Scarlet 15 (Patreon)

Scarlet 15

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Commissioned by Sivantic

Wordcount: 2500

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“That’s… a rather adorable choice of a Familiar, Hyoudou-kun.” Rias Gremory had a way with everything. From the way she spoke in that coy tone with a smile, as well as the way she stood with her arms crossed beneath her chest, she enticed others by nearly existing. Even the way she bent forward to examine my chosen Familiar further, with her hands on her hips, tempted the onlooker to just take one step back to see if her skirt did its duty… or valiantly attempted to. “A Ratatoskr is a very useful Familiar. Sadly, they’ve been neglected by many, because of the preference for Familiars who are useful for Rating Games.”

It’s honestly a miracle that I’ve managed to keep myself composed after spending a prolonged period of time with Gremory. Walking through an ancient, protected forest filled with magic in the moonlight, practically alone since Asia was searching for her own Familiar, had done a number of my ability to resist. I had to resort to drastic measures. Measures that would have Lisa kill me on the spot without question if we ever, somehow met again. 

I’m sorry, my friend. You need to understand that I had to keep my composure and there’s only one way a young man does that around a very, very incredibly buxom and seductive red-haired Devil.  I’ll fight back if you try to kill me, but if we’re just going for a beating, I’ll accept gracefully. No aftercare or skimpy outfit required either. A proper punishment is well deserved for my actions.

Where was I again?

Right. 

Not looking at Gremory at all while she bent over in a very bouncy and jiggly way on the front end and an enticing mystery on the backend.

Damn these hormones to Hell.

“Well, I’m glad that you’ve gone against the grain, Issei-kun. Even for a human, this Familiar will be able to operate without issue and be very helpful.” Rias stood up, again testing the limits of my ability to look at her in the eye in the process. “I’m sure that this Familiar will do some incredible things with you commanding it.”

“Thank you.” It’s a miracle that I managed those two words with a nod that didn’t even so much as glance over the Forbidden Bouncy Area of the scarlett-haired Devil in front of me. The moment I’d tilted my chin to nod, it felt as though my whole body had tried to mutiny and bring my face straight down to look at the magical results of the Kuoh Academy uniform on the feminine figure. Quashing the rebellion took everything I had and more. The taste of iron filled my mouth. “I’ll try to meet your expectations.”

Rias laughed lightly behind her raised hand. That was the cue for me to look somewhere else. Ignoring her body is nearly an effort in futility. Looking at her while she was being cute and nice? That was downright suicidal. I’d confess and be rejected in the span of seconds, especially with the current situation already making it so she owed me nothing. Not only would I be emotionally destroyed by the outcome of that disastrous confession, but I’d probably lose out on any reputation I’d gained for fighting against both Fallen and Devils.

So, I focused on controlling my Familiar, instead.

Yes. Please do that. You’re interrupting my reading with your perversity. Let me enjoy my RomComs in peace, please.

The Ratatoskr is a squirrel with a horn atop its head. It had the combat abilities of a squirrel, meaning it’s worthless in a fight. However, the fact that it was my Familiar alone allowed me to take advantage of its physique, as I could see what it saw and interpret its thoughts and senses. The importance of being able to gather information innocuously is an incredible asset. One that I’d missed since my last life, which couldn’t be replicated by a single creature, but one is better than nothing. However, that little ability can be fulfilled by a garden mouse, or some other small creature, that would require less of my magic to maintain.

The Ratatoskr, however, could travel anywhere nigh-instantly. 

“Get on my hand.” That simple command, along with my intent clear through our bond, the horned squirrel complied with a deft nod of its head, a leap into the air, and then a swift disappearance. Without any flash of light, as though it had gotten to my outstretched palm naturally, it reappeared in my hand standing on its hindlegs and diligently looking around the forest. I saw through its eyes and heard through it ears the rustling of the wind, the movement of leaves, and a flash of blonde hair. The acuity of its senses, as well as its ability to interpret things with more clarity than a human, and its ability to travel quickly and unnoticed was going to be an asset that I’ll utilize to the utmost of my ability. “Well done.” 

Rias clapped and drew my attention.

Naturally, I kept my eyes on my Familiar to save face.

