Fanfiction by: Echless.
Narrative (Reality) Manipulator in DxD.
Chapter 4
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Side note: If you don't see any description for characters, don't blame me, we all know what they look like, so, I'm not bothering with that.
***
It was now lunch.
The morning classes passed quickly; throughout them, the teacher's voice had droned on for most, and they had inwardly prayed for time to pass.
Now that morning classes were finally over, the moment the bell rang and the teacher excused themselves, the entire class became lively.
Those who ran out afterward did so. Others who preferred to start classes during lunch did as well.
Amongst them, that waited behind in class were students who formed a crowd, gathering around a blonde-haired girl, Asia.
Like Ren, she just officially transferred today, too. But unlike Ren, she was the spotlight here.
"Hey! Where did you come from?"
"When did you move here?"
"You seem to know Issei; what's your relationship with him?"
The blonde smiled wryly as she answered their questions to the best of her ability.
Ren, on the other hand, remained in his seat, watching. Eventually, he sighed.
He got up from his chair and approached someone seated near the back window. It was the second-to-last seat.
The person also sat alone, with a wry smile, looking at the interaction between the blonde and the rest.
Even his friends had left him to speak to the girl.
Seeing this was perfect timing, Ren approached him.
"Hello."
Ren said that, with a bright smile toward the brunette male.
"Eh—oh…? He—!!!!"
The male blinked, then looked back at Ren.
Originally, he was about to greet Ren, but when his gaze fell upon him, his body trembled violently.
That feeling came. Issei shivered.
'Again…!!!'
For some reason, ever since Ren entered the class, he had felt like his heart was being held in a hand.
A tightening feeling in his chest, as well as an unnatural hatred toward him.
His mind found it unnatural, but his body found it natural. He was in conflict.
"Since I'm new here, would you mind showing me around?"
Ren asked, and Issei flinched.
"Uhm, ahh… This…"
Issei stammered, looking left and right, looking for an excuse. The feeling of being hit with a spear of light.
That was the sensation being around him gave. He instinctively knew this person was bad news.
"H-hey, Asia, how about I take you to Buchou and the club?"
"Yes! Issei-san!"
Issei had stormed into the crowd surrounding Asia and said that to her.
Of course, being her life's savior and her pookie, there was no way Asia would say no.
With that, both of them left the class, much to the remaining classmates' rage and anger.
[I really am hated, aren't I? Well, that, too, is just part of it.]
As he thought that, he turned back. There, he saw a bespectacled girl, frozen, her eyes widening as they focused on one particular spot.
"D-dragon."
She muttered that with a mix of awe and fear, making him pause; his expression slowly turned sour as, at that moment, everybody turned their attention to them.
'My lord. That is…'
[Say a word, and I'll destroy you.]
The girl looked like she was about to say something, but he had already moved closer with a far too kind smile on his face.
"Since you look free, why don't you show me around the school?"
Ren said that, but she was unbothered by his smile. Her eyes trailed down again. However, this time, she let out a small smirk much to his exasperation.
Kiryuu Aika let him drag her out of the classroom, towards the stairs where, luckily, there were fewer people around.
"Hey. Hasn't anyone ever told you that you're rude?"
"Heh, the person we all thought was average was actually the most outstanding among them all."
"You… my eyes are up here, for fucks sake."
It wasn't until Ren said that she lifted her head, her eyes meeting his.
"Woah… alright, alright, fine. You want me to show you around, yes? Fine. Follow me."
She turned back, waving her hand briefly at him to follow her. Ren finally sighed.
Kuoh Academy was actually bigger than it had been depicted. Extremely spacious and all.
They must have pulled a devilish magic trick for the renovation.
Also, it makes sense why nobody questions how a huge building like this seemed to spring up out of nowhere.
Assembly halls, baseball fields, tennis courts, football fields, a gymnasium, pools, a clubhouse, and even a training ground.
It truly showed its prestige through its buildings alone.
As for the academic standards, they'd be average to good, at least. That's what Ren thinks. Kuoh Academy wasn't a school for elites, so it only made sense.
On the flip side,
At the back of the main school building, on the grounds of the old school building, which had been renovated clearly to the liking of its new owners.
It was built under the guise of an occult club. To anyone unaware, it would simply seem weird.
This place was a gathering of devils.
At this moment, two figures entered the clubroom's office.
Seated on the principle seat behind a desk at the end of the room was the red-haired woman, and behind her was her vice president and queen.
The rest, the knight and rook, were also present.
As they entered, Rias immediately greeted them.
"Ise, Asia, welcome. How has your day been so far?"
Asia replied enthusiastically with a bow.
"Yes. It's been good, Rias-senpai. Thank you for this opportunity."
Meanwhile, while Asia gave her reply, Issei had a perceptible frown on his face throughout the entire time.
Naturally, almost everybody noticed that the always energetic Issei was being oddly silent. Serious, even.
"Issei. What's wrong?"
Seeing her pawn silent, Rias then asked him that, startling him, but he quickly covered it with a sheepish expression, rubbing the back of his head with a forced smile.
"Hahaha. Nothing…"
They didn't believe that, of course.
Asia's gaze alternated between Issei and the club members, and surely, as they thought, something was wrong with Issei.
