Night had settled over Kuoh, its streets bathed in the soft glow of streetlights. The town, quiet yet lively in its own way, held secrets beneath its mundane surface. Hidden among humans were beings of myth—Fallen Angels, Devils, and more, all playing their roles in a world most would never perceive.
And amidst it all, a bar had appeared overnight.
Nestled in a dimly lit alley, its entrance was subtle yet inviting, the dark wooden door adorned with an old-fashioned golden handle. A neon sign above it flickered faintly, displaying a simple name in elegant script: "The Midnight Raven."
Inside, the atmosphere was warm, the scent of aged whiskey mingling with faint traces of tobacco and polished oak. Shelves lined the back wall, stocked with bottles from across the world, some mundane, others far more... exotic. The dim lighting cast shadows that danced across the rich mahogany counter, where a lone figure sat, swirling a glass of amber liquid in his hand.
Victor.
A man who looked to be in his mid-twenties, though that was merely an illusion. Platinum-white hair framed a face too striking to be normal—his features sculpted with an unnatural perfection, his electric-blue eyes holding an almost hypnotic quality. A finely trimmed short beard only added to his rugged charm. He was, in a word, supernaturally attractive.
Not that it was surprising. He was a Fallen Angel, after all.
At the moment, however, he wasn't indulging in celestial battles or ancient grudges. No, he was playing bartender, weaving between tables with effortless grace as he served drinks to his few customers. And tonight, those customers happened to be a trio of high school girls, all dressed in matching uniforms.
One of them, a brunette with bright hazel eyes, leaned forward slightly, her curiosity evident. "Hey, mister, how long has this place been open? I swear it wasn't here yesterday."
Victor placed a cocktail in front of her with practiced ease before offering a small, knowing smile. "That's because it wasn't," he replied smoothly. "Today's the first day of business." He straightened up, rolling his shoulders slightly. "And, as you might have noticed, I'm currently running this place alone."
The girl blinked, then exchanged glances with her friends. "Wait, you own this place?"
Victor gave a short nod. "That's right." Then, with casual nonchalance, he added, "And I'm looking for staff, in case you know anyone interested."
The trio perked up at that, a gleam of interest in their eyes. One of them, a redhead with a playful smirk, rested her chin on her palm. "A handsome boss and free drinks? I think you'll have a line forming by morning."
Victor chuckled, shaking his head as he placed a few napkins on the table. "Well, if you hear anything, let me know." With that, he turned on his heel, his long black coat shifting slightly as he walked back to the counter.
Settling onto a stool behind the bar, he poured himself a glass of whiskey and took a slow sip, savoring the burn as it slid down his throat. With a practiced motion, he pulled out a cigarette, lighting it with a snap of his fingers. The glow of the ember reflected in his eyes as he exhaled a thin stream of smoke.
This bar was a whim, really. A project born not out of necessity, but out of boredom. He had no grand ambitions, no schemes to shake the world. He simply wanted something to do. And if that meant playing bartender in a quiet little town, then so be it.
Or so he thought.
His heightened senses picked up on the hushed conversation at the nearby table. At first, he wasn't paying much attention—hearing things you weren't supposed to was part of being a supernatural entity. But as the words reached his ears, he found himself momentarily frozen.
"…I swear, if I had just five minutes alone with him…"
"…that face? That body? He's like something out of a dream."
"…those hands look like they could do a lot more than just serve drinks…"
Victor shuddered.
Not out of modesty—he was well aware of how he looked. No, it was the sheer depravity of the human mind that unsettled him. He had been alive for centuries, seen the rise and fall of civilizations, fought in battles that shaped history… and yet, nothing quite prepared him for the unfiltered thoughts of a group of teenage girls with overactive imaginations.
Moving on.
Just as he was about to down the rest of his whiskey, something made him pause. His senses flared, and immediately, his body tensed.
Demonic energy.
Strong. Refined. High-class, without a doubt.
And more than that—there was another energy intertwined with it. A presence that carried a familiar scent. Fallen, but diluted.
Victor turned his head slightly, just as the door to his bar swung open.
Two figures stepped inside, both radiating an aura of power. The first was a young woman with long, flowing crimson hair. Not red. Not auburn. Not scarlet. Crimson. And that unmistakable energy…
Great.
Just great.
Rias Gremory. The little sister of Lucifer himself.
And as if that wasn't bad enough, beside her stood another girl—one with long black hair tied into a ponytail, violet eyes gleaming with mischief. A familiar energy clung to her, something that made Victor curse his luck even further.
Akeno Himejima.
Daughter of Baraqiel, his dear friend.
He sighed inwardly, composing himself before slipping into his usual easygoing demeanor.
They didn't know what he was. This was probably just a coincidence.
Straightening his coat, Victor made his way to their table, offering a charming smile as he approached. "Welcome, ladies. What can I get you tonight?"
Rias, ever the picture of refinement, offered him a polite nod. "Just a cup of tea, please."
Akeno, on the other hand, had a different kind of glint in her eye.
The kind that told Victor she was about to make his night far more complicated than it needed to be.
She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her palm, her violet eyes locking onto his. Her lips curled into a sultry smile.
