Buzz!
Kalawarner's head snapped toward the sound of doorbell, brown eyes widening with something close to panic before her expression smoothed into fearful neutrality. Her hand trembled around the teapot she'd been holding on a serving tray with a soft clink that cut through the quiet breakfast atmosphere. Asia glanced between me and the door.
I set down my chopsticks with deliberate calm, already guessing who'd decided to visit this early in the morning.
"Keep serving breakfast" I said.
The doorbell rang again, more insistent.
I walked to the door and opened it to find exactly opposite of what I'd expected: Rias standing there and already scanning past me into my apartment with sharp assessment. Behind her, Akeno stood with perpetual warm smile that never quite reached her violet eyes, long black ponytail swaying as she tilted her head in greeting.
"Motohama-kun" Rias's tone carried the edge of someone who'd rushed back from out of town specifically to deal with a situation that shouldn't have happened in the first place "We need to talk"
I stepped aside, gesturing them in "You're back early from your trip"
"Ara, Motohama-kun~" Akeno's voice carried that teasing lilt she always used, but her gaze swept the apartment with renewed curiosity "You look remarkably well for someone who had quite the eventful night"
Rias's eyes landed immediately on Asia sitting at the table in my oversized t-shirt and sweatpants, then tracked to Kalawarner moving stiffly as she poured tea into the cups. The Fallen Angel's hands shook enough that liquid sloshed against the rim, but she managed not to spill any. She was still far from serving.
Recognition flashed across Rias's face, followed by frustration that didn't go unnoticed by us.
"Sona contacted me last night" Rias said, her voice blended with concern and irritation "Her familiar observed the entire battle at the abandoned church, and how you eliminated the Fallen Angels and their accomplices in approximately four minutes" Her gaze fixed on Kalawarner with an intensity that made the woman visibly stiffen "One of them.... who's apparently serving you breakfast now?"
Kalawarner's shoulders hunched slightly. Meeting a High-Class Devil's attention when you were a low-class Fallen Angel who'd just witnessed your entire team get slaughtered tended to have that effect.
"My my~" Akeno's smile widened, genuine interest in those violet eyes as they took the note of change in Kala's composure "Quite the arrangement you have here, Motohama-kun. A Holy Maiden and a Fallen Angel sharing your breakfast table. How... eclectic"
I gestured toward the couch "Sit down first. Kalawarner, prepare tea for our guests"
"Yes" She responded immediately, compulsion-enforced obedience that probably looked bizarre to someone who remembered Kalawarner's usual arrogant confidence.
Rias settled into the couch with the grace of someone born to nobility, crossing her legs and fixing me with that direct stare that said What's going on here? Akeno took the spot beside her, maintaining that pleasant expression while her attention tracked every movement Kalawarner made with the teapot.
"What's going on? Why is a fallen angel serving you, Motohama?" Rias asked bluntly.
I leaned back against the counter, arms crossed "Last night, a stray exorcist named Freed Sellzen broke into my apartment. He was armed with light blade and a gun, nearly killed me in my own home. A few hours after you left out of town, actually"
Akeno's pleasant mask slipped for half a second, genuine concern flashing across her features. Her hands tightened on the armrests hard enough that I heard wood creak "Motohama-kun, you could have summoned me immediately. I would have—"
"Our agreement, remember?" I cut her off, keeping my tone casual and factual "When I refused to join your peerage, Rias made it very clear that faction disputes stay separate. Devils won't involve themselves in my problems with other factions unless it directly threatens Kuoh's stability and peace"
Rias sighed, frustration bleeding through her composed exterior as she ran one hand through that distinctive crimson hair and then looked me in the eyes "That was about political entanglements, not an assassination attempt in your own home, Motohama! That crosses into Kuoh territory security—"
"By the time I could call anyone, Freed had his blade at my throat" The memory of that psychotic grin and Light-infused bullet penetrating my skin flashed through my mind "At that moment I had only two choices, Either wait and hope for rescue that might not come because of our agreement or eliminate him and the source of the threat"
Understanding dawned in Rias's eyes, followed immediately by something that looked like guilt "So, that's why you went straight to the church. Alone?"
"I never intended to involve myself with them" I lied, keeping my face straight "But, You and Sona both said you wouldn't help with 'other faction matters.' So I handled it myself. You see, I had no other choice"
Silence stretched between us with unsaid implications.
