Scarlet 50 (Patreon)

Scarlet 50

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Commissioned by Sivantic

Wordcount: 2500

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I’m sure that there are plenty of reasons why I shouldn’t trade my humanity for power, but most of those reasons cease to apply when there’s creature in the world that I’m living in capable of shattering countries in an afternoon.

And, this time, your source of power isn’t an interdimensional alien parasite.

That, too.

If I was reborn into a normal world without Endbringers and creatures like Kokabiel, I’d happily just take my second chance at life. I wouldn’t go out of my way looking for fights and conflicts, even though I would do my best to make the most of my advantages. I’ll go and try to be wealthy and powerful like a normal person, nothing more and nothing less, and enjoy my life as a human in a world with only humans and human problems.

But that wasn’t the case in my new life.

So, I had to adapt, change, and substitute my humanity with what Ddraig offered.

Oi, quit talking like being more like a Dragon is somehow a negative. You’re stronger, faster, better, and you’ll live loads longer. Do you know how many human kings and emperors and warlords would’ve given everything up just for a few decades more of youth and health? You’ve got a hundred times that easily!

And, in doing so, I’m effectively giving up interacting for long terms with human society. The people I’ll be interacting with henceforth are Devils and other supernatural individuals There’s no way that I can live a normal life amongst humans now.

Why be normal when you can just conquer a country and do whatever you want? Imagine all the things you can by if you run a small country. All the food you could eat and all the ladies that you want!

I ignored Ddraig, because as far as he was concerned, there was no downside to me being partially Dragon.

Because it’s true!

My parents will pass on from this world, and even if they weren’t my first parents, they were good to me. All the human friends that I had needed to be cut off, before they realized that I’m barely aging and before outlive them. Most institutions will be able to spot my age issue in the future, which means I’ll need to make new civilian identities and won’t be able to hold land for very long. It wasn’t just about concealing my identity, but the fact that I was immortal, and that was a bigger issue in its entirety.

Was I really ready to live as long as I will?

What if I go insane, because I’m not meant to live that long?

How will I handle forgetting my parents, my friends, and everyone else who couldn’t live as long as me?

Will the me in the future even go and try to save the world if it was in danger?

How about you think about this like you getting hundreds more years to enjoy your harem?

Alright, I’m okay with living for a very long time now.

I really hoped that wouldn’t do it.

…

Serafall tried to scare me the first couple of training sessions, but she eventually actually started giving practical advice.

“So, I can’t shoot off Angel wings?”

“No. They’re loads tougher than you think. It’s like trying shoot off a magical girl’s hat. It never happens no matter what.”

“I see.”

“Unless it’s ecchi, of course.”

“Of course.”

Serafall nodded sagely, while I picked some food out of the basket and served her and Asia. As far as picnic food went, it was pretty normal for the two of them. Egg salad sandwiches, some fruit, and a salad that my mom prepared which I’d helped with. Meanwhile, my meal was a whole other basket where a whole tinful of rice and beef curry waited along with a foot-long sandwich, which was meant to feed four people. Initially, I tried to avoid stronger flavors, since they made it harder to keep eating, but my new senses didn’t grow tired of food as easily as my old ones. There was always a bit more ‘taste’ to enjoy even with every bite being the same food.

“If you want to bring an Angel down, no matter what, you should call them names. Fallen are tricky and won’t fall for it, but regular Angels always will. Call them a meanie, a doo-doo head, or stick your tongue out at them, and they’ll come flying at you! Then, you can show them your fist of Justice!”

Shoot them right in the skull with a Boosted shotgun the moment they descend.

Got it.

“That sounds good. I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you, sensei.” The sensei line made Leviathan freeze, but her shoulders slumped and she shook her head instead of flying off. That was a win in my book. She was pouting, but the training was going to continue, instead of ending early. Worth it. “Tired of the sandwich? You can have some of my curry and rice.”

