"T-Thank you so much for this opportunity! I won't let you down!"
I looked dryly at the woman in front of me, who was doing a salute with an overly serious look on her face. Much too serious for the rather simple task we were about to embark on.
The woman was a rather familiar one, as she had long, black-raven hair, a beautiful face that walked the line between cute and sexy, and an overall lustful body. Her clothes showcased that, as she was wearing what looked to be a dominatrix-esque outfit.
Most of her soft, porcelain skin was showcased to the world, but small latex strands were covering her rather large breasts in a skimpy-bikini way, along with a small, too small, pair of latex panties covering her crotch. She also had on black long black gloves, which pulled up to her elbows, equally as long black latex boots and leggings, which pulled up to her knees, and finally spikey black shoulder guards.
[Two-Winged Fallen Angel] [Raynare] - Level 30
Reputation with [Raynare]: Strongly-Loved
Raynare - the fallen angel who had killed Issei so he could be reincarnated into a devil, and the woman who would help me kill him in this world as well. Probably, at least, as Asia had died when her Twilight Healing was ripped out of her body.
I had asked Azazel about the possibility of removing a Sacred Gear after Rias had chosen Kuoh as her peerage's home base in the human world, but I had been a bit too early in the timeline, or Azazel hadn't been given enough time to figure out the process yet because of my intervention, as he only had rough, untested ideas.
However, after ordering him to start focusing on that, he had pretty quickly worked out all the kinks. Now, there was a fully usable ritual to extract a Sacred Gear - one which he had taught to Raynare, who was now standing at the very same fountain she would've murdered Issei at in Kuoh.
Why had he taught her, instead of just coming himself to do it? Apparently, Ajuka wasn't the only lazy-genius - who wasn't actually lazy, but just so consumed in his inventing and studies that he became pretty lazy with anything not related to it - as Azazel had pushed this job onto his 'assistant.'
Who was now my assistant, because Azael wanted more time to focus on his research and less time to answer the various random questions and requests I had for him. I was a bit offended that he wasn't eager for my company, but considering how much he had been cutting back on drinking and bar-hopping since coming under my rule, I guess I couldn't blame him for wanting more free time.
It wasn't even my fault - Raya was working him to bone, along with most of my high ranking subordinates.
But why had Azazel, the literal leader of the Grigori and a twelve-winged fallen angel, picked a weak, two-winged, and frankly pretty dumb assistant like Raynare?
That's because, in Azazel's own words, she was the most loyal subordinate he had ever seen. Not because she was some die-hard fallen angel purist who'd die for her faction, or because she'd sworn an oath of fealty, or anything dramatic like that.
Instead, it was because Raynare was, once again in Azazel's words, both power-hungry and power-horny. The woman was addicted to power, and despite not having much of it as a two-winged fallen, she would do anything to get more of it.
I had assumed that much already - as she had practically produced a dramatic movie in the series as she tied Asia to a cross, took her Sacred Gear, and then exclaimed how powerful the 'Great Raynare' was. Instead, it had been the second part of that description that threw me for a loop.
"S-Should we go now? O-Or, um, we can plan and prepare first!" Raynare stuttered out, her face flushed as her eyes were trailing up and down my body with awe in her eyes, "O-Of course, it's whatever you want, Your Highness! I'll do whatever you say! Anything!"
"Great…" I trailed off dryly as she looked up at me with stars in her eyes.
Raynare was an unapologetic gold digger - or, power digger in this case. She had apparently used to have a completely one-sided crush on Azazel for a long time, desperately trying to appease the Grigori's leader, and even more desperately get into his bed.
Azazel had explained that he didn't even know the younger fallen woman that well, and that she had been like that from the first time she saw him. That massive crush had then swiftly moved to me, as Raynare's reputation had already been at 'Slightly-Loved' before even meeting her.
Azazel had understandably not been thrilled about the woman's massive and rather annoying crush on him, so the true reason behind assigning her to be my assistant was to get her out of his hair. In his words, for a third time - after we did the ritual, I could 'fuck her, or, hell, do whatever the hell you want with her. You're hot and strong, so she'll do just about anything you say.'
