Capítulo 24: Gremory Wellness Check (I)
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The Gremory's training retreat had been going fairly smoothly thus far, with Akeno helping Issei with getting a grasp on his [Demonic Power]. And Kiba oversaw his conditioning and physical strengthening.
But as for the [Boosted Gear] itself, that was something only Issei himself could figure out. If he wanted to have any chance at defeating Riser Phenex, that is.
As for Akeno and Rias, they were both taking a breather in the living room of their temporary residence, which was pretty much a mansion attached to the mountainside the group was training on.
"Have you met with him lately?" Rias asked her Queen midway through their casual chat.
Even she could tell the question had instilled a sense of unease in Akeno.
"No, it's been a minute since we've seen him hasn't it?" The last meeting any of the Gremorys had with their contracted Magician, was when Akeno met him in his house the day before their retreat began.
"That it has," Akeno affirmed. Recalling the talks she had shared with him.
They sat in silence momentarily, the Lighting Priestess sparing a glance out the window at the sight of a jogging Issei, and Rias continuing to sip on a cup of tea somewhat absentmindedly.
"Should I summon him?" Rias said out of the blue, causing her Queen to recoil a little.
"What if he's in the middle of something important?"
"It's just a quick check-up, and Sona is looking over Kuoh while we're here, so if anything's happened we would've known by now."
"That's true…"
Akeno wanted to see him again as well, but taking him out of something he was absorbed in wouldn't make for a good meeting.
"Then it's settled," Rias on the other hand didn't express the same restraint.
"W-wait are you sure–" A teleportation circle had already appeared before them.
"What's the situation?" A familiar voice asked, coming out from the flash of light and expecting the Gremorys to be in some kind of emergency.
The minute Akeno laid eyes upon him she noticed the stench of presumably the same woman from before still clinging to him.
However, as per usual, he had done a thorough job of erasing any traces of Light Mana from his body.
"There's no situation," his contractor replied. "We just wanted to do a little checkup on you if that's alright?"
"A checkup?"
Though Rias didn't seem to notice it, Akeno having been around him longer could decipher his expression as clear as day.
Ashikaga Takauji was pissed.
Her hunch had been right, calling him like this really wasn't a good idea.
Of course, he would be, he had been dragged out of his snuggle time with Raynare for quite literally no reason at all.
"Yes, is there a problem with that?" Akeno almost wanted to throw something at her King.
"No, I suppose there isn't." There very clearly was.
"Great, so what have you been getting up to as of late?" Takauji's presence had grown even stronger, actually if we were just talking about Mana alone he had surpassed both Akeno and Rias already.
However with their abilities such as the [Power of Destruction], and [Holy Lightning]. He wasn't quite at their level in terms of actual strength.
Yet.
"I've just been training like usual. I imagine the rest of the gang has been doing the same?" He looked out the window briefly.
"Indeed they have," she set her cup aside. "By the way, what's that?" Rias pointed to his neck, noticing a set of strange marks all over it.
"Bruise marks," he quickly lied through his teeth. Adjusting his collar to hide them.
"Hm. Don't push yourself too hard alright?" While Rias's inexperienced self believed it, Akeno didn't buy it one bit.
"I'll keep that in mind."
The fact that he could keep a straight face in such a situation, was truly something to behold.
"Actually there's something we might need you for while you're here."
"Oh?"
"Yuuto-kun's been wondering when you'd arrive, I think he's looking for a sparring partner. Interested?"
I might as well get something out of being called here, albeit reluctantly.
"I am, as per usual, I could use his expertise."
He didn't need to be told where he was, his [Mana Sense] had already located the Knight.
Right as he was about to leave the manor, he shot Akeno a warm smile, making it clear that he didn't bear any ill will against her.
I wonder who's stronger, Raynare or her?
It'd be good for them both if they could exchange pointers sometime in the future, but with Raynare's reputation, I doubt that's happening.
Maybe if I get lucky I can find a third Fallen Angel to help me out? Excluding Azazel of course, that guy might kill her if he breathes too hard.
Scary dude.
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Kiba took a deep breath, calling upon his Sacred Gear as a sheathed sword manifested onto his waist.
His eyes were sharp as ever as he used [Sword Birth] to create a [Wind-Repulsion Sword.]
Basically the opposite of his [Wind-Calming Sword], where instead of creating a vacuuming force he created a repulsing force to shoot out a piercing gust of wind from his blade.
WHOOSH!
Assuming a quick-draw stance, he seamlessly allowed his weapon to unsheath itself. Sending a forceful crescent of wind into the surrounding trees, chopping at least a dozen of them in one go.
"Nice," the sudden voice caused him to turn around speedily. Raising his weapon towards the individual.
"Woah, fidgety much?"
"Takauji-senpai?" He said almost in disbelief.
Me using [Shadow Step] probably startled him, sorry about that.
