Issei couldn't help but keep stealing glances at Izashi, who seemed completely at ease, his arm draped around Akeno's waist as she sat comfortably on his lap.
Izashi's head was nestled against her back, his eyes closed as he took in her scent.
The scene was almost surreal to Issei, who felt a strange mix of emotions—jealousy, confusion, and an odd sense of intimidation.
Rias, seated at her desk, squinted her eyes at the pair, trying to suppress the growing irritation within her. Outwardly, she maintained a composed, authoritative demeanor, but inside, she was a whirlwind of emotions. Why does Akeno get to be so close to him right now? she thought, her heart aching with a pang of jealousy. I'm the one who should be cuddling with him, not her...
However, Rias was determined not to let her feelings show. She knew she had to maintain her image as the club president—calm, serious, and in control. She straightened up, deciding it was time to get down to business.
"As you must know," Rias began, her voice carrying a tone of authority that commanded attention, "I am Rias Gremory, the president of the Occult Research Club. And the one sitting with Akeno is my twin brother, Izashi Gremory."
Issei's eyes widened in surprise.
Twin brother? he thought, glancing between Rias and Izashi, trying to see the resemblance.
It wasn't immediately obvious, but now that it had been pointed out, he could see the similarities in their features—the same striking red hair and sharp, intelligent eyes.
But while Rias exuded elegance and power, Izashi seemed more laid-back, almost casual in the way he interacted with Akeno.
Akeno, for her part, didn't seem particularly interested in the conversation. She was too busy snuggling up to Izashi, her movements subtle but unmistakably intimate.
She shifted her hips ever so slightly, grinding herself against Izashi in a way that would appear innocent to anyone who wasn't paying close attention.
But Issei noticed—how could he not? He found his gaze drawn to her, his eyes lingering on her voluptuous figure, particularly her generous bust.
It was the third time Issei had stolen a glance at Akeno's chest when suddenly, a suffocating pressure filled the room. Issei felt it like a weight on his chest, pushing him down to the floor.
His breath hitched, his heart pounding in his chest as a wave of terror washed over him. The source of the pressure was unmistakable—it was coming from Izashi.
Izashi's aura had changed in an instant, transforming from the relaxed, almost lazy vibe he had been giving off to something cold, dark, and overwhelmingly powerful.
His eyes, once filled with a teasing light, were now hard as steel as he looked directly at Issei.
"If I see you staring at Akeno-chan's body once again," Izashi said, his voice low and menacing, "I won't care if you're Rias-chan's servant or not. I will completely annihilate you. Is that clear?"
Issei felt a chill run down his spine. He could see it in Izashi's eyes—this was no idle threat. The intensity of Izashi's aura was unlike anything he had ever experienced before.
It was suffocating, terrifying, and it made him feel as though death was just a breath away.
Against Raynare, his death had been quick, almost merciful. But this… this was a glimpse into the abyss.
"Yes… Yes, I understand!" Issei gasped out, his voice trembling with fear.
There was no room for defiance, no room for argument. The only thing he could do was nod and agree. The pressure eased slightly, but the weight of Izashi's words lingered in the air.
The room was eerily silent, the other members of the club frozen in place. No one dared to speak, and even Rias, who would normally have stepped in, remained quiet.
It was clear that if Izashi decided to kill Issei, no one would stop him.
In fact, Rias might even assist by retrieving her Evil Pieces from Issei's corpse.
Seeing Issei's submission, Izashi finally relaxed, the dark aura dissipating as quickly as it had appeared.
He leaned back, resting his head against Akeno's back once more, his earlier nonchalance returning. "And don't even think about glancing at Rias-chan like that," he added, his voice still carrying an edge of warning.
Rias's cheeks flushed slightly at Izashi's protective words, though inwardly, she couldn't help but feel a surge of happiness. He's looking out for me, she thought, her heart fluttering despite the tense situation.
Issei, now thoroughly cowed, nodded fervently. "I won't! I promise!"
With that, Izashi seemed to lose interest in the matter, his attention once again focused on Akeno, who had taken her seat beside Rias, having decided she had enough fun teasing Issei for the moment.
Izashi turned his gaze to Rias, a small, satisfied smile playing on his lips. "Rias-chan, explain the whole situation to him now."
Rias nodded, feeling slightly more at ease now that the immediate tension had passed. She looked at Issei, who was still trembling slightly, and decided it was time to lay everything out for him.
"Alright, Issei, let's get straight to the point," she began, her tone serious and direct. "All the people in this room, including you, are devils."