“You’re already working well together. That’s amazing, Issei-kun. If you’re this good with such a Familiar, we should’ve considered looking for a stronger one!”

“No. This one’s fine. It’s good enough.” Ddraig, naturally, had told me that the two of us were attuned enough to force any of the animals in the magical jungle to comply with us. Not many creatures in the world would stand up to a Devil, Angel, or Fallen, but fewer still wouldn’t comply with a Dragon. Even if I was only somewhat of a Dragon, courtesy of a few changed made by Ddraig for our continued survival, those changes were enough to dissuade anyone from not complying with the food chain. Ergo, if they didn’t want to be eaten, they’d do what I told them to. “Anything bigger would be hard to hide or take care of.”

“Ah. I’m sorry. I was treating you like one of my Peerage, Issei-kun. My household takes care of Familiars for us. I thought we’d do the same for you.” This time Gremory moved in front of me, as I desperately tried to keep my eyes on the squirrel. I had a simple choice. Looking away suddenly and showing weakness, or trying to keep my eyes on the Ratatoskr. Since the latter was impossible, I looked away. “Oh? Is there something on my face, Issei-kun?”

It’s your face. Everything about you is a sledgehammer to this body’s preferences. Therefore, it’s also a sledgehammer to my preferences. Things would be much easier if I kept what I liked in my past live, but that isn’t the case. This body is my exact opposite. Perpetually up to no good, ready to fantasize in a moment’s notice, and very, very attracted to women. Strapping, well-muscled men? All they set off in me is NTR alarms. Pretty boys? Go die, normies. Regular guys? Get out of here, I’m alone with a hot girl, so just leave me alone! 

Damn it all. 

I’d like to lie, but I knew for a fact that Gremory was just going to see through it. Somehow, someway, lying to pretty girls with good intentions didn’t settle with me now, either. I know for a fact that I’d lie in a heartbeat in any other circumstance. 

“You’re incredibly pretty and attractive. It’s difficult to look at you. So, I’d appreciate it if you toned down your appeal.” The words nearly felt like sacrilege as they left my tongue. Some part of me was screaming at me for being an idiot and telling a girl to be less attractive. It’s probably a huge, throbbing box labelled “male desire” that I tried my best to keep locked away, until I absolutely needed to deal with it. Which is at least twice a day, given the perpetual instincts of a teenage bow. Again, sorry, Lisa. No. I’m not apologizing to you, doujins and AV videos. That’s why you exist. “Excuse me.”

Rias blinked rapidly at my words, then tilted her head to the side. Curiosity, instead of shock, surprise, or disgust filled her features. 

You were hoping for smug or sadistic, huh.

I ignored Ddraig, because fantasizing either of those possibilities at the moment would make my mental control over myself collapse like a house of cards. Sadistic or smug is simply too high-tier to consider in public. Exhibitionism, at the very least, doesn’t entice me in the slightest. Thank goodness. 

“Oh… but I thought individuals like Koneko-chan, Sitri-chan, and Asia-chan were your specific type, Issei-kun.” What? Huh? Excuse me? Where did these lies and slander come from? I need to know who’s ruining my reputation with such words. Given the weight of their sins, I’m tempted to not be merciful. A full-scale, showcase of my power is necessary to destroy the source of those words, dissuade others from saying them, and ensuring that the rumor dies an ignoble death. I figure that I need a barrel and cement. Only a few dozen pounds of cement, too. The tide is pretty high this year. “My, oh my, I thought I was merely teasing you for your fetishes, and that you were ignoring me out of disgust. It seems I’ve been seducing you instead of playing a simple game… unless you truly prefer more slender women?”

“No. I don’t. Don’t believe anyone who tells you otherwise.” It must have something to do with my draconic blood, but I was very, very incensed at the insinuation that I would choose one woman over the other for their three sizes alone. While I’ll freely admit that looks are important, as long as age is appropriate and they actually care for themselves, everyone has their own appeal. Some more than others, but everyone has at least a smidgen of appeal that can attract others. “I haven’t shared my preferences to anyone, nor do I plan too. All you’ve heard is hearsay. I have no preference.”

“Then, what about your confession that I’m being extremely cute, beautiful, and attractive to the point where you don’t know how to look at me, Issei-kun?”

