Scarlet 11

Scarlet 11

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Comissioned by Sivantic

Wordcount 2500

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“You’re dropping out of school!?”

The words were somehow harsher from Sona Sitri’s mouth than my own parents. Given my circumstances, and the fact my parents were able to see for themselves that I was different, the question had been just that: a question. Responsibly, they’d asked me what I meant, how I would go about it, and why. 

Then, I explained to them the circumstances that I tried to hide from them. Disbelief reigned until I showed them magic, then properly explained Argento’s situation.

The average human being would’ve panicked, sunk into denial, or even retaliated with anger. However, for perhaps the first time, my parents had a question they wanted asked finally answered. The reason why their son was different, strange, and… didn’t need them was because of magic. That was the key, missing piece that allowed them relief regarding a question that they’d kept silent about for years.

However, what was currently important was that I woud secure their safety after I went away.

And, who better to go to than Sona Sitri with whom I already had a “reputable” reputation?

“No! I won’t allow it!”

Or, so I believed.

The short-haired, bespecatacled student-body president of the School slammed her hand on her desk. The rest of the student council room was bereft of abyone else, though I was sure that they were listening in through the door. Regardless of the universe, and the diffrences in the sources, teenagers with power wanted to stick their nose into problems, so that they could prove themselves amongst their peers. 

Hopefully, I could use that to my advantage later, if my argument with Stiri didn’t go as planned… as I was now sure it would. 

Stay strong and stay logical, Taylor. You said so yourself: for this girl reason reigns supreme.

“Allow me to explain, before you refuse my request.” My words were more measured and careful than ever before, in my current life. I stood straight and calm, but met Sona’s glare calmly. I pretended as though my face was my mask. Hyoudou Issei was just a costume that hid my true intentions. Thus, I confronted a Devil who far outstripped me in power. “The Rating Games wil have consequences for me and mine. I showed too much power, but also not enough. I need to train and become stronger, so I need to leave. Whether you help me or not, I will be leaving.”

Sona is intelligent. My words didn’t need explanation. Behind her sharp gaze and the vibrant periwinkle irises they held, was one of the brightest minds I’d met in this world. She’d discerned my abilities, recruited me to rescue her friend, and gained power and fame in the process. Her actions elevated her standing amongst her close relations, her friends, and her people. And, if I had failed and her hand had been called, she’d have only gained the former two. 

“So, this is just a courtesy call. No. You’re trying to bargain with me. You want me to protect your family while you gallivant across the world.” Purple irises gleamed malevolently through clear, wireframe glasses. Her stature changed from angered to composed. I could only wonder if Sona Sitri was angry in the first place, or if those emotions were as much of a ploy as what I saw now. “Hmph, so what do you plan on exchanging for my protection of your family, Issei Hyoudou? What can you offer me, besides becoming part of my peerage?”

“An alliance and everything that entails. When I return, I’ll be stronger, and only you will benefit besides me.” I could use Sona Sitri’s own mind against her, though. Intelligence is only a disadvantage if you do not use it yourself. That mind lurking behind a perfectly symmetrical, nearly alien beauty was something I could use to my own advantage. While those who were more short-sighted could do nothing besides focus on the short-term, I was blessed with an opponent who will consider the long-term too. And, on the field of diplomacy, I enjoyed the blessing of experience. “Protect my family and I’ll come to your aid in the future. I swear it.”

It was more than a matter of my word, or what I told her outright, but what I chose to not say.

If I were offering an alliance now, in exchange for my family’s safety, then what was at stake upon her refusal? I was going to leave. That fact will not change. My course is completely and utterly set. Meanwhile, the decision lay entirely in Sitri’s hands. Though what I offered were only promises, while she would have to expend time and effort to protect my family from whatever came after them… who had more to lose if this bargain wasn’t struck?

She had everything to gain, but refusal could see her with a loss.

If she agreed, victory was mine, but if she disagreed I had another Devil who thought well of me.

