Scarlet 55

Scarlet 55

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Commissioned by Sivantic

Wordcount: 2500

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“So… I’d like to talk to this Hero Faction, if possible.”

“Do you mean ‘talk’ or do you mean ‘put down like rabid dogs?’” Azazel smirked and shook his head. He crossed his arms, while I just levelled a look his way. Soon enough, he raised his hands. “Look, kid, you’re strong. But we’re talking about people who inherited their power and who are fantastically talented. You’re strong and talented, but we’re talking people who’ve inherited techniques passed through generations and once-in-a-century geniuses. Sometimes both at the same time.”

“You don’t think I can fight them.”

“There’s at least ten of them, and they’ve beaten people stronger Kokabiel on their own without help.” Azazel gave me a benchmark of their strength, and I frowned. That did seem a lot stronger than I anticipated. I though they were going to be at my level, before I started changing my body with Ddraig’s help. “And, they’ve got two deterrents: the True Longinus and Annihilation Maker. One’s literally capable of killing anything, and the other one can make a lot of construct that’ll take Ultimate-classes to take down… and he can make a lot of them.”

Azazel stroked his beard, while I considered that information.

The True Longinus is truly the pinnacle of weaponry. If you get struck by it, you will die. It’s something built truly to kill gods. I nodded at Ddraig’s words. While it was heard to believe a weapon like that existed, if I placed it in the framework of a Trump-like power, it made sense. It’s a weapon that can damage and kill anything. Simple, but that simplicity was itself dangerous. Given the fact humans can learn to move quickly, gain incredible strength, and get all sorts of advantages through magic and magical artifacts, that meant such a weapon deserved being the ‘top’ of the Longinus Sacred Gears. The weakness that it had, of course, was that its wielder was a human. Hm, yes. This sort of opponent you’d best be clever for. Poison should work. Threatening whatever he cherishes works, too. Maybe, some remote explosives?

I shelved that idea away, and moved towards Annihilation Maker.

That one I haven’t faced, but I’ve heard tales. The strongest of its users threaten the entire world with innumerable, near-invincible monsters. Its weakness lies with the user. Kill the user and the monsters disappear. It was a Master-like skill with the ability to make energy constructs that are near-invincible. However, again, the user was a human. There’s plenty of ways to defeat a human. And, I was sure that Ddraig considered this target strong enough to not make a fuss about using strategy for. The problem is that while the True Longinus user will be a warrior, this one will be a mage and treated as such by his companions.

So, Annihilation Maker will be more aware of their weakness, therefore more careful.

I thought about it for a long while, and thinking about how Parahumans of their nature would be dealt with.

“You wouldn’t have access to long range missiles would you? Maybe mortal ones modified for bigger payloads and covered in some sort of stealth technology?” Magic detection was something I was training in. Usually, I could smell it nowadays from a long distance. However, mages and other people used a sixth sense that they’ve trained with for a long time, which doubled as a sort of Thinker power in a select range that provided them with the ability to detect attacks, unless people properly concealed themselves. I was working on that, thankfully I could still conceal myself, since all my Draconic parts were inside and my powers were still immature.

Azazel stared at me for a long moment.

“You’re serious. You’d just go and blow them up with some sort of superweapon?”

“You said so yourself that they’re an organization that’s practically representing all human Sacred Gear users. Their actions are endangering me and everyone else. It’s better they’re dealt with fast and quick, before the rest of the entire supernatural world leans hard on all the rest of us.” The calculus was brutal. The Angels, Devils, Fallen, and unaffiliated supernatural forces were far more numerous than us. ‘Us’ in this case being humans with the ability to fight back and protect the rest. This wasn’t a game of cops and robbers. This was a thin line of supernaturally-enhanced humans with the power to be enough of a threat that they can’t be rolled over. We’re a nasty speed bump, so that anyone going after us will get hurt enough that their enemies will take care of them. Bundling up together, declaring wars, and fighting actively will just have us hunted down proactively, after people make truces in order to fight off our organized groups. “What they’re doing paints a target on the backs of humanity. Can I afford to let that stand?”

