It has been a few days since Sakura's outburst.
This morning, I started with my usual morning routine of sending Asia to school. However, ever since her outburst, Sakura had been latching on to my presence as much as she possibly could. Even right now as I hang on her arms that hug her on her chest.
Not that I am complaining though. Someone is conveniently carrying me as I can indulge more in my laziness while being in the presence of a cute girl. Who am I to complain?
No. What I am complaining about is how attached she is to me that this feels unhealthy. But pushing her away wouldn't do either as any negative emotions give that pesky bastard a chance to escape itself confinement again.
So, it ended up in this situation where I can't do anything other than accept that this will be the norm from today on.
Anyway, back to the present.
"Right, Asia. I heard that you befriended some of the Devils?" I questioned with a frown as this is not a matter of racial discrimination. But those Devils here are the main casts.
Mingling with the main cast will eventually drag Asia and myself into their problem. Such are the machinations of fate and destiny. Not even I can severe at will without repercussions. Mainly to those around me rather than myself since they are not immune to the machinations of fate and destiny of the universe.
"Ah! Yes. I made friends with Koneko and Issei. They are good friends, especially Issei. He always helps me when I don't understand something and he is also my classmate." Asia replied.
"I see." I nodded silently and made sure that boy had no nefarious intention which after a quick check, apparently he isn't. It's a good thing or he wouldn't even know how he died.
After we arrived at the front gate of the school, he sent Asia off as usual and attracted the stares of many, especially with how both Asia and Sakura look. They are at a higher standard of beauty compared to the rest. They are heroines of their own worlds after all compared to those nameless characters in the background.
"Goodbye, Asia Nee-san." Sakura waved Asia goodbye.
It's great that Sakura also gets on well with the others, especially after what happened a few days ago.
"Goodbye, Sakura." Asia waved back with a smile, happy to accept the role as the eldest sister to both Sirin and Sakura.
Meanwhile, Sona, Tsubaki and the other Devils look horrified and shocked. The number of girls had multiplied without them knowing anything considering how they treated anything and anyone around me like a landmine waiting to explode.
Anyway, off we go after sending Asia to school. I was thinking about what I should do for today. Sirin had become a video game addict and liked to spend most of her days gaming instead of going out of the mansion. So, Sakura and I are on our own here to spend our days.
"Sakura. What do you want to do today?" I asked the girl who looked dazed as she walked.
"Hmn? Me? I don't know…" She replied hastily.
"Ugh, not helping…" I groaned.
"Sorry." She quickly apologized with a tiny voice but I quickly reassured her. "It's not your fault, Sakura. No need to hate yourself over it."
"Oh, I know where to go." I suddenly said and remembered that Sakura still needed some help in regard to her power.
Sakura's true element is the Imaginary Element or void. In some way, that can be translated to Shadow too. My innate power seems to be Shadow Manipulation so, both of us shared the same element. Sirin too since I grant her some portion of my power.
"I have decided where to go. But first let's fetch Sirin too since she will be coming along." I said to Sakura who simply nodded in reply without anything to say.
Moments later, in Sirin's room.
"My eyes! Who tears open the blindfold!" She cried out while shielding her eyes.
"How long are you going to keep playing that game?" I said to her which made her quickly realize who it was that disturbed her gaming session.
"Give me a minute. No, five minutes. I'm in a PvP. I can't just suddenly stop. I can't afford to lose my best gear." She begged desperately.
"No. Let's go now." I said and used my power to help the game end sooner.
"Eh, they all suddenly lose connection?" Sirin cried out in surprise.
"Yes. Now end it now and we are leaving." I said as I ignored all the rage on the other side where his tentacles pulled the router plugs.
"Okay!" Sirin happily complies because her opponents drop quite a lot of good stuff for her to loot.
———
Somewhere in the secluded part of the labyrinth under the tower of Babel, I appeared with the two girls who looked clueless and curious about this place.
Then the labyrinth suddenly shook and trembled. No doubt I sense my presence. I connected to it through telepathy and told it to be a good bo– err, good dungeon and I will not annihilate it. As soon as he successfully 'negotiated' a cooperation, it stopped shaking.
I conjured a bed of all things on the labyrinth's floor and asked one of them to expose their back and lay on it.
"Don't worry, I'm just trying to inscribe my power in a way to make it more stable and less taxing for the both of you to use." I explained when Sirin blushed and demanded me to explain why she must expose her back. Although Sakura did it without any question.
"Hmn. Let me demonstrate on Sakura first then."
I bit the pad of my paw to make it bleed and squeezed out a few drops of pitch black blood which seemed alive as they dropped on Sakura's back and drew themselves the Falna runes. But I made my own modification so instead of the status that most falna have, it works more like a seal that slowly releases my power the more they grow. More like a restrain so they can use it without feeling burdened. The status and Exilia function is retained since it helps them grow stronger but I remove the need of me having to update it constantly. They will update automatically.
By the time I am done. Instead of like any Falna tattoo from Danmachi, it looks like a mass of wriggling eldritch runes on Sakura's back. Could work like a weapon though, since it gives anyone else a splitting headache just by looking at it.
"There, done." I tap her back before jumping away.
"How do you feel right now?" I asked.
Sakura put back on her clothes and then extended her left hand out, pointing at the wall before her shadow started wriggling and formed a series of sharp shadow tentacles that pierced through the stone wall like paper.
"I feel great! My body is stronger, my mind is clearer and my power… they are amazing. If I have this, I don't need to fear Grandpa Zouken anymore. I can kill him myself!"
"Okay, Sakura. No need to get too excited." I quickly calm that girl as her excitement is going through the roof and weakening the seal.
"Ah! Sorry." She quickly snapped out of it after hearing my words and apologized profusely.
"It's alright. So, does this answer your question, Sirin?" I said and turn to the other purple head girl.
Instead of answering, she move over to the bed and lay on it with her back exposed. I chuckled a little before get back to work while Sakura observed the process curiously.
Normally, any human that tried to look at the runes will have splitting headache. But for them, they wouldn't. As long as it's written by me since it posses my will for some reason and anyone that I don't approve of that take a glimpse at the runes will have splitting headache.
Since I approved of Sakura, she can look at it without problem but from the grimace on her face. I take that she didn't like the appearance of the tattoo which honestly is understandable.
After I am done with Sirin, she also excitedly test her power but turn out different than Sakura. She seems to obtain the space manipulation aspect of the Shadow. Able to create portal that shoot out more robust and sharp shadow tendrils as compared to Sakura's tentacles that come from her own shadow.
"Alright, girls. Let's not hurt the dungeon any further and test your power on the monster it prepared for you." I said and dismissed the bed I conjured and lead them to some monster which were Goblins and Kobolds.
Let's just say, it's a bloodbath as the girls get too excited with their power and went on a rampage in the dungeon.
—————
(Don't worry, I do not forget about Asia. But it's hard to focus on everyone. So now I focus on this two first. Later when we focus on DxD plots. Asia will be the focus again.)