Issei stared at her, his mind struggling to process her words. Devils? It was such a ridiculous claim that he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "That's really straightforward," he muttered, a nervous chuckle escaping his lips. This has to be a joke, right?
Rias, noticing his disbelief, sighed inwardly. She had expected this reaction, of course. It was always difficult to explain the truth to someone who had lived their entire life in ignorance of the supernatural world. "You don't believe me, do you?" she said, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Issei hesitated, not wanting to outright accuse her of lying, but his confusion was evident. "It's not that I don't believe you, Rias-senpai," he stammered. "It's just… devils? That sounds like something out of a manga or anime…"
Rias continued to watch him closely, her red eyes gleaming with an unreadable expression. "Do you remember Amano Yuuma?"
The mention of that name caused Issei's heart to skip a beat. His eyes widened in shock as the memories of that day flooded back—Yuuma, the date, the betrayal, and the cold, sharp pain of death. "How… how do you know that name?" he asked, his voice shaking. "If this is all some kind of sick joke, please stop now! I don't want to talk about it anymore."
"This is no joke," Rias replied firmly. "Yuuma Amano was very real, and she tried to erase all evidence of her existence around you. But there's something she couldn't erase—something we kept." She glanced at Akeno, who was still sitting beside her.
Akeno, catching Rias's gaze, let out a small chuckle. She was clearly enjoying the situation, though she was still more focused on Izashi than anything else. "Akeno, the photo," Rias said, her tone sharp, trying to snap Akeno out of her playful mood.
Akeno sighed softly, but she complied, pulling out a photo from her pocket. She handed it to Rias but couldn't resist leaning in to whisper in her friend's ear, "I'd prefer it if you didn't disturb us again."
Rias shot Akeno a withering look, but Akeno merely grinned and returned to her seat, settling in beside Izashi. Rias let out a tired sigh, deciding it wasn't worth arguing with Akeno right now. Instead, she focused on the task at hand, holding the photo out to Issei. "Isn't this the girl you went on a date with?"
Issei's hands trembled as he took the photo, his eyes widening as he stared at the familiar face. It was Yuuma, exactly as he remembered her—beautiful, smiling, and completely unaware of the horror she would soon unleash upon him. "This… this is her…" he whispered, his voice hollow. "Amano Yuuma…"
Rias nodded, her expression softening slightly. "That girl is not who she appeared to be. She's a Fallen Angel—a being who once served God but fell from grace and became something else. They are our enemies, Issei. Devils and Fallen Angels have been at odds for centuries."
Issei looked up from the photo, his mind reeling. Fallen Angel? The concept was so foreign, so strange, that he couldn't wrap his mind around it. He let out a nervous laugh, unable to hold back his disbelief. "Rias-senpai, there should be a limit to how much you can fool someone…"
Rias sighed again, expecting this reaction. "I knew this conversation would be difficult without proof," she muttered, glancing at Kiba and Koneko. She gave them a slight nod, a silent signal that they understood perfectly.
After the introductions were completed, Issei couldn't help but notice how comfortable Izashi seemed. His arm was wrapped possessively around Akeno's waist, his head resting gently against her back as if savoring her presence. The subtle scent of her hair filled his senses, making him smile in satisfaction. Akeno, for her part, seemed equally content, leaning into Izashi's embrace, her lips curled into a serene smile.
Rias watched the scene unfold with narrowed eyes. A surge of irritation bubbled within her. It wasn't that she was truly angry—more envious, really. She, too, wanted to be in Izashi's arms, to feel the warmth of his body against hers, but she knew she had to maintain her composure. After all, as the President of the Occult Research Club, she needed to uphold a serious and authoritative demeanor, especially in front of their newest member.
Determined to refocus the attention on the matter at hand, Rias cleared her throat, her tone firm and no-nonsense. "As you must know by now, I am Rias Gremory," she began, her voice steady. "And the one sitting with Akeno is my twin brother, Izashi Gremory."
Issei gulped, nodding dumbly. He hadn't expected things to take such a formal turn, not with the way Akeno was practically melting into Izashi. Speaking of Akeno, she didn't seem the least bit interested in the conversation. Her attention was solely on Izashi, her body subtly moving against him in ways that made Issei's face flush. She was shamelessly cuddling with him, her hips occasionally grinding against Izashi's lap in a way that was subtle enough not to be too obvious, but enough to catch Issei's attention.
