Chapter 5: The Devil's Kindness and the Interest of Two Demonesses
The first thing I registered was the scent. It wasn't the metallic tang of blood or the ozone of light spears anymore. It was roses—expensive, intoxicating, and distinctly royal.
I opened my eyes to the white ceiling of the Occult Research Club's infirmary. The curtains were half-drawn, letting in a sliver of sunset.
'I'm alive,' I thought, feeling the heavy, rhythmic thrum of the Black Dragon Core in my chest. 'Rias actually pulled it off.'
"You're admiring the scenery while your heart is still stitching itself together?" Crom Cruach's voice echoed, dripping with sarcasm. "You have the priorities of a lecherous lizard, little spark."
'You wouldn't understand, old dragon,' I countered mentally. 'In my world, this was a dream. Here, it's Tuesday.'
Suddenly, I felt a weight on the side of my bed. I turned my head and my breath hitched.
Akeno Himejima was leaning over me, her violet eyes narrowed with predatory curiosity. She was bending so low that her signature ponytail draped over my chest, and the soft, generous mountains of her chest were practically resting against my leg.
"Ara, ara~" Akeno purred, her lips curving into a dangerous smile. "He woke up much faster than I expected. And his wounds... they're closing even as I watch."
I didn't pull away. I looked her straight in the eyes, my metallic gold gaze steady. "Hard not to wake up... with a view like this."
Akeno giggled, a sultry sound that vibrated through the bed. "Oh my. Such a bold little pawn."
"Shameless!"
Rias Gremory stepped into my line of sight, her face a bright shade of crimson. She marched over, looking flustered and annoyed, though her eyes were shining with relief. "You were almost killed, Motohama! And the first thing you do is flirt with my Queen?"
"Worth it," I wheezed, giving her a weak smirk.
Rias leaned down to check the bandages on my chest, her red hair cascading around us like a curtain. As she reached over me, her balance shifted, and for a glorious, long second, my face was buried directly into the soft, warm valley of her chest.
I felt the world stop.
I pulled back just enough to give a shaky thumbs-up. "Definitely worth it now. I can die happy."
"You—!" Rias jumped back, her face practically steaming. "I should have left you on that church floor!"
But despite her words, she didn't leave. She stood there, her hand over her heart, her gaze softening. Akeno laughed softly behind her. "He's certainly not the shy type, Rias-sama."
The Intimate Question
Later, after the comedy faded and Akeno went to check on Issei, the room became quiet. Rias stood by the window, the orange glow of the setting sun outlining her figure.
"You used power that wasn't from a Sacred Gear," she said, her voice dropping the playful tone. She turned to me, her eyes searching. "I felt it. A pressure so heavy it felt like the sky was falling. What are you hiding, Motohama?"
I sat up, the bandages around my chest tightening. I didn't reach for a lie. I just looked at her. "I never said I was a normal human, my lady. Some souls just carry more weight than others."
Rias walked closer, her steps elegant. She didn't look afraid; she looked intrigued. Intimacy hung in the air like a physical weight. "A Dragon Core inside a Pawn... It's a miracle you haven't exploded."
She leaned in, her eyes reflecting the gold in mine. "Good. Normal things are boring. I prefer my servants to be... exceptional."
The Forbidden Revival
We moved to the main hall. The mood shifted instantly from intimate to tragic.
Issei was collapsed on the floor next to Asia's cold body. He was a wreck, his voice hoarse from screaming. "She didn't deserve it... she was just kind. Too kind for this world..."
I watched from the shadows, my arm in a sling, leaning slightly against the wall. Akeno stood beside me, her hand resting on my shoulder for support.
"She's going to do it," I whispered.
"It's taboo," Akeno replied softly. "Reviving a holy user as a Devil... the Church will see it as a declaration of war. The political cost will be massive."
"Interesting," Crom Cruach rumbled. "The Princess is choosing chaos over order."
'No, Dragon,' I thought, watching Rias kneel beside Asia with a Bishop piece in her hand. 'She's choosing kindness.'
Rias didn't hesitate. She placed the piece on Asia's chest. A blinding crimson light filled the room, a swirl of feathers and demonic energy.
Asia gasped. Her eyes fluttered open, clear and blue. "I... I'm alive?"
She saw Issei and immediately threw herself into his arms, sobbing. "Issei-san! I wanted to stay with you! I was so scared!"
Issei gripped her tight, his tears falling into her blonde hair. "Yeah... you're staying. You're staying with me forever."
The Saint and the Sinner
I turned away, heading toward the exit. My arm was still throbbing with a dull, draconic heat.
"Hah," I muttered. "It's true what they say. Boys really do forget their friends the second a girl comes back to life."
"Oh?" Rias was standing by the door, watching me. Her regal composure was back, but there was a teasing glint in her eyes. "Acting like a noble saint now? After you spent the last hour bleeding out and staring at my chest?"
I paused at the door, glancing back over my shoulder. My golden eyes flashed in the dim light.
"I never said I was innocent, my lady," I said with a sharp, charming grin. "I'm just a man who knows how to appreciate a miracle when he sees one."
I walked out into the cool night air, leaving the Great Princess of Gremory standing there, her face flushing pink once again.
"You're a menace," the Dragon laughed.
'I'm a strategist, Crom. There's a difference.'