“I…” For the first time, there was note of hesitation in Sona Sitri’s voice. The Devil who’d harshly put me through my paces, who used Asia’s safety as a means to have me fight for her, did not have an answer. She valued schooling immensely, say it as right and proper, so accepting my demand would have her break her own code. However, what was she first? A Devil responsible for her subjects or a Class President of a human school? Did she value her Peerage, because of the safety offered to them by a well-trained, strengthened Longinus user whose skill was already prove, or was she to say no and lose such an ally simply because she wanted someone to stay in school? “I… don’t…”

I was ready to press on, to continue leveraging what little my past life gave me besides misery, paranioa, and the need to grow stronger, but my plans were completely, utterly sent awry.

By a magical girl appearing in a burst of light before me to land gracefully upon the floor, only to instead have her skirt get caught on my head.

Then, naturally, she stumbled, I stumbled, and my face was covered by darkness.

Toned, plush, warm, and silk-thong-clad darkness.

MUST.
RESIST.

PUBERTY.

And… I’ve grabbed onto whoever fell on me and pinned me to the ground for dear life…

…

“No, I won’t allow you to speak to such a depraved pervert, Sona-chan!” Serafall Leviathan, one of the Satans of Hell, held her sister in her arms. Arms which were clad in elbow-length, pink gloves with white lace trim. The Devil wore her hair in ponytails, beneath a pink hat. Upon her torso, she wore a sleeveless, pink-and-white blouse that did not reach her midriff. A miniskirt and kneesocks completed the color-coded ensemble. “Even if he has such good taste, I won’t allow my darling little sister to be corrupted!”

“For the love of all that is decent in the world, Hyoudou, stop taking pictures of my sister!” Unfortunately, I could not abide by Sitri’s very muffled request. My body was moving on its own. I have not had time to myself since I trained and the Rating Game. During that time, I’d been desperately repressing every ounce of lust my teenage-boy body had with everything I could. If Lisa and I ever met again, I’d die a shameful and graceless death, but even though I crossed that lines many, many times over while I was surrounded by Devils who were all very supernaturally attractive and wearing school uniforms that were designed by some magnificent fetishist who was probably six-feet under, I had reached my breaking point when Sitri’s elder sibling fell on my face. My self control faded away; thus, I was reduced to a beast who could only take pictures of the sight before me. “Hyoudou, if you take another picture, I will turn you into an ice cube!”

I was doing my absolute best to only take pictures. That was the extent of my current control over my body. I am nothing more than a restraint imposed upon a beast who has broken free. After days and days of imprisonment, I’d thought that the lust I felt within my new body had been broken. However, the moment the opportunity presented itself clad in itty-bitty black lace, it surged forward and assumed direct control. All I could do to control my wretched, newfound existence was have him gather softcore pictures for the future, instead of utterly becoming a wretch in the present. 

For fuck’s sake, my body was literally drooling from the mouth at the sight… while also bleeding from the nose!

And, the less said about what was going on downstairs the better!

“Sona! How could you possibly talk to such a being!? Look at him! He’s the sort of creature magical girls should never meet!” Every word was somehow punctuated by a jiggle, a giggle, and a flash of skin that I should’ve totally been aware of but was surprised by nonetheless. The logical portion of my mind told me that I was looking upon something impossible, that my attention was being monopolize via powers arcane and terrible, but there was no way that I was squandering my limited amount of self control on using that as a reason to resist. I was sure that it did not suffice. “In the name of justice, innocent, and purity, he must be defeated, but you’ve decided to ally with him and use him to your own ends!? Can’t you see that you’re making your onee-sama sad by doing such things!?”

Please, continue making her mad, because her being made makes her go from “my goodness” to “hnnnghh.”

Sona looked at me, through a valley of pink-covered cleavage, with eyes that told me I said that aloud.

Under normal circumstances, burning bridges with such a fantastic, possible ally would be terrible. However, circumstances were not normal, and I could barely control my rampaging, incessant lust… and my phone was running out of memory space. 

Currently, that was the only thing that mattered.

And, well, maybe a noose, if I can convince Ddraig to join me.

Not. Happening.

Well, my partner has decided he didn’t want to die yet, so it looks like I’m going to be forever ashamed of myself.

Damn.