He tried to focus on Rias, but his eyes kept drifting back to Akeno's ample curves, particularly her chest, which was almost spilling out of her uniform. It was the third time Issei had glanced at her breasts, and he was about to look away in embarrassment when something terrifying happened.
A wave of overwhelming pressure suddenly filled the room. It was suffocating, an almost tangible force that crushed down on Issei, making him feel like his chest was being squeezed by an invisible vice. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath. The source of this terrifying aura was Izashi, who had let loose a fraction of his power, his eyes cold and unyielding as they bore into Issei's.
"If I see you staring at Akeno-chan's body like that again," Izashi's voice was low, dangerously calm, "I won't care if you're Rias-chan's servant or not. I will annihilate you. Is that clear?"
Issei's blood ran cold. The threat was not an idle one, and he knew it. Izashi's aura radiated a power so intense that it felt like death itself was looming over him, ready to claim his life at any moment. The sheer dominance in Izashi's voice compelled Issei to nod frantically, his fear overriding any thoughts of protest.
The room fell into a heavy silence, everyone too afraid to speak. They all knew that if Izashi decided to kill Issei, none of them would intervene. Even Rias seemed unconcerned, her expression calm as she mentally acknowledged that she could simply retrieve her Evil Pieces from Issei's corpse if it came to that.
Seeing that Issei had understood his warning, Izashi finally reined in his aura, allowing the suffocating pressure to dissipate. The atmosphere in the room returned to its previous calm, and Izashi relaxed, leaning his head back against Akeno's slender form once more. However, he wasn't finished. "And don't you dare glance at Rias-chan like that either," he added, his tone still carrying a hint of menace.
Rias's cheeks turned a light shade of pink at his words, though she felt a flutter of happiness inside. She struggled to keep her expression neutral, but inside, she was practically dancing with joy. Issei, thoroughly cowed, could only nod again, too terrified to do anything else.
Izashi, satisfied that his message had been received, let out a contented sigh and turned his gaze to Rias, his eyes softening. "Rias-chan, explain the situation to him now."
Rias gave a slight nod, turning her attention back to Issei, who was still on the floor, his face pale and sweat beading on his forehead. He looked utterly bewildered, unsure of what had just happened. Why had he suddenly felt like he was suffocating? What was this overwhelming power that seemed to come from nowhere?
"Alright, Issei," Rias began, her tone more measured now. "I'm going to be completely straightforward with you. Everyone in this room is a Devil… including you."
Issei blinked, his mind struggling to process her words. 'That's really straightforward,' he thought, a sweat drop forming at the back of his head. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. He simply stared at Rias, trying to make sense of what she had just told him.
Rias could see the confusion and disbelief in Issei's brown eyes, and she sighed softly. "Your expression says that you don't believe me. But do you remember someone named Amano Yuuma?"
The mention of that name caused Issei to stiffen in shock. Amano Yuuma… The girl who had killed him. He had thought of her as a dream, a nightmare that his mind had conjured up, but how did Rias know about her? He hadn't told anyone about that name.
"How do you know that name?" Issei's voice was shaky, a mixture of fear and anger. "If this is all some kind of joke, then please stop. I don't want to talk about it anymore."
Rias shook her head, her expression serious. "I assure you, Issei, this is not a joke. Amano Yuuma is very real. Though she tried to erase all evidence of her existence around you, she was unable to completely erase your memories of her."
Rias glanced at Akeno, who was still happily nestled against Izashi. "Akeno, take out that photo," she instructed.
Akeno didn't respond immediately, too engrossed in her quiet moment with Izashi. Rias's patience wore thin, and she raised her voice, "Akeno! The photo of that girl, now."
This time, Akeno responded, though she didn't seem particularly interested in what was happening. She pulled away from Izashi slightly and reached into her bag, pulling out a small photograph. Handing it to Rias, she whispered softly into her ear, "I'd prefer it if you didn't disturb us again, Rias-chan."
Rias let out a weary sigh, deciding to let it go. She had more important matters to attend to right now. Holding the photograph up, she showed it to Issei. "Isn't this the girl you went on a date with?"
Issei's eyes widened as he stared at the photograph. It was Amano Yuuma. The same sweet smile, the same gentle eyes—everything was exactly as he remembered. His hands trembled as he took the photo from Rias, his mind reeling from the implications.
"That's… That's her," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "But… how…?"
Rias watched his reaction carefully before continuing. "The girl in that photograph is not who she seemed. She's not human, Issei. She's a Fallen Angel."
Issei looked up, confusion written all over his face. "A Fallen Angel?"
