After a commotion had erupted in the Demon World as well, at the old church,
Several days had passed since the uproar, and after the incident in the Demon World, the world had been thrown into chaos once again. As news of Akatsuki's invasion of the Demon World spread across every faction, the danger posed by Akatsuki became a major topic of debate, and the Three Factions and the mythological factions were all working on countermeasures.
One of those measures was the unity and alliance of the Three Factions. The first to propose that the Three Factions join forces to wipe out Akatsuki was Azazel of the Fallen Angels. The Devils, who had suffered the earliest damage from Akatsuki and understood the severity of the situation better than anyone, actively joined in, and even the Angels, the faction of good that outwardly loved peace, showed their approval. Once the alliance of the Three Factions was proposed, a meeting place was decided, and that meeting place was...
"Why did this happen...?"
"The leaders of the Three Factions all gathering in one place..."
"But why, of all places, here..."
The three Fallen Angels were running themselves ragged preparing for guests. By now, almost every faction knew that Issei's hideout was the church, thanks to the investigation into the Kokabiel incident. And so Issei's hideout, which had ties to both factions, was chosen as the meeting place. If it had still been a church before the renovation, the Devils would have refused on principle, but after the incident in the Demon World, the Fallen Angels had officially rebuilt it even larger as a token of gratitude. The church was gone without a trace, replaced by something entirely different, as if a building had been erected atop a castle.
Because it stood on a hill and rose more than thirty stories high, the view overlooking the entire town was truly magnificent. Unfortunately, that scenery was being made uncomfortable by the leaders of the Three Factions gathered there now. And then there was Issei, who had somehow become the mediator and something like the chairman of the Three Factions. No, by now a force called Team Issei had been established as an entirely independent faction.
The leader, of course, was Hyoudou Issei.
The members were:
The human Asia Argento.
The Fallen Angel Raynare and the three others, plus the advisor Senju Hashirama, and, unofficially, the reserve member Ophis. It was a small group, but neither the Three Factions nor any other faction could ignore them. After all, two beings capable of destroying an entire mythology were among them.
"Then let us begin the talks."
Looking at the factions seated east, west, and south around the round table, Issei, seated to the north, opened his mouth. At first he had refused, saying it was terribly awkward and not the sort of thing he should be doing, but after being persuaded by Rias, who had been dispatched by Sirzechs, and by Raynare's persistent demands, he had ended up taking the seat after all.
"Well, there's only one thing we need to say from our side. Let's conclude the alliance as soon as possible and eliminate the terrorists."
Azazel, who had proposed the conference, spoke first. He had been killed once after being beaten by Pain, but after being saved by Issei, he had developed a special fondness for him. Azazel had also been the one who strongly insisted on using this place for the meeting, and Issei had blown up in outrage, saying he wasn't going to repay kindness with betrayal, but in the end he had no choice but to agree because of the big deal Azazel had proposed, which would only be revealed later.
"Well, we've had some unpleasant history, but we feel the same way on this side. I think Akatsuki should be eliminated as soon as possible."
Though there had been many bad things since the truce, Sirzechs had nearly been destroyed by Akatsuki's leader, Uchiha Madara, so he had put the past behind him and raised no objection. And then Michael, the leader of the Angels, with his shining blond hair and striking white wings, said,
"I never thought there would come a day when the Three Factions, who used to fight each other constantly, would form an alliance like this. I still can hardly believe it. I would like to express my gratitude to Hyoudou Issei for arranging this meeting."
Michael stood and bowed to Issei, who had made the world he longed for into reality. Naturally, Issei was flustered to have the leader of a faction bowing his head to him.
"Ah, n-no, I only did what had to be done! I'm the one who should be thanking you!"
Apparently because no script had been prepared for this situation, he stammered and bowed back. Then Azazel said,
"Well~, he's my lifesaver, after all."
As if he had forgotten this was a conference, he stood up and threw an arm around Issei's shoulders. To anyone watching, they looked quite close, but in truth, after the incident in the Demon World, Azazel had come by whenever he had free time and spent time with Issei. He would use all sorts of excuses to go fishing, play games, show him the nightlife of the Fallen Angels, and provide all kinds of knowledge. As they naturally talked more and more, they had become fairly close. (This part was going to take several chapters if I wrote it, so I'm skipping it!)