And so, that had led me to this situation, casually waiting with the fanatic fallen angel as nightfall came. It wasn't the worst situation to be in, as while Raynare's adoration might get annoying, there were much worse things to happen than having a sexy woman who would do anything to get in my pants.
"Now is fine," I nodded, glancing up at the sky as the moon started to rise overhead, "Just be ready to use your magic, alright? If I do it, it'll be a bit too… intense."
I was referring to her using her magic to manipulate the entirety of the humans in Kouh - something that wasn't all that difficult for a high-ranking devil or fallen angel, and that was possible for Raynare now after a personal buff from Velrissa - to forget Issei had ever existed. Rias did something on a much smaller scale often, just manipulating the memories of humans to forget any supernatural things they saw her and her peerage do, so the 'spell' was pretty common.
I had a handful of skills that could come in handy here, as something like [Demonic Hypnosis] would work immediately, but I thought it would be better to let Raynare handle it. I was strong - really strong - and my skills were becoming higher level by the day. I didn't want to overdo it by accident and end up doing irreparable damage.
Rias enjoyed Kuoh and Japan as a whole, and wanted the authentic Japanese experience. I didn't want to ruin that for her by turning all the humans here into hypnotized zombies by accident.
"Of course! Your great power is far too much for these weak humans, Your Highness!" Raynare nodded rapidly, her voice taking a tinge of venom as she said 'humans,' "I'll do it perfectly, I promise! I won't let you down!"
Was Raynare racist? Or, I guess, speciest?
…
Definitely, but as long as she did her job, I didn't really care. I quickly stepped towards her, causing her flush even deeper as I reached down, sweeping her off her feet and into a bridal carry.
"W-What are you…" Raynare looked at me with wide eyes, leaning a bit too much into my muscular chest right away.
"You're slow," I said bluntly.
I then leapt into the air with a burst, causing the wind to break around me as I took flight, and immediately turned to where Issei's house was - having scouted the area the day prior. I wanted to get this done quickly, and I didn't want to get spotted on the way there.
I was doing this a bit secretly, as even Rias didn't know about Issei having the Boosted Gear, or even that Issei even existed. I wanted to keep it that way, as I didn't want to have to explain to her how I had found it out, even if she would accept whatever I said.
Instead, I'd prefer to keep the fact that I had the Boost Gear a secret from pretty much everyone. If it leaked out that I had added a Longinus to my already massive array of skills and abilities, it would only put a bigger target on my Kingdom's back and urge the alliance to form quicker. The smaller factions who weren't already in the alliance against me would feel the need to join in, and I'd just be making life more difficult on myself.
Plus, it was a good triumph card to have. If I only used it against opponents I killed, then I could continue to pull power boosts out of my ass and surprise my opponents. Even Indra wouldn't know what to do if I just randomly doubled my already insane power not just once, but over and over again during a fight.
It wouldn't suddenly make me invincible, but the Boosted Gear was necessary for when I both entered the higher-ranking worlds, and to take on top tiers in this world, such as Ophis and Great Red - not to mention the Trihexa problem that could only possibly be avoided.
"This is it," I hummed, floating above Issei's house as I recognized it. I promptly shot downward, landing softly outside without a sound.
"I'll set up a barrier," Raynare nodded, still blushing as I set her down, and she raised her hands. A moment later, the air around us seemed to buzz as the entire area shifted, becoming a bit blue-tinted as a barrier surrounded Issei's house to keep out anyone who happened to be awake nearby.
"Make sure his parents don't wake up," I ordered, grabbing the doorknob to his house as I pulled back - ripping it off its hinges as I tossed it to the ground and entered, "I'll get him."
"Got it," Raynare nodded, and we both entered the Hyoudou Residence. I casually walked through the pretty typical house, quickly heading up the stairs and finding Issei's room.
I grabbed to doorknob, ripping the door off its hinges as it was locked again, and walked into a sight that made me feel less bad about what I was about to do. The man was sitting there, completely naked, with his dick in his hand as he stared at hentai on his computer screen.
"M-Mom, I thought I locked the-" Issei turned quickly as he heard the door open, but I didn't even want to entertain him after walking in on this.
I appeared next to him before he could finish speaking, casually poking my finger into his forehead, and he slumped back unconscious from the force. I guess I shouldn't have expected any less from the pervert. If he hadn't been turned into a devil, he probably would've spent his whole life doing this.