"Yes," Rias confirmed. "Fallen Angels are former angels who once served God. However, they fell to Hell after harboring evil intentions. They are our enemies, Issei. The enemies of all Devils."
Issei let out a nervous chuckle, still trying to wrap his head around what he was hearing. "Rias-senpai, there should be a limit to how much you can fool a junior, you know. Angels, Devils, Fallen Angels… This all sounds like something out of an anime or manga."
Rias sighed again. She had expected this reaction. Convincing someone that the supernatural was real was never easy, especially when they had grown up in a world that dismissed such things as mere fiction. "Issei, I know this is a lot to take in, but I'm not joking. Kiba, Koneko, now."
On cue, Kiba and Koneko stood up from their seats. Issei looked up just in time to see something extraordinary: a pair of bat-like wings sprouted from their backs, flapping slightly as they extended to full length. He turned to Rias and saw the same wings emerging from her back as well.
It was a surreal sight, one that left Issei speechless. His eyes darted from one person to the next, noticing that Akeno had also joined in, her wings unfurling gracefully. The only two people who remained as they were, were Izashi and Akeno, but the others… they were like something straight out of his wildest fantasies, or rather, his nightmares.
A cold sweat ran down Issei's back as he struggled to find his voice. "This… this can't be real," he stammered. "Wings… Devils… What the hell is going on?"
Rias's expression softened slightly. She knew how overwhelming this must be for him, but there was no turning back now. "Issei, in the beginning, I told you that everyone in this room, including you, is a Devil. It's true. You were human until last night, but that changed when you were killed by the Fallen Angel."
Issei's mind was spinning, trying to keep up with the flood of information. "I was… killed?" he echoed, his voice barely above a whisper.
Izashi, who had been watching silently up until now, finally spoke up. "Yes, you were. You must remember how Yuuma—no, that Fallen Angel—stabbed you through the stomach. You died that night, Issei."
Issei's eyes widened as the memories came rushing back. The pain, the fear, the coldness that had seeped into his bones as he lay there, bleeding out on the ground. He had died. There was no mistaking it. But then… how was he here, alive, and talking to them?
Izashi continued, his tone calm but firm. "Before you died, you must have made a wish, right? You wanted to live again, to not die in such a meaningless way."
Issei nodded slowly. "I… I remember. I didn't want to die. I wanted to keep living… to fulfill my dreams."
Izashi nodded in acknowledgment. "That's when you unknowingly summoned Rias-chan. You used this," he said, holding up a leaflet with a strange, intricate pattern on it.
Issei's eyes widened as he recognized the leaflet. Someone had handed it to him while he was waiting for Yuuma on their date. He remembered the words on it: We will grant your wish! At the time, he had thought it was just some silly flyer, but now…
Rias stepped forward, her voice gentle. "When you made that wish, Issei, you called out to me. I heard your plea, and I resurrected you as a Devil, using my Evil Pieces. You're no longer a human. You're one of us now."
Issei looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers as if expecting to see something different, something devilish. "I'm… a Devil?" he muttered, still finding it hard to believe. But there was no denying the truth in Rias's words. He had been killed, and now he was here, alive, but different.
Issei's thoughts drifted back to Yuuma—no, the Fallen Angel. "But… why did she kill me? Why would a Fallen Angel target someone like me? I'm just a normal guy."
Rias exchanged a glance with Izashi before turning back to Issei. "You may have been a normal human, Issei, but you're not ordinary. The reason she approached you was to see if you had something dangerous inside you. She must have sensed a faint response from it."
Issei frowned, trying to understand. "Something dangerous… inside me?"
Rias nodded. "You possess a Sacred Gear, Issei. Sacred Gears are powerful artifacts created by God and implanted into certain humans. They have various abilities, some of which are incredibly dangerous. That's why the Fallen Angels targeted you. They wanted to eliminate any potential threat before it could grow."
Issei's mind reeled at this new revelation. A Sacred Gear? He had heard of them in passing but never imagined he could possess one. "So… that's why she went on a date with me? To confirm if I had this… Sacred Gear?"
Rias nodded again. "Yes. She probably detected a weak response from your Sacred Gear and decided to investigate further. The date was just a pretext to get close to you and confirm her suspicions. Once she was certain, she tried to kill you before you could discover your power."
~~
A/N: I hope you all liked this long chapter.
(I want to request you guys to support me on my p.atreon and continue to read 12 advance chapters ahead over there.
P.A.T.R.E.O.N link: https://bit.ly/evildragon)