Rias's expression shifted through several emotions, protectiveness warring with the reality of agreements she'd made, political necessity versus personal concern "I didn't mean... you could have died, Motohama"
"I would've, But I won. So it's nothing to be concerned about"
"We've been spending times together for weeks on your magic lessons" Akeno said, her playful mask fully dropped now, revealing genuine care in her tone "I would have helped if you'd asked"
"I know" And I did believe her words. Akeno had proven herself genuinely invested in my training, even if her methods involved lightning tortures while I ran for my dear life "But the agreement was the agreement. I won't ask you to break it"
Rias looked conflicted, protective instinct clearly battling with her own carefully constructed rules. She'd set boundaries to maintain political separation, and I'd simply respected them. The fact that those boundaries had nearly gotten me killed wasn't something she could easily reconcile with her nature as someone who protected her territory and people she was close to.
Her attention shifted back to Kalawarner, who'd finished pouring tea and stood there like a waiter awaiting further orders "Why spare her? You killed the others without hesitation according to Sona's report"
I shrugged, watching Kalawarner's expression carefully "If leader of Fallen Angel comes asking questions about dead operatives in Kuoh, I have a witness who can confirm self-defense. Besides..." I let a slight smirk cross my face. "I really wanted a cook for such a long time."
"Ufufu~" Akeno's violet eyes gleamed with sadistic interest she couldn't quite hide when something intrigued her "She looks quite convinced of that" Her head tilted, ponytail swaying as she studied me with renewed assessment "How did you ensure such... cooperation, Motohama-kun?"
"We have a very clear understanding of what happens if she tries anything stupid" I met Kalawarner's eyes, watched her visible tremor ripple through her frame "Don't we?"
"Yes"
Rias's eyes narrowed slightly, she sensed something unusual in our exchange but didn't push. Her attention shifted to Asia, and I watched the Gremory heiress's expression soften with genuine kindness "You are Asia Argento? The Holy Maiden with Twilight Healing"
Asia's hands clutched at the oversized shirt sleeves, nervousness radiating from every line of her small frame "Y-yes. Motohama-san saved me last night..."
"I know what they planned to do to you" Rias's voice carried compassion that wasn't faked or political, but a real sympathy for someone the Church had abandoned "I'm sorry that the Church excommunicated you. That must have been incredibly painful after what fallen angels put you through"
"She's staying with you?"
"She agreed to live under my protection." I kept my explanation simple "Since The Church excommunicated her. The Fallen Angels tried to murder her for her Sacred Gear. She has nowhere else to go"
Rias leaned forward slightly, addressing Asia directly with gentle smile "I could offer you a place in my peerage, Asia-san. You'd be safe, have a family, people who care about you—"
"T-thank you, Rias-san" Asia interrupted, surprising herself with her own boldness based on how her eyes widened "But Motohama-san saved my life when no one else came. He risked everything to protect me from people who wanted to kill me..I... I want to stay with him"
Rias studied her for a long moment, then nodded slowly, accepting the decision even if it clearly wasn't her preference "Very well"
I pulled out the handwritten list I'd prepared last night, sliding it across the table toward Rias "Actually, since you're here, there are materials I need. Only found in the Underworld"
Rias picked up the paper, crimson eyebrows rising as she scanned the contents "What are you planning to do with these?"
"I picked on a hobby of collecting different herbs lately. Last night, when I was reading about Underworld geography from one of books you gave me, I was fascinated by them and wanted to collect it. So, can you arrange them for me?"
Her eyes met mine and then nodded triumphly "Yes. Consider it... as an apology for not being available when you needed help"
"Appreciated"
Rias stood, smoothing down her uniform "Despite our agreement... we're still allies, Motohama. If you need help, you can ask. I don't want what happened last night to happen again"
"I'll keep that in mind, Rias" I said with a smile
Akeno rose as well, her warm smile returning like a mask sliding back into place, though her eyes held genuine affection when they met mine "Do take care, Motohama-kun. I'd hate for our magic lessons to end because you're progressing wonderfully under my lightning techniques. It would be such a waste"
I nodded.
They headed toward the door, Rias pausing at the doorstep "Grigori probably won't ignore death of their dead operatives. So if you come across them, I want you to summon me. As a leader of Kuoh Territory, I'd take care of it"
"I'm counting on it"
The door closed behind them with a soft click.
I waited, listening to their footsteps fade before turning back to find Asia and Kalawarner both staring at me with different gazes of uncertainty.