Rias got up from her seat, approaching him and pulling him to her chest.
"What's wrong?"
She kept her hands on his face, tilting it as she checked him.
"Speak. You look like something is bothering you. I will not permit silence, Ise."
Rias added that last part a little too forcefully, more like a command.
"Well… I don't know… I have been okay since yesterday, even this morning…"
His king nodded; she had been with him all morning until they came to school, so she knew this better.
"But… we had an additional transfer student today other than Asia. And… I don't know. I've been feeling restless."
"And… I hate him. I don't know why. Like he's someone I have to kill."
Without even knowing, he was slowly descending into a frenzy of hate just by talking about him.
And that was the scariest part for him: this unnatural hate.
Perhaps the only person he'd hated this much until now was Raynare, because of what she did, how she toyed with him and an innocent girl.
Knowing this much, everybody turned to each other.
Although they hadn't known him for that long, they knew Issei wasn't the type of person to say such a thing willingly.
Rias turned towards Koneko, who nodded and sniffed the air.
What she smelled was something something she didn't think she'd smell.
From Issei nevertheless.
Yes.
Fear.
Immediately, she froze, almost shivering for a moment, and that was all Rias needed; thus, she nodded.
What naturally came to mind is…
"Akeno…"
"Yes. There is a high chance it is a sacred gear."
After all, amongst all sacred gears, there are sacred gears that could lay waste to gods, so it wouldn't be odd that an ability like this would be a sacred gear.
With the tomfoolery the Biblical God had done, it isn't really surprising a sacred gear like this would exist.
"Well, it would solve nothing if we continue under this assumption, Kiba."
Rias called to her trusty knight, who stepped forward with a nod and his ever-easygoing smile.
"Understood. I'll invite him. Leave it to me."
With that, the knight left the clubroom.
On the other hand,
While that happened, Ren and Aika walked down the hallway of the school's main building.
The male, on the other hand, was being bombarded with lots of questions from her.
"Hey, did you stay in Italy until now? Why did you move? Which school did you attend there?"
"Did you previously have a girlfriend? What's your type?"
But he answered her with the same interest.
"No, I was in another country until coming to Japan. I moved because I've always wanted to come to my mother's hometown."
"I attended [omitted] school. As for girlfriends, I've had none."
"My type is a beautiful girl with big chests, long black hair in a ponytail, mesmerizing eyes, and strong-willed."
"Well, as long as she has two or three of the above, then I'm cool with it."
Hearing his words, Aika dropped playfully, her shoulders slumping.
"That means you have zero interest in girls like me, ah, how heartbreaking."
She said that, of course, to tease him and maybe try her luck; however, his answers were:
"Well, if you're okay with being a side girl, then sure."
Naturally, it was the same energy he gave back to her. However, the girl seemed to be considering it.
"Hey, hey, don't tell me you're actually considering it?"
Having talked to her throughout, he realized he didn't particularly hate her. She was direct with her words, unhinged in a way or two.
He liked such people.
That way, he himself could match their unhinged energy.
"Hm. Nice try, but no… I'm not ready to be destroyed by 'that' yet."
"Hahaha… funny. Really funny."
"What a sarcastic fellow."
"I believe the feeling is mutual, my dear Aika."
They continued their unhinged conversation until they reached the corner leading to the stairs.
However, as they turned, he was already waiting. Blonde-haired, the most handsome male in the entire school.
Kiba Yuuto.
[Well, well, well, looks like Dragon Boy has snitched on me. Well… this is to be expected.]
"Hello, Augustus-san. My name is Kiba Yuuto."
He stretched out his hands toward Ren.
Aika looked at Ren, then back at Yuuto. She was shocked.
Ren had just entered the school; heck, he isn't even in uniform. Yet, the ORC was already seeking him out.
Big scoop.
Ren paused, then looked down at his outstretched arms. A smile crossed his face.
"Nice to meet you too."
He shook the hand. And the moment he did, Kiba blinked, then zoned out for a couple of seconds before snapping back to reality.
"Excuse me…?"
Ren blinked with a tilted head.
"Ah… I'm sorry. Ahem. I am a member of the Occult Research Club. Our club president would like to meet you after school ends. What do you say?"
Ren nodded.
"Sure. I don't mind."
Kiba then wryly smiled, both releasing their handshake as Kiba continued on his way.
"Oh, look who's popular now. It's only been a day, and people are already looking for you."
"Shut that sarcastic comment up."
"Eh? I thought you were the type that likes these kinds of things."
"When did I ever say that?"
"Anyways... remember what you said about your type? The president of the ORC club might just be your type."
To Aika's words, Ren paused, thought about it with a nod, paused again, then finally shook his head.
He couldn't say no to Aika's words here and now, as reason would dictate "he had just arrived and wouldn't know who Rias Gremory was".
But he already knew who Rias Gremory was. She was beautiful, but she wasn't his type.
Sure, his hypocritical ass would obviously get along with her, and would let her take advances at him if she ever tried.
But to like her even the slightest bit romantically?
No. He wouldn't see her like that. Naturally, this includes Souna, too.
Can he be called a scumbag because of that…?
Probably.
But let's be real, there's no way he can have affection for people's lives he could control at will.
"So, you'll be going?"
"Eh…? I don't see why not."