I was eating pretty fast, but the human mouth wasn’t exactly built to support a half-dragon stomach without some serious time investment. Well, I could just open wide and slide all the food in, but I’ll reserve that trick when I’m desperate. I actually liked eating and so did Ddraig.

Cuisine is justice. I’m never eating a burnt carcass again. Well, maybe with a little salt.

“I knew it. This was your way of corrupting me. Never giving up, always being nice, and bringing cutie Asia here, so I’ll feel really bad about hurting you.”

“If Asia wasn’t here, I’d be dead.”

“Only mostly dead!”

I shook my head, while Serfall went ahead and cradled’s Asia against her chest.

Sometimes, I wondered if I was born again a woman, but in a female version of Hyoudou Issei. Would I be after all the boobs and tits and amazing knockers… or would I be a bitch?

I’m veto’ing this line of thought.

Veto passed.

I moved on with my thoughts, as Leviathan pouted at me.

“…Why can’t you give up, anyway? This is more than anyone else could take. It’s not like doing this will make your family safer. They’re already as safe as they can be.” Rias and Sona worked together and helped secure my household. It was now a safehouse that had a barrier stronger than what we had in Kuoh when the Fallen attacked. Given the fact that Rias spent a lot of time there, it was only reasonable, Sona had said… while Rias said she’d hate it if my family was hurt. Both meant well and thought about me. “Do you really need so much power that you can beat Levi-tan?”

Some people would think that Leviathan was being less serious when she referred to herself in third person.

They’d be wrong.

That’s when she’s the most serious, so I took the question seriously.

“I want power, but I’m not willing to do crazy things to do it. I want to work with what I’ve had since I was born, instead of becoming anyone’s pawn. Not just the Devils.” I was sure that the Fallen and Heaven had their own versions in the works of the Peerage system. It was a powerful recruitment tool and that was something any nation wanted. “I want to be free. To exist on my own terms. Not just fight for someone else my entire life.”

That earned me a serious nod from Leviathan.

“That makes sense. Us Devils fought for freedom, too. That’s why we had a civil war.” I’d heard about that, but the gloom that fell on Leviathan wasn’t something I could’ve expected. Her gaze grew dark and her features went serious. In an instant, I felt like I should be somewhere far away, or activating my Sacred Gear to its utter limits. Ddraig growled in approval in the back of my head. That’s right. I was sitting across a Satan. One that was one of the foundational powers of the current societal structure of Hell, after it was reborn through Civil war. This woman has killed more people than I’ve ever met in my life with powers that I can barely understand. “I’m glad that So-tan and everyone else can be happy… but I guess that you don’t have anyone fighting to give that to you, huh?”

“No.” I answered honestly. A part of me thought of Bet. When I was a child, I’d admired Alexandria. Now you admire her for different reasons. Shut up, Ddraig. Heroes were people that protected us from villains. That was the gist of things, until my world came crashing down around me after the locker. Still, there was a decade of ‘peace’ given to me by those people, which I never had now. “There’s no human faction that’s out there to protect me that isn’t beholden to some higher power… and if they exist, they’re not doing nearly enough to actually help people.”

There was no Protectorate here. No gathering of Sacred Gear users or people with talent that defended humanity. Some people would attest that the Church took that part, but they worked for God and Heaven, which was one of the biggest Factions. They’re subordinate to them and beholden to live according to them. They’re effectively ruled by Heaven, so I didn’t count them.

No, I stood on my own with my own power, without an organization to back me, but I was lucky enough that I had a Longinus and the power to succeed in standing alone… as long as I trained.

“Mou, but you’re working with So-tan all the time. You say things like wanting to be free and independent, but you’ve got your claws all over my little sister!” Leviathan huffed and blew out her cheeks, while crossing her arms. The combination of bouncing from the huffing and the sudden arm crossing distracted me. They’re suspended right before they’ve fallen, and she’s sticking her chest out. Have I ever seen this form of boob presentation before? She’s just got them propped up and they’re nearly touching her chin!  Please, go back to thinking about how you need to be strong and powerful. This must be a blessing. “And, you’re dating Rias-tan,  Akeno-tan, and Asia-tan, too!”

