*Knock knock*
Waking up with my face on the bathroom floor, wine still in hand, wasn't exactly something I thought would happen.
*Knock knock*
Who the hell's at my door at whatever time this is? Don't they know it's too early? Groaning, I got up, wrapping a towel around my waist as I stumbled to the door. If a fight breaks out here, I'll find a way to end everything.
*Bang bang*
"I'm coming, goddammit."
Opening the door, I was greeted by Issei, Yuuto, and Koneko.
"What do you want?!" I couldn't help but yell.
No one said anything at first, and my annoyance only grew. Fortunately, Yuuto snapped out of whatever stupor they were in.
"Sa-Sasaki, could we please come in? We need help, and only you can aid us."
I left the door open and walked further into the apartment. They followed along.
Sitting on the couch, still in just a towel, I asked, "So, you're here. What do you need?"
"Hyoudou-san ran into a former priestess of the Church yesterday afternoon and was almost attacked by—"
I knew roughly what happened in the plot, but what does this have to do with me? Did Issei not awaken Ddraig yet? Guess even knowing what the Boosted Gear is doesn't mean much after all. What was Yuuto saying?
"Lessen it. The least words possible, Kiba-san. And why should I help?"
Yuuto frowned, but it was Koneko who answered.
"You get to fight without restraint. So follow us."
Well, that's convincing enough.
"Alright. Wait for me outside, unless you want to watch me change."
I got up while they stepped out. I grabbed a pair of black sweatpants and tied a red sash around my waist for Muramasa. Heading out to meet the others, Yuuto was the first to ask a question when he saw me.
"Why no shirt?"
I shrugged as I walked away. "Less fabric for anyone to grab onto."
I stopped, glancing at Issei and then at the rooftops. Issei, who had been silently watching me, seemed to realize what I was thinking and started backing up, muttering "no" over and over again. But I didn't care. I didn't want to walk while listening to people talk about a plan to save someone who might already be dead.
With a burst of speed, I darted in front of Issei and threw him over my shoulder. Looking over to the other two, I said, "It'll be faster to take the roofs."
Not bothering to wait for a response, I jumped onto the nearest rooftop and started running in the direction of the worn-down church.
-Mittelt's POV-
What the hell is happening?!
First, those bimbos go off and die, leaving me and Dohnaseek to deal with these stupid humans and Freed! Did Lord Kokabiel think we weren't enough?
But no, that's not what's got me confused right now. I had just finished setting up the Sacred Gear extractor with that blonde bitch attached when a shirtless human stormed in through the window and threw someone at the rogue exorcist. The hell?!
Before anyone even realized we were under attack, they tried swarming him, only to get sliced to pieces. Did the Church send him?
Freed, deciding to be useful for once, launched himself at the human, sending him crashing through a wall.
-Ryou POV-
Dodging a vertical slash that would've taken my head off, I ducked and threw a punch at his gut, but he dodged and took a few steps back just in time.
'Hmm, are we evenly matched in skill?'
That's what I thought, until he pulled out a gun glowing with holy energy.
'Damn, forgot they have those.'
Instead of panicking or dodging like he expected, I blitzed straight toward him. Caught off guard, he managed to avoid me, but only by a hair, losing a few strands in the process. He quickly adjusted, aiming the light gun right at my head. I tried to evade, but instead, he shifted his aim to my right leg.
I couldn't move in time. The bullet tore through my leg, exiting cleanly on the other side.
'Pluming hell, that hurts.'
I narrowly dodged his next shot aimed at my left leg and retreated, using a nearby tree as cover.
'He's trying to cripple me. Crazy as he is, he's still a genius.'
I glanced down at my leg. The shot went clean through, barely missing the bone.
'At least it's a clean wound.'
Freed's maniacal laughter echoed in the air. "Come on, you fucking heretic! I'll show you the light! I'll send your worthless ass to God!"
'I could really use some magic right now.'
Instead of keeping his distance, Freed charged, rushing toward the tree I hid behind.
"I'll come to you, then, you worthless fuck!" he snarled, closing in fast.
I waited, poised, my body low to the ground. He was just a few steps away when he swung his sword, aiming for my torso. At that moment, I struck. Pivoting on my right leg—ignoring the pain—I slashed through the tree. A thud followed.
'Did I get him?'
"Fucking shit, that hurts, you bastard!"
I had severed his left arm from the elbow down.
He started running away, and I didn't bother chasing after him, there was no need. Limping back to the church, I heard a loud explosion followed by crying. 'Great' I thought. If I have to comfort Issei again, I'll just throw him in a river.
The scene I walked into could almost be called happy. Everyone from the Occult Club was there, along with the essence of innocence herself, Asia Argento. She had long blonde hair, wide green eyes, and stood around 5'1". She was the one crying, currently hugging Issei. Gross.
"Forcing women to hug you now, eh, Issei?" I'll admit it. I was a little jealous. Asia was the kind of person who wouldn't lie to you if you asked. She was innocent but genuine, and that was a rarity.
Everyone's attention shifted from the heartfelt scene to me. "Ryou-san! No, I didn't force her to-wait, you're hurt!" Issei stammered, noticing the state of my leg. I glanced down at it, blood pouring freely. "It's fine. Had worse."
I walked up to the group, and Asia finally got a good look at me. I couldn't tell if she was scared or worried. "Well, now that everything's sorted out, I'll head out. See you tomorrow." And with that, I left the church.
As I walked away, I found myself wondering if I should try a different type of wine. That's when I noticed a figure leaning against a tree near the exit.
"That's a pretty nasty wound you got there, huh, kid?" said the pluming Governor of the Fallen Angels. No point in pretending I didn't know him, Azazel had lived long enough to see through lies.
"You're Governor Azazel, right?" I responded.
He pushed off the tree and walked up to me. "I am. And you're Sasaki Ryou. Mind if I just call you Ryou? Of course, you don't. That was a pretty good fight against someone like Freed."
Well, at least he didn't seem to want me dead, though his next words left me somewhere between flattered and worried.
"I've been watching you since you came back. Including that little date with Kalawarner. Not the greatest judgment there, but you're still learning. I would've captured them."
I opened my mouth to respond, but he cut me off.
"I've also seen you buying plum wine recently. So, how about we talk at that warehouse you've been training at? And don't worry about anyone snooping around it anymore. I bought it."
Before I could reply, he firmly grabbed my shoulder and teleported us inside the warehouse. There was a new couch and TV in the corner. Of course, he'd already made himself at home.
"Come on, take a seat. I've got some hundred-year-old plum wine for us to drink while we chat. Oh, and here." He tossed me some bandages. "My own creation. They'll increase the healing rate."
He walked off to grab the wine while I wrapped my leg. Not long after, he returned with a massive jar of wine. It was almost as tall as me.
"Couldn't find the hundred-year-old stuff, so I brought the four-hundred-year-old Devil wine instead. Think you can handle it? Of course you can."
Before I knew it, a wine glass filled with dark red Devil wine was in my hand. Azazel sat right next to me, looking amused. I glanced at him, then back at the wine. 'Oh well, what's the worst that could happen?'
And with that, I drank with the Governor of the Fallen Angels late into the night.