Chapter 35: The Kokabiel Incident (II)
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"So let me get this straight, the four of you went to destroy Excalibur without telling anyone, or asking us for any assistance whatsoever. And even though you made contact with the Genocide Archibsop of all people, you still didn't bother to tell anyone. Am I wrong?"
After their encounter with Freed and Valper, the group had been brought to a local park by a rather unhappy Rias and Sona.
"No… that's pretty much what happened…" Issei answered while in the seiza position.
"Saji. I don't recall teaching you to demonstrate such rashness when it comes to decision-making. You've hardly been reincarnated for a month, do you honestly believe you're in any position to be running off on your own like this?" Sona scolded.
"N-Not at all…"
Both kings let out a sigh, already deliberating what sort of punishment they would deliver unto their subordinates.
Rias pinched her nose bridge. "So, you said Freed was also with this person? And you're certain he had at least two of the stolen Excaliburs with him?"
"Yes, he definitely did."
"And did you see anyone else with them?"
Everyone who had been at the confrontation looked at one another, not sure whether they should divulge their information or not.
"Well? Your punishment will only get worse if you withhold information from me."
"Takauji-senpai… was also there…"
Akeno and Sona flinched, though their reasons varied.
"Taka was? Why?" Rias's Queen felt the need to ask.
"Apparently… he's going to fight Kokabiel on his own."
"So he's finally gone mad," Sona smirked. "I suppose it was only a matter of time."
"About that Sona…" Rias said.
"Hmm?"
"Takauji seems to have… changed as of late."
The Sitri raised a brow.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Yeah, what she said." Another voice appeared out of nowhere, perched up behind Sona. "You shouldn't judge people based on their race, even if you are my contractor."
["Literally nobody knows what your race is, blockhead."]
Touche.
Everyone turned in the Mage's directions, the Kings wondering how long he had been there.
"Ya-hallo, how's the spanking session going?" Takauji gave them a friendly wave.
"Taka…"
"That's me! Now then," he jumped down from the ledge he was crouched on. "You guys continue on as you were, I'll just stick around until Kokabiel shows up."
He found a random pillar to rest his back on as he closed all four of his eyelids.
"Ashikaga-san," Sona called out. "Are you serious about fighting Kokabiel on your own? She narrowed her eyes, hiding the shock she was experiencing from Takauji's new appearance.
"Of course, since you and your riff-raff excuse of a team are too weak to take him on."
["Why do you bear a grudge against that child?"]
You've been reading my memories, haven't you? Figure it out yourself.
"Excuse me?" She glared at him.
"ExCUse mE?" He repeated in a mocking tone. "It's not my fault you're a waste of space, you only have yourself to blame for your lack of ability."
["What's with the unfair treatment? Your contractor is also just as helpless in front of Kokabiel."]
Yeah, but I like taunting this one more.
["Such a petty Demon King…"]
"Alright," Sona stood up. "Since you have a death wish I'll go ahead and grant it for you immediately."
Her aura flared up, causing those around her to recoil as they shielded themselves from its wrath.
"What's that supposed to be? A light show?" Takauji tilted his head.
Sona's eyes widened, unable to believe what she was witnessing. Takauji wasn't bluffing, he really was completely unaffected by her strength.
"Oh, you're trying to intimidate me. Guess I'll do the same."
["Don't even think about it."]
Oh c'mon, not even just a little?
["Absolutely not."]
But Takauji's aura never came out, instead, he only rolled his eyes as he threw his hands up.
"Never mind, it would seem luck's on your side Sitri-san," he leaned back onto the pillair.
However, Sona simply continued to stare at him. Her aura was still active as she remained frozen in place, unable to process how a person she could crush with a breath a few weeks ago, could now shrug her presence off as if it didn't exist in the first place.
"Did you not hear me? I said I'm relenting."
The Mage used [Contamination], deactivating her Mana temporarily so as to cancel her radiance.
"Much better," he smirked. "Like I said, you guys just proceed as normal. I'll play bodyguard until Kokabiel arrives."
"Takauji," Rias said.
"Yeah?"
"Where did you even hear about Kokabiel? You weren't there when we discussed it nor when Xenovia and Irina came to us."
That was a question everyone wanted the answer to.
"It came to me in a dream," he replied with a stern face.
"I'm being serious…"
The Mage groaned.
"I sensed his presence."
His contractor wasn't satisfied with that answer in the least.
"With your inexplicable increase in strength, it might have been possible for you to have sensed Kokabiel's presence, but unless you've met with him before how did you know it was him?"
"I never said I knew it was Kokabiel beforehand, I sensed a strong Fallen Angel in Kuoh. And then I found your subordinates dealing with Freed and Valper, who mentioned Kokabiel was here."
A claim she couldn't deny nor confirm, but a probable one nonetheless.
One that she would have to be satisfied with for now, lest she provoke an Ultimate-Class Mage.
"I see. But even if your strength has grown, do you really believe you can take Kokabiel down by yourself?"
I kind of have to, I need to pay for Raynare's shopping habits somehow.
["Doesn't your contractor pay you already?"]
