘Partner…’ Jinzui suddenly spoke in my mind. “It may be a bad moment to make you aware of it, but some of the Spears you unlocked from that Red-haired Super Devil also require that you ‘raise’ your Spirit.”

‘Great. Man, I hate stat-requirements…’ Though, if I didn’t have the stat page, I wouldn’t even have a guide on how long till I reached the sufficient “soul arts” to use those spears. ‘Fine.’

I groaned again, much to the confusion of the head-tilting cat, before I nodded. “I’ll be your student, then. And, maybe, along the way… we could try to fix you and Koneko’s issues.”

Kuroka paused for a moment, with wide eyes, before an ear-splitting grin took over her features.

“You really should mind your words more often, little fish…” Her voice dropped low, and her hungry gaze and canines were more prominent than ever. “I may end up taking a ‘taste’ before you even know… How scandalous, putting my claws in a soon-to-be father, nyah~♡”

I stuck my dick in crazy once, I hold no fear in my heart to do it a second time, woman!

-X-x-X-

Bonus Scene: The Ancient’s Interest.

-Izanami-

“I didn’t lie, did I? He’s quite… mysterious, but so is he intriguing.” I started with a smile, watching as the Greek God of Death, Thanatos, was mesmerized by my ‘’seers’’.

With the permission of another death god, and the considerable strength they hold on Rome specifically, it was quite easy for me to plant a few ‘’eyes’’ here and there.

And Thanatos, as the host, provided a comfortable resting place in the form of a couch made of blue and purple flowers that had suddenly sprouted from the ground in quick succession.

Though I feel that Godling is starting to suspect something. Sometimes, he involuntarily stares right at one of my ‘‘eyes’’ before snapping out of it.

A proof that he is growing slowly but surely into a proper God.

“He is… quite eccentric.” Coming from a Greek, that may have been a compliment. “I feel that his demise is near, only for that feeling to twist, turn, and then transform into growth and victory as he pulls ahead one feat over the other.”

‘That he did.’ I mused as my “eyes” reflected back the image of the devil-turned-god facing none other than a host of a Heavenly Dragon. A fight that should have ended his life due to the recklessness of his opponent. Yet, not only had he survived, but he had managed a tie.

The romantic moments in between amazing feats of strength were also quite… wholesome, I’ll say. ‘What did Ama call these again…? A soap opera? I believe it’s some kind of theatrics…’

“Are you not going to offer him your blessing, Izanami?” Thanatos' words gave me pause, and I raised an eyebrow in the direction of the veiled woman. “You seem to fancy him quite a bit. Typically, in ancient times, that would result in a Godling or Demi-Godling being born.”

I sputtered, masking it as clearing my throat before offering a calm, collected look. “That is… unsurprising, considering your Pantheon’s fancy over mortal ‘consorts’.”

Though without taking into account the second statement of the now confused hand of Death, I wondered… Could I give my blessing to him, since he’s a Godling, or would mine actions deviate his course and taint his own Divinity?

I was not unaware that his Domain and mine were quite at conflict, in fact. Abundance, or maybe this Godling’s Abundance in specific, was closely tied to healthiness, wealth, and life.

One wrong move while weaving my blessing, and he may—

“Heyyy Thanatoooos~” Suddenly, a harmonic, mischievous voice cuts through the sound coming from my ‘eyes’, as a green, triangular hat, glowing hat appears in the middle of the field of flowers. “I have a message from the big boss above~ Apparently, there have been a few devils messing around— Oh! You got company! Hello there~”

And with a whirlwind of wind and sparks, a figure takes the place of the singular hat. It was a… boy? Girl? That held a charming smile. Dressed in a green, traveler’s outfit… with high socks.

Green shorts, with forest green shoulder-pads that cascaded into a long, cream-colored cape, along with a brown vest that covered their abdomen.

Lastly, glowing green eyes, the same shade as the tips of two braids resting at the sides of their face, and that green hat adorned with feathers, which covered their upper face.

“And a Goddess from afar, no less? My, I didn’t know you were replacing us, Thanatosss~” The God turned to the veiled woman, who only smiled softly at the playful attitude of TheMessenger.

“Hermes…” Thanatos started with a nod. “It’s not like many come and go around the realm of Death. However, I believe you were saying something about a message?”

“Ah, it can wait~” The newly identified God of Passage and Travel suddenly vanished from his spot and appeared right at the hem of the couch. Staring into the projections, I was making of the real world. “What are you watching? Can I see? Can I?”

“I do not see why not.” I mused, glancing at the embodiment of Death before she shrugged. “We are watching a Godling… who is quite defiant about our Domains. Maybe you’ll find him entertaining, however. As they are quite lucky.”

“Ohh~ Don’t mind if I do, then!” The effeminate boy? Boyish girl? Suddenly vanished again and gazed with interest and curiosity at the Godling’s actions. “Oh! He’s handsome, handsome! Aphrodite will like him, I believe!”

And with the new addition of another Greek God, we kept on watching one Zatren Fumigami’s adventures.

-X-x-X-

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Author's Note:

Unfathomable charisma does it again. Only Zuzu is able to mention a girl's mother and somehow rizz her up in the same convo.

The man, the legend, the schizoid!

Also, writing Kuroka is fun, kek.

I have 9 more chapters of this fic on my , if you want to support me~

Also, I started a new DxD/JJK crossover, which only has like 2 chapters called Front and Back (with some more on the big P-treon.) Yes, this is blatant publicity.

Discord Link: .gg/92Yt5wxeWN