"Kalawarner" I said, watching her straighten at her name "Follow me. We need to talk"
---
Kalawarner sat in my desk chair with the rigid posture of someone expecting execution, hands folded in her lap to hide the trembling. The DISC compulsion had faded enough that she had autonomy back, but she remembered everything, every order she followed without hesitation, every moment of terror watching her teammates die, every second of understanding exactly how powerless she was.
I leaned against my bedroom door, arms crossed, studying her.
"You want to know why I spared you specifically?" I let the question hang in the air between us.
Kalawarner remained silent as I continued.
"Because out of the four of you, you were the only one who wasn't insufferable"
She blinked, confusion replacing fear for a brief moment "What?"
"The arrogant one was constantly talking down to everyone like others were insects beneath her. The hat one was a cosplaying ass who loved hearing himself brag about missions and superior breeding. The little one was a bratty child who treated everything like a game, giggling while planning murder" I looked at her directly, holding her gaze "You? You just stayed silent while cowering in fear and didn't step knowing the full dangers of the situation"
Kalawarner stared at me like I'd grown a second head "That's... that's why you spared me? Because I was easier to tolerate?"
"Partially" I pushed off the door, moving to sit on the edge of my bed to face her "The other reason? I see potential in you"
Her laugh came out bitter and hollow as if she didn't believe what I just said "Potential? I'm a low-class Fallen Angel who got enslaved by a human—"
"You.." I corrected "have very enormous potential"
Kalawarner processed this slowly, uncertainty warring with something that might have been hope buried under layers of fear "What are you trying to say?"
"What I'm trying to say is....your actions from here would decide whether you want to stay as a terrified servant or become something more than that" I let that sink in, watching her think carefully "Serve me genuinely, not because a DISC forces you, but because you choose to and I'll give you power you never had under Grigori"
Interest sparked in her eyes, barely visible but definitely there "What kind of power?"
"I have recently picked on Alchemy. I can extract certain aspects of an item, create enhancement potions, strengthen supernatural traits" I paused, letting the implications settle "Prove your loyalty, help me with my work, and I'll share those benefits with you. Make you stronger than you ever were as superiors's grunt"
Long silence stretched between us as she processed the offer.
"I'm not going to pretend I'm doing this out of loyalty or respect" Kalawarner said finally, meeting my eyes with something like defiant honesty. Her posture straightened slightly, some dignity returning to her frame "But, I'm also ambitious. Always have been. Grigori never gave me opportunities because I'm low-class. If you're offering actual power in exchange for service..." She nodded mustering every bit of courage within her.
"Then we have an agreement, eh?"
Kalawarner nodded slowly, calculation replacing pure fear in her expression "What do you require from me?"
"For now? Keep doing what you're doing. Cook, maintain the house, and when those Underworld materials arrive, I want your help with Alchemy experimentations..."
She got in deep thought while her expression didn't waver from my list of requests.
"Ah, one more thing" I held her gaze, making sure she understood this part clearly "While The DISC is still inside you tied to immense pain on defying me. But, now you will have full control of yourself, so be watchful of your actions"
To gain trust from your captive, you gotta lose chains. Obviously the compulsion effect being in still intact was a lie, but she didn't need to know that. And I doubt she will try anything stupid afterall I never took out the DISC.
A slight relieved smile crossed Kalawarner's face, the first genuine expression I'd seen from her since the church "I won't. I'm many things, but I'm not stupid enough to throw away a chance to gain power and not defy you..."
She stood, some of that old confidence creeping back into her movements, though tempered now with actual respect instead of performative arrogance.
"You can now go and have some rest" She nodded.
She left, and I heard her voice in the living room telling Asia everything was fine, that we'd just been discussing household arrangements.
I moved to my window, looking out at Kuoh's morning streets bathed in early sunlight.
Rias would deliver those materials within a few days, guilt was an excellent motivator for someone with her resources and protective instincts. Akeno would probably show up for our next training session with extra lightning punishment as retribution for making her worry, but that's the future me's problem.
Kalawarner would soon transition from terrified slave to ambitious ally, self-interest evolving into something that might eventually resemble loyalty. As for Asia, she can relax and have a normal life that she never dreamt of, while I prepare her for dangers of this world.
And me?
I'd keep getting stronger until standing alongside Devils, or anyone else, becomes a choice… not a necessity.
. . .
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