DxD: Despair X Despair

"Committing a crime isn't scary. The scary part is to admit it. Receiving a punishment isn't scary. The scary part is to know the pain of it. Neither crime nor punishment will be gone from the world, Because humans are unable to know their future."

Disclaimer: Don't take this piece of crap seriously.

Ding Dong.

The doorbell echoed through my shoebox apartment. 

Odd. 

My social calendar is emptier than a necromancer's morals.

I palmed the knife from the kitchen counter—old habits—and tucked it into my back pocket.

"Coming~"

The hallway light flickered as I swung the door open.

There stood "Yuuma," hands clasped demurely, school skirts swaying in the draft.

Her smile looked borrowed from a hostage video.

I lived in a complex apartment, ya'know, the one where lots of people live in various flats across one building.

But… this bitch. She knows my house. So, she was watching me, huh?

I thought this inside while I invited her in, "Come in." I had said with a smile inviting her in.

"Th-thank you very much."

She said… Hmm? Is she fidgeting?

Regardless of if she was or not. I brought her in, and the moment I closed the door, I locked it with a click that felt louder than a gunshot.

Chaos Mode: Activated.

I lunged. She yelped, hand glowing with a half-formed magic circle—too late—before I slammed her wrists against the wall. 

The knife pressed lightly against her throat. "...Hngh!"

"What are you doing here?" I tilted my head. "You were the one who set those low-levelled thugs up for me, weren't you? At least send Dohnaseek or something if you want to kill me."

Her breath hitched. No snarling. No threats. Just… trembling. Wrong. Raynare's a hurricane in human skin—this was a drizzle.

Something's wrong. She wasn't resisting. She was just acting all timid and all. Not like her. I don't like this.

Should I trust my gut? However, while I was thinking so, her pulse raged under my grip. "I—I just wanted to talk!"

Just want to talk, huh?

Additionally weird. She's not even resisting. No, I still can't let my guard down yet. Making a subtle nod at her, I gave her the command to continue.

"Fine then, speak."

I had said while still holding her hands to the wall. And she, on the other hand, didn't look like she was going to struggle out of my hands.

Was that it? Did I have too much hope in Raynare? I had hoped she'd squirm more, devising other plans to get rid of me. 

Where was the venom? The scheming glint? This watered-down version of her was boring. How disappointing.

"I want to…"

"No."

I had said harshly while freeing her from my grip, but I still held my knives in my hands.

"Tsk. How disappointing. I had hoped you had struggled more."

I am not one to humiliate my enemies while they've given up. By then, they've lost the flavour of despair.

With a sidelong glance, I looked over at her, and then I saw her trembling, clutching her hands.

"Weren't you the one who said if I want to live, I should work under you!? Don't fuck with me!"

Ah. There she was. And there I was, watching as she suddenly broke into an outburst, glaring at me. That expression of hers returning. 

My lips twitched, 'better.'

So, she didn't give up. No, she did, but rather, it seems my words woke her up.

At that point, I closed the gap and simply grabbed her face while staring her down. I don't know why, but I felt like even if I did this, she wouldn't be able to resist.

"Good job. Hate me more, that expression of yours; keep at it. That look is good on you."

And no, before you say it. I don't have a hate fetish. Rather, despair and hatred are now my top favourite expressions.

Even though I held her face like that, mocking her like that, she didn't push me away. 

"Very well then, you're obedient enough."

I finally left her alone, entering the living room and heading towards the kitchen. Like I said, I lived in a flat. Which means yes.

My living room, dining room, and kitchen were close to each other. So, I went to the kitchen like that and sheathed my kitchen knife.

"Asia Argento. She's the next."

I had begun once more, while bringing out ingredients I'd use to cook while ignoring the now thoughtful Yuuma.

Naturally, that is to say, I'm still keeping an eye on Yuuma, or rather Raynare. I am not one to drop my guard after knowing I don't have full domination over her.

Can't afford to be like those characters who let their guard down. I, on the other hand, can't afford to let my guard down.

Yes. It's cheating because of meta-knowledge; however, it can't be helped. I'll use anything to my advantage, even if it includes the life of an innocent girl.

I'm that much of a scum.

"By the way,. Is it possible for Grigori to reincarnate people into fallen angels?"

I dumped instant ramen into boiling water, the steam fogging up. Not the best kind of food to have for dinner, but considering I am low on funds…

Ramen was the way, and the truth, for homeless people, that is (please don't take this seriously).

"Hah? Why should I tell you? Shouldn't you be able to see that with your omniscience?" She snorted.

So, she did believe my omniscience bullshit. How simple are these guys? No, even if I think about it—

No matter how glorified you try to make this world to be as… simple. This world that is.

Why does nobody in this world question why pressing boobs makes Issei strong?

Yeah. Yeah. I'm not that stupid; I made sure to keep up with the series. It has to do with willpower and whatnot.

But, it's commendable really. And what I hate isn't Issei. But the logic that just makes it work. Like! I wish my previous world was this based!

Heck, I'm sure everybody wishes their world were that easy. Easy in the sense that just having the urge to press or outright pressing boobs makes one stronger.

Gym and training might as well go to the garbage bin.

And on that note. Boobs may as well be the solution to this world's problems.

No. It really was.

Issei was living proof. Let's call him "the Son of Boobs" or "Messiah of Mammaries." Patent pending.

Okay, I know my attempt to make a joke sucks, so ignore it. Pardon me for my outburst.

Now, back to Raynare, or rather, Yuuma's comeback. 

