Underworld.
- What the hell are you doing here?!
Rias's shrill and indignant scream echoed throughout the bathing hall of the Gremory Mansion. At this, I slowly opened my eyes and pointed towards the entrance, where I saw Rias herself and her entourage.
What was I doing here?
As Azazel had explained to me, they were taking a little rest after their training and headed here to recover and fully relax. Without much thought, I decided to meet them here, taking over the main pool.
There were still some minor bruises and cuts on their skin, but otherwise they were fine. Kiba and Zenobia were limping a bit, Koneko was moving very slowly and lethargically, Akeno and Rias were thinking about something, judging by their faces, and Issei was carrying Gasper on his back while Asia walked beside him with her head down.
All in all, that's the state of mind one should be in after hard training. And I seem to be fine with it, but the question of why the change is so drastic still haunts me.
When they saw my figure calmly resting there, the reaction was painfully obvious: frozen bodies and dumbfounded faces. And disbelief and shock were physically felt in the air.
I grinned.
They were definitely happy to see me. Truthfully, I felt almost no hostility. Practically...
- Are you listening to me?! - I was jerked out of my thoughts by another shout from a certain tomato. I chose to piss Rias off even more by ignoring her completely.
- Why are you here, Sensei? - Akeno asked more calmly, deciding to be the voice of reason.
- Oya? Can't I check on my students? You make it sound like I want to kill you," I said with my hand on my chest and a hurt face, and Rias' eyebrow twitched at me, "It breaks my heart, my dear students.
- You don't have one! - Rias objected vehemently, then took a deep breath and closed her eyes - Let's go. We need to get some rest.
Then she simply stepped into the water, to which she received surprised looks from the others.
- What?" she asked them after noticing this, "We know very well what Sensei is like. He won't do anything, but rather just wants to talk.
At her words, her entourage thought for a second, and then quietly followed her. Even Issei, who was supposed to be tearing up and throwing up over the fact that they were wearing swimsuits. Apparently he was too exhausted to act normally for himself.
My reaction to this, on the other hand, was...stunned. Only to me, of course. I froze and watched their calm actions in amazement, as I definitely wasn't expecting something like this after my trick.
- Wow. Just wow. And you don't care about an evil and insane bastard like me being in the same room with you? Should I be concerned about your sanity? My medical practice is not about psychology, you know. - Tilting my head to the side, I said.
Rias leaned calmly on the edge of the pool and began to dab her shoulders with her hand in a measured motion. Then she looked at me with her blue-green eyes, in which I could not see a drop of concern or hostility. Akeno settled down beside her and closed her eyes, just enjoying the hot water. The rest of us, however, chose to gather a little away from us all and do the same as Queen Rias.
- You are indeed as you have described yourself, Sensei," Rias began, "But I assure you, there is nothing wrong with our sanity. And there is something I would like to do first.
- What's that? - I raised an eyebrow.
She straightened up and, without thinking, bowed to me. Her body formed a perfect right angle at the waist, and her red hair hung down over the water, forming a waterfall.
And this is where I was really surprised. Or rather, naturally dumbfounded. My eyes and mouth opened wide enough to hold the entire solar system. My body didn't move, and for a moment I even thought the hot water in the pool wasn't hot at all.
Who the hell is that?! Where's the Rias who'd blame me for all my troubles?! I wasn't drinking, was I?! Maybe the water in the pool is imbued with illusion magic so strong that it even broke through my Resistance to Magic!?!
And while I was doubting everything I could, Rias spoke, still not changing her pose.
- I would like to thank you, sensei. At first, I really didn't want to accept your words in any possible way. They sounded so... nasty and hurtful to me that I just wanted to attack you and maybe try to kill you.
Oh, even like that?
- But then, locked in my room, I began to think. Slowly and reluctantly, but I started. I combed through my memories for every interaction we had with each other, and then tried replacing your figure with someone else. And that someone else was the white dragon emperor.
Heh. Why would that be?
- He's a bit like you. Just as self-righteous and pompous. Just as annoying and vain. But most importantly, just as strong. At least for us," she continued, as if reading my thoughts, "Azazel-sensei told us about him. Partially, true, but still. And the White Dragon Emperor might have just attacked me and my retinue if I'd pressured him to do it instead of you. And maybe he'd have more than just bruises. He wouldn't care about my brother or his power, he'd just do what he wanted to do, regardless of the consequences.
Sounds like Vali. It really did.
- Then I wondered about my engagement to Riser. We only went on one date, but...I distinctly remember not listening to him or even looking at him. The contract was never even on my radar, and all information related to it came exclusively from my family.
Okay... That sounds really weird. From Rias' own mouth, I mean. But I never got to hear the reason--
- And the reason I wanted to hit you. "Trophy." That's what you called me then, in my own house, surrounded by my own family and entourage. It hurt me deeply. Very much so. So much so that even now that word leaves a bad taste in my mouth when I say it," then Rias straightened up and looked me straight in the eye, "I hate your methods. You made me see things I wish I had never seen. You gave me hope, and a second later you ruthlessly destroyed it. You made me experience a powerlessness I've never experienced before. And I definitely won't forget that, and I may never forgive you, but.....
She paused for a moment without breaking eye contact with me.
- Thank you. Thank you for showing me how I would have ended up if I kept acting like this.
Well, I certainly didn't expect her to step over herself and spit it all out in my face. It's like she's been transformed. A caterpillar turned into a butterfly, huh?
Her words were smooth and calm. There wasn't an ounce of lie or doubt in them. And now, she actually looked pretty good in my eyes.
I grinned.
All it took was one right word, huh?
Rias was the only one talking, and wanting to know what the others were doing, I looked around. As it turned out, they were exhausted, as the vast majority of them had fallen asleep. Kiba and Zenobia had fallen asleep right in the water, resting their heads on the edge of the pool. Koneko and Gasper leaned on each other as if they were brother and sister. Well, sister and sister. Drool flowed from the sleeping Issei's mouth, and a silly, twisted smile shone on his face. And on his shoulder was the head of a sniffling Asia. Aside from Rias, only Akeno was awake, looking at me and nodding to herself as if deciding something.
- I flattered-
- You lack tact, Sensei. I'm not finished yet. But what else should I expect from someone like you?" she interrupted me, and now my eyebrow twitched, "I'm telling you loudly, I'm not a trophy! And I will prove it to everyone. Especially you. One day I will make you apologize to me and my entire entourage for this incident. You have my word.
- Dream on, Princess of Tomato Destruction. - I grinned.
- And now I want to rest with my entourage without any unauthorized persons, so please go home. - She said with a smile on her face, letting her nickname pass her ears.
- Yeah, whatever. - I just shrugged and headed for the exit.
A thoughtful grin appeared on my face.
An unexpected change, but I can't say it's not a good one. Definitely.
-0-
A/N: How's the chapter? Give us your opinion. You may well be able to influence future chapters.
My Patreon: Patreon.com/mirzael
You'll be able to read more chapters there.