“No one asked you to make decisions for all of humanity, kid.”

“Well, then, I’m asking on behalf of myself and Asia. What they’re doing is endangering us, so I want to know if they can be dealt with. So, I’m asking you… and what you’ll want in exchange. I’m willing to work for you to deal with them.”

Azazel paused for a while, before crossing his arms and shaking his head.

“Honestly, I can’t think of a price for that sort of ask. A weapon like that’ll make waves… but, I did send Vali over there to investigate them and deal with them if they’re a threat.”

“If they raise their weapons against Vali, will it be the same as them attacking the Grigori?”

“Yeah, but I wouldn’t have them all killed and hunted down, kid.” Azazel shook his head, exasperated. “Look, I know where you’re coming from. I spent a lot of my early years hunted down by everyone with no friends and no one at my back. One wrong move by another Fallen and my throat would’ve gotten slit, too. However, I got out of that by unifying my kind under the Grigori. You can’t do that by killing all your potential allies off.”

I put two and two together.

Why did Azazel bring these people up to me and show off how they were a threat?

Because I would want to deal with them, but he’d encourage me onto a different route that would end their threat to me.

“You want me to do the same as you and take control of the organization?”

“I was going to say that maybe you could work on your reputation, then you can have them meet you halfway, but that might work.” Azazel was pretty glib, but it was obvious that he took my statement seriously. He looked me over with a critical eye. “…Though it might be easier if we did it your way. You’re smart, you’re decent at the long game, and you know power matters most of all. Under you, they can grow strong, until humanity gets a seat at the table. Or, at least, is a good enough ally for the Factions to vie for.”

I already knew how this was going to go.

“Bbbbuuuuuttttt… it’s too much of an effort, and it’ll probably mess up the peace, if I did anything drastic. Why don’t you go along with Vali the next time he meets with them, then decide what to do from there?”

“Azazel, you lazy bastard, let me get shit done!”

“No.”

…

“Ise, you’re not allowed to take over a human organization of Sacred Gear users, or destroy them.”

“Sona-chan is right, Ise-kun. Don’t do that.”

“Ack!”

Both Sona and Rias shot down my idea without a hint of hesitation.

“B-but, think about it. They’re endangering everyone acting the way they do. They’re a bunch of loose cannons with too much power in their hands and they’re actively destroying supernatural minor factions.” I did my best to argue with the two. We were back in the Occult Research Club’s clubhouse/mansion behind the school. Things were finally completely winded down after the massive meeting with the Three Factions. Now, from what I could tell, the biggest issue was the Hero Faction that Azazel told me about. “Doing nothing against them can be seen as not opposing them. This sort of thing needs to be dealt with in-house.”

“And, you are not part of that house, Ise. You’re your own individual with Asia helping you. There’s no need for such drastic measures.” Sona pushed up her glasses. After so long not seeing them in Kuoh Academy’s uniforms, it felt fresh to see them again. The way the corset/vests stopped just above the sternum to emphasize the striped blouse at the chest area. The lace trim at the skirt. Unf. Perfection on every girl that wears it. Oh, and Sona was drinking some tea and enjoying a tiered tray of various cookies, sandwiches, and pastries. Not that important. “You have friends and companions amongst the Church and in Hell which will prevent reprisals from those who seek to harm the Hero Faction and human Sacred Gear users.”

“Sona-chan is right, Ise-kun. You’re not at risk thanks to all the hard work you’ve done.” Rias beamed at me and almost raised her hands my way. I almost got up from the sofa opposite of her and headed straight for the hug. Did the buttons on the blouse always strain that much? Is it because we’ve been playing around so much that she grew a bit? Right. I’m leaving. Later, Ddraig. Anyway, she put her arms down and I caught myself. We were in public and not at home. “You’re right to worry, of course. However, it’s better to worry about reasonable threats. Not faraway ones.”