"While I did think it's possible, as the Devils and Angels will soon have it, I wondered why the Grigori hadn't; perhaps it's due to Azazel's interest in sacred gear instead."

I said that, pointing to the chair, motioning her to take a chair, but she didn't answer and simply glared at me.

Alright. Let's ignore her.

Well. It could have ended there, but then, I heard her snicker. "What? Feeling compassion for the poor girl."

She laughed, but I ignored her.

"Compassion's overrated. I simply thought it was possible to become a fallen angel instead. Imagine the look on a certain person's face."

She stiffened.

I shook my head while shrugging my shoulders. Yeah, the devil system is cool and all, but I'm not interested in them.

They're way too stale and overhyped. Sirzechs and Ajuka? Yeah, they're strong, but still overrated.

I'm more interested in something like the "Fallen Angel Armour: Downfall Dragon Spear Another Armour," or was it the "Kaleidoscope Dragon Turbo Edition?" 

Whatever. The point is, it's gloriously janky. Like a mecha built in a meth lab 

I can't help but love unconventional things, so you can't blame my taste.

"You? A fallen?"

Her voice brought me back; she really is stubborn, isn't she?

At this point, I had finished the ramen and served it, bringing it to the table. "I made one for you; whether you eat it or not depends on you."

"As if I'd eat something from the hands of a human!"

"Fair enough." 

But be careful. 

If you keep moving that way, you would be served dinner on a cold plate with the Power of Destruction up your anus instead.

Now, I didn't take her words to heart; after all, the more she struggled, the more fun it was. 

Of course, I have my patience, but as long as it doesn't expire, I'll continue to enjoy this.

Anyways, putting my food on the table. I went to my special cabinet, bringing out some… well, substances.

"!!"

In the corner of my eyes, I saw her widen her eyes as she shrank back, eyeing me almost weirdly, then all of a sudden, she seemed to mutter something along the lines of: 

"You'll die before twenty."

"Oh? It can't be; have you fallen in love with me?"

"HELL NO!"

"Then please leave my house."

I tilted my head to the side as I saw that, making her tense up, her lips twitching. 

For a heartbeat, I thought she'd lunge. 

But no. 

Shoulders slumped, she stormed out, slamming the door hard enough to rattle my shelf of expired containments.

BANG!

'Fuu. Finally silent once more.'

And now that I think about it, back then, all my actions so far, why does it feel like something is edging me on?

"It had become stronger since that red orb entered me."

I brought my hands forth, thinking strongly about the boosted gear. It couldn't be what I was thinking, was it?

Were it that, then, I'm sure this world is trying to force the role on me, and maybe it's just my delusions.

But it wouldn't be a joke if I were the new Red Dragon Emperor.

"…So… Seems like I don't have the boosted gear."

I muttered with a relieved sigh more than anything. But then, if I didn't get boosted gear, what was that thing?

It certainly couldn't be Ddraig's soul.

"Ugh! This is annoying. Really."

"But I know for a fact, whatever it is. It is somewhat affecting me."

-Yuuma-

It was scary. She was frozen solid. Those slit eyes of his. Like that of an animal lurking for his prey.

"His eyes weren't like that even when I met him in the morning; is that his sacred gear?"

But yes. Under that gaze, she would have lashed out at him but couldn't. That gaze of his shut her up.

She was only able to recollect herself by feigning her act towards him. Perhaps this was the best answer.

The ritual with Asia will continue as intended, since he wasn't against it.

Returning to the incomplete church—her base, she had landed in front of the door when she entered.

The church's rotting wooden doors creaked as she entered.

The air inside the sanctuary was stale, but she didn't even mind that now.

"Ooh. Lady Raynare is back~"

"Lady Raynare~!"

"Our savior~"

Their voices slithered over her skin like maggots.

They were the false priests she and her colleagues had deceived and corrupted. Now looking at them…

She didn't feel anything. Before, she'd have taken their words in vainglory and basked in it.

But now. It was disgusting, if anything.

Not the type she physically showed, but inwardly, she did feel it.

And true to her nature as a deceiver, she let out a smile: 

"You've all assembled. Very well. By the time Asia comes, then there's hope." 

She clenched her hand; perhaps, even by then, she'd finally be able to—Wait. 

By the way, if he didn't stop her, doesn't that mean he knows?

Doesn't that mean that even these rebellious thoughts of hers, he also knows about them?

'Kuh! Damn it! I can't even think!'

Gritting her teeth, while trying to hide it, she forcibly and coldly killed those rebellious thoughts creeping up in her mind.

"Lady Raynare, why are you silent?"

It was now Kalawarner and Mitlet approaching after sending the priests their way. "Yeah, you look pale."

Mittlet had added, tilting her head before taking a whiff of Raynare.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"Hm. Smells like a man; is Lady Raynare out there deceiving more men? How hardworking~"

Mittlet had simply added with a smile, but Kalawarner wasn't the same. Well, she had known that Raynare had gone after that person.

At the very least, that was what she heard her superior saying when they left early in the morning.

But now, her superior's stiff posture and clenched jaw screamed failure.

'She looks shaken up.'

Kalawarner noted, scrutinising her over. She had admired the fool's bravery; however, it was evident that he knew too much.

When did human intelligence become this strong? Even human magicians wouldn't have that much intel.

That means something had happened. Now, she didn't think Dohnaseek was wrong for wanting to kill him.

Dohnaseek's paranoia was spot on.

In short. That human is bad news.