"It's nice to see a human and a Fallen Angel breaking down the barriers between races and getting along so well."
Michael did not spare his praise for the two of them. Then Sirzechs chimed in as well.
"Well, I'd say I'm close with Issei-kun too, wouldn't you? Isn't that right, Issei-kun?"
He came in and draped an arm over Issei's other shoulder. After the incident in the Demon World, Sirzechs had also been approaching Issei through Rias whenever he could, and once Azazel started making moves, Sirzechs's side also used Rias to aggressively push forward. As a result, Issei had unintentionally ended up sitting with Azazel and Sirzechs together many times. It was a little overwhelming for Issei, but since Sirzechs might become his brother-in-law someday, he smiled for now.
"Ahahaha, of course. I'm very close with Sirzechs-sama too."
"Sirzechs-kun, didn't Devils look down on humans as a lower race?"
"Now, now, that's a misleading thing to say. We Devils have always regarded humans as a species in a symbiotic relationship with us. Wasn't it your Fallen Angels who treated them as inferior beings?"
"Now, now, that's a misleading thing to say. I never thought of humans that way. On the contrary, I considered them a race that could share the future with us Fallen Angels."
As Sirzechs forcibly flaunted his closeness with Issei, Azazel took issue with it, and Sirzechs took issue right back. It somehow felt like they were competing over Issei, and Michael said,
"Issei-sama, you're very popular."
"Ahahaha..."
"What good is being popular with a bunch of men..."
Issei smiled at Michael's words, but inside he was boiling. If it were up to him, he'd like to blast both of them away, but since this was a situation he had caused himself, and since they were faction leaders and might become his brothers-in-law, he couldn't just do it.
"We'd like to invite you to Heaven sometime, Issei-sama. What do you think?"
"Yes, please!"
Michael also subtly made a move on Issei, and naturally Issei did not refuse. Why? Because...
'Heh-heh-heh, there were plenty of beautiful angels too!'
One of Issei's wishes as a lover of women was to have that kind of relationship with an angel blessed with holy beauty. Seeing Issei smiling without showing it too openly at Michael's proposal, Azazel and Sirzechs said,
"The Grigori sanctuary is being newly rebuilt too, so how about it? Come visit sometime."
"Issei-kun, there's a festival in the Demon World next week. How about it?"
"Ah... well, I'll think about it..."
"Ahem, if you come to our side, sexy beauties will be there to welcome you."
"If you come to the Demon World, stay the night with Rias. I'll even prepare a room."
The one selling women of his race and the one selling his little sister... the two of them began competing again, and both of their offers were things Issei could not possibly refuse. Well, for Issei, they were offers that would make him jump for joy. And so, for a while, the conference devolved into a matter of who could invite Issei to their faction first. Only after a long time did they return to the main topic and bring the meeting to a close. Issei, who had been held there for over six hours, walked out of the conference room with a drained face.
"Ah... I need healing..."
"Issei!"
Just then, Rias, who had been waiting at the door and had not been seen in a while, approached him with a worried expression.
"Senpai!"
"Ufufufu, you look exhausted. Want something cold to drink?"
Rias handed the tired-looking Issei a chilled fruit drink, and Issei brightened as if he had found an oasis in the desert, then gulped down the juice.
"Haa! Thank you. I feel alive again."
"Really? I'm glad."
Rias smiled as she took back the empty glass. It had been a while since they had seen each other because of everything that had happened, so for Issei, it was incredibly nice to see her again. More than anything else...
'As expected, Senpai's chest is huge!'
Her chest, that is...
"Ufufu, what a hopeless boy."
Perhaps sensing his gaze, Rias gently brought Issei's face down between her breasts, and though Issei was a little startled by her boldness, he soon went slack with bliss at the soft sensation. And while Issei was like that...
"Aaaah! Issei! What are you doing! Who are you!"
Raynare appeared holding a can of juice, and when she saw Issei burying his face in Rias's chest, she stormed over in a rage. Startled, Issei tried to pull away, but for some reason Rias would not let go.
"Ara~ What brings a Fallen Angel here?"
"That's what I should be asking you, isn't it? Why is a Devil like you here? And this is my place to stay too, you know!?"