…

“Oh? You’ll leave, if I look after your family? That’s great! For peace and justice, I will protect your family while you’re exiled, Pervert-kun!” 

Those words, punctuated by a pink-clad peace-sign framing a winking, vibrant eye were Serafall Leviathan’s words after I gave her my ultimatum. Shortly thereafter, she launched her way out of the student council room, presumably so that she’ll look after my family, while I was away.

Thus, I was left in a room that lacked a ceiling with Sona Sitri glaring at me. 

“You acted as you did on purpose.” I did not. I had no control of my body. All I could do during that interim time, with a bodacious beauty wearing cosplay, was take pictures, drool over myself, and some other unspeakable things. However, if Sona Sitri wanted to continue thinking of me as a grand, calculating Master, then I had not reason to disabuse her of the notion. Maybe, perhaps a little, I can salvage some of my pride… nope. There’s none. It’s all dust in the wind now. Currently, Taylor Hebert’s pride and self-respect are both dust in the wind. “I applaud your commitment to your role, but you should know that my sister is flighty at best and forgetful at worst. The protection of your family is still in my hands.”

“Is that so? Well, I think I’ll test my luck.” I had nothing left within me. My uniform was covered in drool. My phone filled with softcore. The less said about my boxers the better. The whole situation has rendered me utterly exhausted. Mentally and physically, I am a puddle of regret given the form of a man. “Goodbye.”

My attempt to exit cooly, via the fourth-story window of Kuoh Academy, was stopped by Sitri grabbing the back of my collar. Despite her petitie nature, the uniformed, bespactled girl was a Devil, and more than capable of bringing me low before my escape with one hand, while she pushed up the aforementioned bifocals menacingly. 

“You are not getting the assistance of my airheaded, elder sister so easily. You will not gavilant as you wish across the world, without cost nor consequence.” The situation was dire. Exhausted, fatigued, spent, and satisfied with life, my mental processes weren’t fully functional. The brain is one unit, sharing energy with all its parts and portions, and the Ego that had overtaken me had overspent me completely. I was only vaguely aware of the situation, enough so that I’ll regret it for the rest of my life, but any more thoughts were beyond me. “She will only guard your parents for three weeks. I expect that you return thereafter, accomplishing whatever you wish, and making up all the homework and tests required of you, Issei Hyoudou.”

I was going to argue, but there was no opportunity to do so, as the world shifted along with Sona Sitri’s grip. 

Leaving her with grabbing the front of my shirt, as I knelt, and she loomed over me with a look on her face that I could no longer ignore. 

“And, when you come back, I will beat you senseless for staring at my sister!” Those were the words she said, but even through my fatigue, I was able to see the signs. The scarlet face, the teary eyes, and the quivering lip was not entirely due to anger. There was jealousy within that gaze. Greed was something I used as a lever many times, but finding it on Sona Sitri was something I wanted to avoid for the longest time. “I expect recompensation thereafter too. I don’t know what, but you better do your best, so that I don’t hunt you down!”

Sitri then let me go, then all but fled out of the roofless classroom. 

I told you she’s a tsundere. A megane, short-haired, and smart tsundere, but still a tsundere. 

Be quiet, Drraig.

Yeah. Sorry. 

Yeah, in the end, I hadn’t manipulated Serafall Leivathan. The moment what had happened happened, when I saw Sitri’s face after her sister leapt away from me, I knew that I had do my utmost to make the most of a situation. Thus, I played with a teenage girl’s heart, because instead of Taylor Hebert, she’d known a calculating and capable young man, who’d deiligently worked with her and who she taught for weeks. 

And, while she was incredibly, fantastically attractive, I did not have any intention of being with her.

I wanted to get stronger, until I could have a safe and prosperous life in this world.

There was no way I could get enough strength to stand beside someone who one day rule Hell or at least be a part of what decides its future.  In a way, using her like this killed two birds with one stone. I made her infuriated with me, so she’d never consider me, and I secured a better protector for my family, until I returned from a journey that would definitely take more than three weeks. 

It was the best conclusion.

Yet, I still felt like shit. 

A/N: Last of what I passively worked until now. Updates will be somewhat irregular for the time being.