She does, but even Rias Gremory cannot match the finances needed to fund the habits of a picky Fallen Angel woman.
["Right, you got together with Raynare… can't say I was ever a fan of the girl."]
You met?
["No, I just observed her through Azazel."]
"You just worry about you and your subordinates for now, Freed, and that Valper guy might also re-emerge so you should be prepared to confront them. I'll say it once last time, I will handle Kokabiel."
There wasn't a single person present with the guts to refute the steeled glimmer in Takauji's eyes.
As if he'd allow someone to take his town on his watch.
"Alright then… I'll trust you."
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Takauji currently had his back laid on the rooftop of the Hyoudou household, his arms crossed behind his neck with one leg folded over the other.
He looked up at the night sky, cursing his improved hearing as he listened to Rias and Issei tumble over each other in the room beneath him.
Fafnir, can't you like weaken my hearing or something?
["No can do, you'll need to have all your senses at peak condition once Kokabiel arrives."]
The Mage groaned, using the cloaking ability of the clothing Azazel had given him to keep his presence hidden from any intruders.
["Takauji."]
Calling me by name are you? I'm touched.
["Sure sure. I just wanted to remind you, that once you do what you're planning on doing, you won't be able to stay in this town anymore. You know this right?"]
He fell silent momentarily.
I am aware of that. What's it to you? Don't tell me you're suddenly worried about me.
["Heavens no. I just had nothing else to talk about, that's all."]
Uh-huh.
["But seriously, are you sure that's what you want?"]
Just get to the point. I hate beating around the bush.
["Fine, the half-breed, you don't really want to leave her do you?"]
He clicked his tongue, annoyed by the Dragon King's prying.
Not particularly. But at this point whether we're together is no longer in my hands, I have already made my bed, and I fully intend on lying in it.
["True, but your emotions about her are alien even to me who can see directly into your heart. I can't tell if you love her or not."]
I don't love her. Not yet at least.
["What's that supposed to mean?"]
Haha, I want to know that myself. My emotions are clear about Raynare, but for some reason not about her. I don't think I'll get an answer until she awakens her true strength.
["Becoming a High-Class Devil and leaving Rias Gremory to start her own peerage, why are you so certain that's the path for her?"]
Because unlike me, she has the qualities of a leader. She is destined for much more than servitude, you can figure that much out as well, can't you?
["In a way. But you don't consider yourself leader material? Despite having a servant of your own?"]
I'm just a madman who was born too powerful for his own good. And though I take great pride in that, I know I'm not an actual leader. Leaders don't have hearts as gray and fluid as mine, their hearts are made of iron and resolve.
["Well, personally speaking, I wouldn't exactly want you as a leader, that's for sure."]
The Dragon King and Demon King continued to make telepathic small talk for a while, only stopping once Takauji sensed someone approaching him from behind.
"Ah, I thought you'd be here." A woman with raven hair fashioned into a ponytail had appeared, the very one the two kings had been talking about.
"Did you now?"
"I mean you weren't anywhere else in the house, so it was kind of a process of elimination."
Takauji chuckled a little before returning his gaze to the starry sky above.
"You know we plan on helping you fight Kokabiel right? Even if you say you'd rather fight him on your lonesome."
"I know," he grinned a little. "But unfortunately, he'll be dead before you even notice his presence."
Akeno seemed pleased by his words for some reason.
"I was a little worried your personality would change alongside your appearance, but it seems my concern was unwarranted."
As per usual.
"You were thinking something along the lines of 'as per usual' weren't you?"
She could tell he had been caught red-handed.
"Reading my face without looking at it is cheating," he whined.
"Is it now? Then I suppose you'll have to punish me for my misconduct." She said in a slightly suggestive tone.
They're definitely related.
Akeno inched closer, sitting down next to him as she looked at his face with a curious expression.
"Do those actually help?" She pointed at his second pair of optics.
"They do," he opened them and kept his main eyes closed. "You don't seem to be very disturbed by them."
"Of course not, I'm a bit of a monster myself after all." Akeno chuckled dryly, but Takauji didn't seem to be very amused.
"Still stuck on that? I thought you had already moved past those needless grievances." The Queen felt her heart pang a little in response to his words of disappointment. "It's time for you to start taking pride in your heritage, there's no point in trying to forget it, the rest of the world certainly won't. Instead, why not wear it like a suit of armor? Own it even."
"But…"
"But nothing, you are not Akeno Himejima because you are a Fallen Angel, you are a Fallen Angel because you are Akeno Himejima. You possess your blood, it doesn't possess you."
He opened up his main pair of eyes and locked eyes with her.
"Akeno."
"Yes?"
She felt the air around him grow tense.
"If I were to betray you, what would you do?"
"What?" She struggled to process what she had just heard.
"I said, if I were to–" Takauji stopped mid-sentence, everyone in the household also coming to an abrupt halt as they felt an overwhelming presence greet them.
["He's here."]
It's showtime.
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10+ Advance Chapters: patreon.com/Accel14
Discord Link: KQAtTw9u7x
Word Count: 1984
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