As if they had met their fated enemy, the two of them glared and growled at each other despite it being their first meeting. Issei, who should have stepped in to mediate, could do nothing because his face was buried in Rias's chest.
"Let go of Issei!"
"As if I'd let a Fallen Angel interfere between me and Issei. And you tried to kill Issei before, didn't you? Even less chance now."
"Issei isn't an object! And that was in the past! It has nothing to do with you!?"
"It does. He's my adorable junior."
"!! You bitch!"
When Rias kissed Issei's forehead and said that, Raynare's last thread of reason snapped first. She immediately began releasing her magical power, and Rias also released her own with one arm. In that instant, the situation became explosive.
"Both of you, stop!"
Freeing himself from Rias's restraint, Issei stepped between them and spread his arms to block them. Then...
"Issei! What's gotten into you? You're protecting a Fallen Angel!"
"Issei! What is this Devil!?"
It felt like he had been caught juggling two lovers. They weren't officially dating, so it wasn't exactly cheating, but he couldn't deny it either. In truth, Issei did have feelings for both of them. That was why he felt he should probably make things clear here, but if he did, he might be treated like trash.
"Uh... um..."
If they got along, he might have considered a shared arrangement like Asia and Raynare, but the moment they met they were snarling at each other like sworn enemies. If he tried to force a shared arrangement now, they might start slaughtering each other.
So first he needed to improve their relationship, but for some reason it felt like he was standing between two enormous beings in another sense, and unable to find a way to intervene, Issei...
"Uh... um..."
...could not find an answer no matter how hard he tried, and desperately prayed that someone would save him. As if that prayer had been heard, someone appeared.
"Issei-san~!"
Asia was running toward Issei from the end of the hallway. Seizing the moment, Issei said,
"Ah! Asia! Come to think of it, there was something I asked you about last time!"
"Eh? There was something li..."
"Never mind, never mind."
He rushed at Asia, and Asia blinked in confusion at something she had never heard of before, then was dragged away by Issei's hand. Issei thought he had escaped the crisis, but...
"Wait, Issei, don't you have something to say?"
"I'd like an explanation."
Now that Asia had appeared too, Rias and Raynare's eyes turned oni-like as they grabbed Issei by the nape of the neck.
"Eeeee..."
In the end, Issei had no choice but to tell the truth. Then...
"Issei... even though I'm here..."
"What do you even see in this Devil..."
"Issei-san... I don't mind how many there are! As long as I can stay by Issei-san's side, that's enough for me!"
"Asia..."
Truly caught red-handed while cheating, Issei felt guilty under the resentful gazes of Rias and Raynare, and tears welled up at the sight of Asia, the only one encouraging him.
Then Rias lowered her eyes sadly and fell into gloom.
"So I was just a fish in an aquarium to you, Issei..."
That look of hers, so unlike her usual dignified and composed self. Even though it had only been a short time apart, it seemed her feelings for Issei had grown even stronger, and she had that much affection for him. Issei was quite flustered by this side of Rias, which he had never seen before, and was about to offer some apology or words of comfort, but...
'No, if I run away like this, it won't solve anything. Right, at times like this, I need to be manly!'
"But... but! My dream is to become the Harem King, after allllll!!"
"..."
"..."
Unable to choose and driven into indecision, Issei finally blurted it out. Rias and Raynare stared at him for a while, then...
"Issei..."
"Y-yes?..."
"Idiot! Go die from words!"
"Senpai!?"
Rias threw out a strangely fitting line, then ran off with tears in her eyes. And then...
"Issei... I was just a consumable toy to be enjoyed and thrown away..."
"Yuuma!?"
"Issei is an idiottttt!!"
Raynare also fled in tears. At that point, Issei truly felt like he had screwed up, and for a while a dark shadow settled under his eyes.
"Issei-san... I understand Issei-san, so... so..."
Asia tried to comfort the gloomy Issei, but she seemed unable to find the words and stammered helplessly. Then Issei...
"Senpai!"
"Yuuma!!"
...split into two more copies and chased after both of them. And as for Asia, who had been left behind...
"Asia. After all, you're the only one for me."
"Issei-san..."
Issei hugged Asia and shed tears of emotion, and although the Issei clones chased after the other two, for a while Rias and Raynare ignored Issei, which was suffering in its own way. But that is a story for another time.
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