Mhmm, seems like there’s some sadism going on. Or is it smug? If she were a dragon, that’d be sadism, but Devils… eh… they do nothing for me.

“…that was more a statement of fact than anything else.” In negotiations and discourse, it’s typically a bad move to back down. Reputation is everything, so even if you’re wrong, it’s sometimes wiser to not back down. Unless not backing down would mean instant defeat, which is the cases here. If I lied, I was sure that Rias would win. How? I didn’t exactly know. Despite having a former existence as a woman, the smoldering gaze, stern smile, and palpable expectations being sent my way was something I’d never encountered in my previous life. Probably because I was a woman. All I know is that I needed to at least give some ground. “You’re attractive to the point of being distracting. That’s undisputable. That says nothing about my preferences. Only that you’re obscenely, incredibly attractive.”

“Is that so? Then what is it exactly that makes me obscenely, incredibly attractive in your eyes, Issei-kun?” Gremory minimized the distance between us, threatening my outstretched hand with her impeding advance before I brought it down to my side. My Familiar scampered away to a tea trop and observed the scene. Great. Now I’m being a voyeur on myself. Can I get another Familiar? One that’s less interested in juicy gossip and abnormal occurrences, please? “My chest? My rear? My legs?”

You know that this is sounding a lot like flirting, right? Not my kind of flirting. Human flirting. Right before mating flirting, too. 

“I don’t need to answer that. In fact, I’d rather leave now.” Steeling myself after not paying any attention to Ddraig’s words in the slightest, I decided to play to my own advantages instead of ceding the entire battle to Gremory. I moved to push her away. Not enough to harm her, let alone topple her onto her backside, but enough to make a quick getaway by slipping past her. 

Given the amount of control I needed in order to do that, my attempt was slow, ungainly, and clumsy to the point that I assisted Rias in her efforts to befuddle and confuse me. 

“Ahn! W-well… then… how do I feel, Issei-kun?” My oustreched hand, aimed at her shoulder, was now pinned between my chest and her own, while my other had was frozen and trapped at my side by the impact of the rest of her soft body against me. There was a scarlet haze on her features, while a warming smile settled upon her lips, and her eyes seemed to drink me into their azure depths. “Will you tell me what makes me so attractive to you… or should I just see how honest your body is—kyaah!?”

Oh. Kabedon. Nice.

Quiet, Ddraig.

I loomed over Gremory. Abandoning trying to hide my strength, speed, and all the other things Ddraig was more than happy to give and hide beneath human skin, it was easy enough to twist around Rias Gremory and put her against a tree, with my hand on the bark and pinning her own to her sides. What was less than easy was overcoming the rest of the instincts that came with the changes. Dragons aren’t the sort to hold back. Their emotions and instincts are strong enough to cause just those who wield their Sacred Gears to go mad with power. 

I needed an edge after I found out about the how strong a regular Exorcist is, but I’m admittedly not handling the side effects well. 

“Listen to me. When I tell you to stop trying to manipulate my emotions, you stop manipulating my emotions. They are very difficult to control.” I outlined the issue and presented my case with as much clarity and simplicity as possible. Gremory’s breathing was heavy, her face flushed, and the scent of swat intermingled with perfume. The grinding of bark beneath my fingers was the only thing that let me keep calm. Her current state didn’t appeal to my stronger, more primal, and newer senses, but they amplified what my regular emotions felt, too. Difficult is an understatement. “Rias Gremory, I’m not the sort of man you should be getting close to. Do you understand?”

When I considered the circumstances, I just rescued her from, what I did should have put fear into her heart, so whatever was left between the two of us was burnt beyond recognition. It would be better for me, if a Devil with her connections and relations didn’t want anything to do with me. So, I uttered the words necessary to make her recall her philandering fiancé who wanted her only for her body.

However, that didn’t happen at all. 

Rias Gremory’s response to my words wasn’t terror and disgust, but awe and excitement. Her breathing grew heavy and her eyes dull, but she moved swiftly in the one way I didn’t block: forward.

Right into me, until the only thing separating us were millimeters of cloth.

“No. I don’t.” Rias whispered into my ear, with her warm breath drifting up my neck. “I think I should be getting very close to you, my hero.”

Oh.

Right. 

I was the one saved her from her philandering fiancé who only wanted her body.