"That's me. I heard you were looking for me?"
"I was but, I thought you'd rather spend your time studying. Can't say I expected to see you here, not that you're unwelcome."
You don't know the half of it.
"Apparently my brief absence had the boss all curious, so here I am." It was hard for him to hide the bitterness in his tone.
"I see, I hope you weren't interrupted or anything."
I was very much "interrupted." And now I'm going to have to give Raynare double the attention once I get back because of this.
But I'll endure it since there's an Azazel at the end of the tunnel.
"Haha," he didn't even try to answer the question. "So, you wanna go a round?"
"Do you even need to ask?" Kiba said with a grin. "You don't mind if I use [Sword Birth] against you this time right?"
"You have a big fight ahead of you, I wouldn't be much of a training partner if I said no." Takauji unsheathed his sword from the purple case Kiba had given him.
"Ready whenever you are," the Knight said.
Like he usually did against Raynare, Takauji began the fight by using [Shadow Step] to get behind Kiba. Startling the latter as he was unable to read his trajectory unlike when he used [Mana Step.]
"What a scary technique you've obtained," he didn't bother attempting to block. Instead choosing the much smarter option of dodging the attack entirely with a frontwards summersault.
He knew I would've used [Phantom Blade] even if he did try to block. Not bad.
"Unfortunately, I also have something for range now."
He activated [Umbral Rope], putting it into its ranged form and launching his blade toward Kiba with terrifying speed.
CLANG!
The Knight blocked the oncoming blade head-on, the aftershock causing even his Devil-enhanced wrists to shake a little.
"I felt that one," he chuckled. "Hey, Takauji-senpai, do you mind if I ask you something?"
"If you want to know my size, then I'm sorry to tell you I don't swing that way." Kiba could only roll his eyes at the childish comment.
"You've probably been asked this a few times already, but are you really sure you don't want to become a Devil? I'm not just saying this because we could use you against Riser, but generally speaking wouldn't your potential bloom if you got rid of your human shackles?"
The Magician smiled.
"I'm quite sure."
His opponent raised a brow.
"Might I ask why?" In truth, there was another reason he was asking the question.
Only Kiba could've picked up on it, but the Knight could tell from the improvements in his swordplay that Takauji had been sparring with someone else lately. Though he didn't know who.
It obviously wasn't one of the Gremory's since they were all here, and with his relationship with Sona, it was very unlikely that it was anyone from her peerage.
Which meant there was someone else, someone he had been hiding.
But as to who, he couldn't even begin to guess. Maybe he had affiliated himself with a different Devil? Unlikely, but theoretically possible.
"Two reasons. One; I've already got some plans of my own," Kiba frowned a little. "And two; I don't think I'd work very well with Rias Gremory in the long run."
The blonde-haired swordsman could pretty easily infer what he was trying to say.
"You don't take kindly to her?" Takauji shook his head.
"Not particularly. But don't me wrong, I like you guys quite a bit. You, Issei-kun, and Himejima-san. Toujou-san I'm not too sure about since we've never really interacted, but I'm sure she's great."
In other words, the pieces weren't the problem, but rather the one moving them.
"I see," it was clear to him that Takauji's grievances didn't come from blind hate. But rather something much more logical. "Is there anything specific you'd like her to change?"
It wasn't really his place to talk on the matter as her Knight, but he felt the need to anyway.
"Of course not, I'm her contracted Magician. Who am I to tell her what to do and not do?"
"And if we're talking off the record?"
"In that case," he paused. "I hate how she's allowed you all to hold yourselves back up till this point, you all have potential that shines a hundred, no, a thousand times brighter than me yet in the span of just over a week I've somehow caught up to you all. Do you know why that is?"
Takauji's words made Kiba swallow a nervous gulp, feeling the raw emotion surging from them.
"Enlighten me."
"She's not allowing your wings to grow, you've all remained baby birds when you were supposed to leave the nest long ago. Actually, every time I think about it's so sickening that swallowing a dirty rag that's been used to clean up shit and vomit seems more appetizing."
Takauji breathed a dry chuckle before his expression softened again.
"Sorry, it seems like I let myself get carried away there."
"Takauji-senpai."
"Yes?"
"How long have you been feeling like this?"
"How long… you ask?" He tapped his chin, spending a moment to think about it. "That's a good question… but I'm afraid even I don't know the answer to that. The best answer I can give is from the moment I was able to comprehend the fact, I guess."
"Alright," Kiba exhaled. "Like I said this was all off the record, so you don't need to worry about me telling anyone."
"I appreciate that," Takauji switched [Umbral Rope] to its close-quarters form. "Anyhow, I believe we've spent enough time talking, shall we get back to it?"
"Sure."
Their fight resumed. Both of them are eager to prove their growth to the other.
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They be fighting.
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Discord Link: KQAtTw9u7x
Word Count: 1923
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