"They won't wake up until morning, and when they do, they'll forget he-" Raynare paused as she walked into the room behind me, glancing from me to the naked Issei, "...I like the way you roll, Your Highness!"
"He was already like this," I replied dryly, remembering how Raynare had stripped Asia when she extracted her Sacred Gear, "Just get the ritual started, alright? How long do you need?"
"It won't take longer than an hour, Your Highness!" Raynare saluted, and I looked at her blankly.
"An hour?" I repeated doubtfully, "Azazel said it would only take a few minutes to prepare."
"A-Ah, well, he's much stronger than I am!" Raynare glanced away shakily, not meeting my eyes as there was definitely another reason, but I just sighed.
"Whatever. Get started," I waved my hand, casually stepping past her and leaving the room, not wanting to be around the naked Issei any longer than I had to. I promptly went downstairs, turned on the Hyoudou's TV, and started watching it as I waited for the time to pass.
It passed rather slowly as I felt a bit odd watching the TV of a man I was about to kill, but I pushed it out of my mind as I waited. Roughly an hour later, Raynare called down the stairs.
"It's ready, Your Highness!" She must've put his parents into a very deep sleep if they didn't wake up from her shout, but I quickly climbed the stairs again and stepped back into Issei's room.
"...Seriously?" I asked dryly, glancing around as Issei's room suddenly looked much different, "Where did you even get all this stuff? There's no way you needed to do this!"
The walls were covered with blood as the paint was peeling off, his bed was flipped over, the computer was shattered, and the room overall looked like a complete mess. The finishing touch was the massive chains that were tied to Issei's wrists as they hung him in the air, causing the unconscious man to dangle a foot or so off the ground.
"It was completely necessary! The atmosphere needs to fit the ritual!" Raynare countered defensively, looking down at her feet a bit in shame a second later, "Though, I apologize for the chains. I would've preferred a cross, but I couldn't find one on such short notice…"
"Just do the ritual," I deadpanned at her, not entertaining her shit, and she quickly nodded.
"Watch as the Great Raynare retrieves the Sacred Gear for you, Your Highness!" She shouted, and if she weren't a fallen angel, I was sure she would've been an actress with how much of a drama queen she was, "Watch as I, the Great Raynare, flood my light energy through his body! I will extinguish the filthy human host, taking the Sacred Gear that His Highness deserves! This day will go down in history as-"
"Just do it," I deadpanned again, and Raynare sputtered as she cut herself off and nodded rapidly.
She stepped forward, placing her hand on Issei's bare chest, and narrowed her eyes. A burst of light shot out from her palm, slamming into his chest and then flowing through him - covering his entire body in a faint glow.
"GUH!" Issei's body twitched involuntarily as he coughed out a glob of blood, and the glow faded as it crawled back along his skin, pooling at his chest.
I almost felt bad for the man, but this was necessary. Leaving the main character alive in this world with such a powerful Sacred Gear, and one whose lust knew no bounds, was just asking for my Kingdom to be fucked over when it was full of so many gorgeous women.
His chest started to glow brighter, and slowly, defying the very laws of physics, a bright red gauntlet started to come out of his chest. It didn't break his skin or leave any blood, instead looking as if it was simply phasing through him.
It finally came out fully, and Raynare grinned widely as she reached forward, catching it. She turned around, slowly falling down onto one knee as she held it up to me, bowing her head.
"It is yours, Your Highness."
I grinned, reaching forward as I took it from her hands, and looked down at my new Boosted Gear.
In a single night, I had just become much, much more powerful.
Suddenly, those S-Rank worlds didn't look so scary.
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
"Did I do good, Your Highness?! Did I?!" I blinked as Raynare looked up at me with stars in her eyes.
"Uh… yeah. Good work."
"Can you pat my head?" Raynare asked, her eyes excited as her expression was deathly serious, "Please?"
Seriously? This was my dramatic moment, where I was about to become even more overpowered as fuck, and this is what she's asking for?!
…
Eh, why not?
"Good work, Raynare."
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AN: Thank you for reading! The next chapter will be out tomorrow!
You can also read the next 7 chapters right now at Patreon.com/Koyon !