“Right. The main issue now pertains to the spotlight upon use. We are being challenged to multiple peerage matches, and there is a now a nearby outpost of the Church present in Kuoh with strong exorcists. Not to mention Azazel is now the principal of our school.” Sona pointed out some key facts and I winced with every reminder. “Look around you, Ise. There are many points where a spark can set this whole city aflame and trigger a war. We must look to domestic affairs first, before those abroad. Only after things here have stabilized, can we turn our gaze outwards.”

Kuoh was secure from external threats, but there were new internal ones. The fact that the Grigori and Church were both here meant all three Factions were in close proximity to one another. This was pretty much a powder-keg just waiting for a spark to explode. Everyone here had to be on their best behavior. Otherwise, the war that Kokabiel wanted to cause would happen due to our own actions.

“Before we act on foreign issues, let us make sure that we are secure here. It is time to officially meet with the representatives of the Church. How goes your attempts to seduce Irina?”

Oh, right.

“It’s barely been a week since she started school here. It’s not started.”

“She is the talk of the school, Ise. You should move quickly.”

“What are you saying? Is there someone after her? I’ll kill him.” I found myself speaking without much control over my own tongue. Bullshit. You know exactly what this is. I told you NTR is a garbage fetish. I ignored Ddraig. “Have you heard of anyone trying to slip anything into her drinks or something along those lines? I’ll take care of them. It won’t be a problem, I promise. I can do that easily.”

“No. There’s no need for that. Observations show that she’s following you about, Ise.”

“Huh? I hadn’t noticed.”

Sona sighed, while Rias decided to speak up.

“It’s because she has no ill intent nor is she using magic. From what Koneko tells me, she’s simply trying to gauge your likes and dislikes. Writing down things about you, while mustering the courage to speak to you. It’s adorable.” Rias explained with a smile. I nearly just nodded along and put the thought aside, but then I realized what I’ve been doing at school whenever I believed out sight of others. Rias blushed deeply and gave a smile that reached her eyes as I felt myself pale. “I’m afraid that she watched us a few times. We may have to apologize.”

“You wouldn’t have been caught, if you remain good students at school.” Sona stated dourly, while my fighting spirit left my body. I felt like I was melting away into nothingness. Every reason why I exist fading. My childhood friend, who I ran away from, watched me do all sorts of kinky stuff in school without my knowledge. I may as well have screamed I rejected her. Really, that’s what you’re worried about? What should I be worried about!? Irina might think I don’t care about her! “I estimate that she’ll try and meet with you in the coming days. Though it may be prudent to explain to her that your relations don’t need to be so obscene as with Rias or Akeno.”

A pair of soft, wonderful breasts settled atop my head and a pair of arms brought me up the side of the chair back from the brink of complete ego-death.

This firmness, this perkiness, and this weight… this was Akeno for sure.

“Obscene? Myself and Rias? We may live by the moment, Sona-chan, but I think your scheduling and task-mastery is far more obscene.” Sona blushed a deep scarlet at Akeno’s words. She pushed up her glasses and looked away. A furious blush that reached the tips of ears played across her face. “I’ve only ever received one invitation for a shared night and that’s for you. All others are from passion and a very, very rewarding lack of thinking~.”

It was Sona’s turn to splutter, while Rias and Akeno giggled.

As Akeno held onto me, bringing me closer to reality, I thought about what was said earlier.

I was thinking too far ahead and ignoring what was right in front of me, because I thought that I had enough power to handle everything in Kuoh. However, if I did have enough power, then nothing from outside of Kuoh would be able to influence me and mine. In the end, that meant that I was still weak, in need of allies and power, because outside forces could still jeopardize the life that I now had.

Which made things simple.

I needed to gain more power and continue protecting me and mine, instead of turning my gaze outward.