Serafall Leviathan glared at me, before the hammer fell.

“And, you’ve always looked and peaked at me whenever I attack! I can feel it, you know!? You’re after Levi-tan’s purity.”

I couldn’t resist, even if I should.

“Absolutely. You’re strong, amazing, and beautiful. Why wouldn’t I be attracted to you?” She knew enough about me, and I wasn’t about to refute her. If she decided to wear the least-supportive bra and existence and gallivant around in a miniskirt while flying, why would I look away!? Weak MC’s are the worst and they deserve what happens to them in doujins. You truly are a villain Taylor. “And, I’m not forcing them to do anything. They’ve accepted me, and I’m going to protect and care for them with my entire life. I’d rather die than see them hurt. If they want to leave me, I’ll let them, too.”

It'll hurt like hell, but if anyone with me now decides that they don’t want to be with me anymore, that’s their choice and I’ll respect it.

I’ll do everything in my power to keep them safe and happy.

The latter includes letting them go and moving on, if they decide against being part of a harem.

Well, at the very least, you’ve got some honor. Wait, what if they get stolen from you?

You can’t steal people, Ddraig. People choose to be with other people according to their own feelings and desires.

…That would be fair, if not for the fact that I can see you using that logic to go after married women or those in relationships.

…

Say something against it, dammit!

I ignored Ddraig.

Leviathan stared at me for a while with her arms crossed and her glare, but it stopped suddenly when Asia spoke up with reddened cheeks.

“Ise-kun is telling the truth. He hasn’t lied about any of this. Um, I… I know that he’s with three others and wants more, but his love is true.” Oof, somehow, Asia protecting me was like a knife to the heart. Logically, I knew it was the normal for two people to be together. That Asia deserved a partner all to herself and shouldn’t have to compete. However, I was also determined to go against that logic and have enough care, love, and affection to those who decide to be with me. I know that I’m doing something wrong, but I was also doing my best to do it as right as I could. “So, please, Leviathan-san, won’t you let Sona and everyone else choose for themselves? Ise-kun isn’t doing anything we don’t know, he talks to us, and takes care of us… even if it is a sin, he’s doing his best to do it righteously!”

Auuggghhhh, having Asia all of that makes me want to confess all my wrongs while prostrating myself. She shouldn’t have to defend me! None of them do! They’re all already doing so much for me, so I should at least take that worry off them, shouldn’t I!?

I wanted to say all these things, but I stopped myself as I watched Leviathan flounder and try to find a counter-argument… and slump with her hands falling to her sides as she found none.

“A-alright, So-tan does have the right to choose… but I still have the right to refuse! I’m never ever going to be with you, Issei Hyoudou! I’m going to do my best to show So-tan that she deserves better!” I nodded at her words. Even if I felt some anger at her declaration, I quelled it. Leviathan would be a poor sister if she didn’t try to do that for her younger sibling. This is how she showed that she cared— “The only person So-tan should marry is me!”

Okay, didn’t see that coming.

“Leviathan-sama, that’s wrong!”

“What the hell, you’ve only been all of this because you feel like you’re getting cheated!?” I almost shot up from park table’s chair. That knowledge made so much of how she treated me suddenly click. This woman never saw me as a man or someone to be admired… she saw me as an opponent against her crazed fantasies. Knowing that allowed me to look past the thighs, the ass, the chest, the cosplay, the way she moved, get on with it Taylor—right, it made me look past her sheer attractiveness and see the truth. “All of that was just because you’re a damn sis-con!?”

“No, I’m a Sona-con! So-tan is justice! If I’m with her, who cares what laws, decency, and morality say!?”

“That’s even worse!”