"Are you on the menu, Mr. Bartender?"
Rias sighed, clearly exasperated. "Akeno…"
Victor exhaled through his nose, rolling his shoulders as he met Akeno's gaze with a slow smirk of his own. She really is her mother's daughter, isn't she?
Still, he couldn't help himself. Fallen Angels were creatures of desire, after all.
"That depends," he mused, his voice smooth as silk. "Are we talking about the full experience, or just a tasting sample? Because I have to warn you—once you get a taste, you might find it hard to stop."
Akeno's smirk widened. "Oh? I do enjoy a challenge."
Victor chuckled, tilting his head slightly. "Then be careful what you ask for, sweetheart. Some things are meant to be savored… and others might just leave you craving more than you can handle."
She let out a soft, lilting laugh. "I think I'll take my chances."
Rias groaned, rubbing her temple. "Can we not?"
Victor merely chuckled, stepping back slightly. "One cup of tea, coming up. And as for you, Miss Himejima… I'll let you figure out what you're thirsty for."
"I'll have the same as my companion, plus my previous order,"
With that, he turned on his heel, making his way back to the bar with an amused smirk.
This night just got a lot more interesting.
Victor returned with their drinks, placing the tea in front of Rias and setting Akeno's cup down with a teasing smile. Instead of walking away, he smoothly plopped himself down between the two, resting an arm along the back of the booth.
"As per your request, everything is served," he said, folding one leg over the other.
Akeno hummed in approval, taking a delicate sip of her tea while her eyes trailed over him with undisguised amusement. "Mmm, delightful service. I could get used to this, Mr. Bartender~."
Rias, shaking her head at her friend's antics, leaned back slightly before focusing on Victor. "So, you're running this place all by yourself?"
Victor shrugged, rolling his shoulders. "For now. The bar appeared overnight, and I figured I'd see if I could make something of it before hiring anyone."
Rias frowned slightly, glancing around. "That's a lot of work for one person. Are you planning on employing… students?"
Her emphasis on the last word made Victor chuckle. "Shifts start at four and end at eleven," he explained. "It wouldn't interfere with school, and I doubt the job would be too much to handle."
Rias followed his gaze as he nodded toward the clock on the wall. It was nearing ten. "You close in an hour," she noted. "Should we expect to be kicked out soon?"
Victor laughed, a rich, velvety sound. "Working hours don't apply to the boss," he said smoothly. "As long as I'm here, the doors stay open."
Akeno leaned in slightly, resting her chin on her palm. "Does that mean if I asked nicely, I could stay all night?"
Victor turned to her with a knowing smirk. "You wouldn't even have to ask nicely, Miss Himejima. But I should warn you…" He tilted his head, lowering his voice slightly. "Some things are far more tempting in the late hours of the night."
Akeno's lips curled into a playful smile. "Oh? And what kind of things might those be?"
Victor exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "Now, now. If I gave away all my secrets, what fun would that be?"
She let out a soft, lilting laugh. "I like a man with a little mystery. It makes the chase all the more exciting."
Victor smirked. "Chase, huh? You sure you're not the one being chased?"
Akeno feigned innocence, placing a hand over her heart. "Oh, Mr. Bartender, are you implying that I'm the prey?"
"Just saying, some hunters underestimate the things they're hunting." He met her gaze, letting the words linger. "And that can be quite dangerous."
Akeno's violet eyes gleamed with intrigue. "Dangerous can be fun, don't you think?"
Victor chuckled. "That depends on who's playing the game."
Rias, having had enough of their back and forth, sighed and cut in. "Alright, enough of that. What's the pay?"
Victor instantly switched gears, his easygoing smirk replaced with a professional expression. "I'm looking for both a bartender and a waiter. Both positions are paid 1,200 yen an hour."
Rias raised an eyebrow, surprised. "That's almost double the minimum wage. You pay your workers generously, it seems."
Victor leaned back slightly, taking a slow sip of his whiskey. "Workers are the ones keeping the place alive," he said simply. "A bar's only as good as the people running it."
Rias studied him for a moment before giving a small nod. "Fair enough."
With business out of the way, Victor turned his attention back to Akeno. "Now, where were we?"
Akeno smirked. "Something about danger… and temptation?"
Victor chuckled. "Ah, yes. That."
And just like that, their flirtatious banter resumed, playful and unrelenting. Akeno pushed, Victor countered, and Rias, for the most part, simply ignored them.
Eventually, as the clock neared eleven, both girls finished their tea and rose from their seats.
"This was fun," Akeno said, stretching slightly. "I think I'll be visiting again soon."
Rias sighed but offered Victor a polite nod. "Thanks for the drinks."
Victor gave a casual two-fingered salute. "Pleasure's mine. Come by anytime."
With that, the two Devils exited the bar, disappearing into the night.
Now alone, Victor let out a deep breath, running a hand through his platinum hair.
"Well," he muttered to himself, "that was something."
Finishing the last of his whiskey, he stood, locking up the bar before heading upstairs to his private quarters. Tossing his coat over a chair, he fell onto his bed, exhaling as he stared at the ceiling.
Tomorrow was another day.
And he had a feeling it was going to be just as interesting.