NOVEL WEB A Contract and a Deal
[You...What did you do, human?] A deep voice came out from the orb.
Touma already went to a secluded area to avoid people hearing them, so it was just between him and Ddraig.
“I severed the connection between Boosted Gear and Issei’s soul, simply as that, Ddraig.”
[Do you think I don't know that? I am asking how he is alive. I have experienced such thefts before and all of the times ends up with my host dying. So I will ask again, what did you do?]
“Nothing special, just a perfected tool that the fallen created. Sacred Gear can be extracted safely from the hosts as long as they don’t awaken them before.” Touma said, retelling the information when he got the Perfected Sacred Gear Stealer.
[I see…I think I should be grateful in a way that you didn’t kill my host.]
Touma raised an eyebrow looking at the red orb in his hand. “You won’t ask what I am going to do with you?”
[Hmpf! What else would you steal me for? Everyone desires my power to fulfill their own ambitions.] Ddraig said in an arrogant tone.
“Well, you aren’t wrong. However, you aren’t exactly right either.”
[So? You are telling me that you stole the Boosted Gear not for yourself, but for someone else?] Ddraig said in a mocking tone and laughed.
“Bullseye.” Touma said and Ddraig stopped laughing.
[You…don’t wish for my power? To double your power every 10 seconds on the base form?] Ddraig asked in an indignation, having his pride hurt. After all, this was the first time a human (who wasn’t the host of Albion or other Longinus users) said that his powers weren't desired.
“Although your powers are very powerful, I have no intentions of getting it for myself.”
Ddraig could tell that Touma was being truthful, so he finally asked.
[Then what is your goal?]
“It’s quite simple, Ddraig. All I want is to live in this world and protect what is mine. However, doing everything alone is just leading to your own demise. So I will be forming a team of sorts and recruiting people from all over the world.” Touma may not know it, but the Unique Skill [Chosen One] was already manifesting unconsciously, giving him a charismatic aura. “And for that, I am willing to form a contract with you, Red Dragon Emperor.”
[And what will I get for forming such a contract?]
“In exchange for nurturing your future host, I will find a way to free you from the Sacred Gear.” Touma said with seriousness.
[You know that the Boosted Gear will lose all its ability if I am free, right?]
Touma smiled and nodded in agreement. “I know, but by then the seed will have already grown into a fine tree.”
[...] Ddraig paused, before bursting into a cheerful laugh. [Very well then! Even if you fail in finding a way to free me from this prison, I, Y Ddraig Goch, the Red Dragon Emperor, will accept this contract and will train my future host to its fullest! However, only if they are worthy to be trained.]
“Then I, Kamiya Touma, will swear on my name that I will find a way to free you from the Boosted Gear.” Touma said and chuckled. “Also congratulations on avoiding your fate on becoming the ‘Oppai Dragon’.”
(E/D: I started to like lolis after this series gave me PTSD of boobs.)
[Wait, what!? What did you say, human!? Explain yourself!] Ddraig cried in confusion and fearfully, however he only was met with a laugh from the human he just made a contract with.
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The Occult Research Club, or just ORC, installed in the old school building, which already has a reputation of being a haunted place, giving the club a supernatural vibe.
However, what many didn’t know was that it served the base for one of the Devils that ruled the town.
And now, Touma has just arrived at the front door of the building.
‘Come to think of it, this is my first time going here and this place is quite huge.’
Touma opened the door and sensed the devils on the floor above him. He walked upstairs and knocked on the door three times.
“Enter.” He heard a voice inside and opened the door.
“Excuse me.” He said and there he saw the majority of Rias’ peerage gathered around.
Yuuto Kiba, a blonde young man with blue eyes and a mole under his left eye. He is Rias’ Knight and is currently…doing nothing in particular.
Then there was Toujou Koneko, a petite girl with white hair and yellow eyes that was munching on some cookies on the sofa. She is Rias’ Rook.
Beside the desk was Himejima Akeno, a young woman with voluptuous figure and long black hair with violet eyes. She is Rias’ Queen.
‘Seeing this room in person feels different, as if I am in a museum or in a themed cafe.’ Touma thought as he inspected the room with a glance.
“Good afternoon. Kamiya-kun, right? Do you have any business with the club?” Akeno didn’t let Touma confirm it, which means that the question was for a mere formality.
‘She already knows my name?’ Touma thought for a second as he didn’t expect her to even know his name, given the fact that they never talked to each other nor they encountered each other in the corridors. ‘Maybe it was because of the student council or she just has a really good memory.’
“That would be me, Himejima-senpai. And I came here for some matters with Gremory-senpai.” I said, then I heard a noise in a room beside this one. ‘Don’t tell me that Rias is showering at this time?’
“Please take a seat then, the president will be here shortly.” Akeno said and I sat on the opposite side of Koneko. “Coffee or tea?”
“Coffee please.” Touma said. From his past life, Touma always preferred coffee over tea, and this preference transferred to his current life too. He took a sip and was surprised by the taste. “This is good. Where did you get this?”
“It’s from an acquaintance of Rias’ brother that gifted them and Rias brought it here. I can give you some if you want.” Akeno offered and Touma’s eyes shone.
‘Good stuff is hard to pass.’ Touma thought before nodding. “I would appreciate it.”
After waiting for a few minutes, the door from the side opened and a certain redhead walked out from it. The smell of shampoo and shower gel lingered in the air.
She was Rias Gremory, a voluptuous young woman with red hair and bluish green eyes.
“Sorry for the wait.” Rias said and Akeno walked to her and told her what was happening. “I understand.” Rias nodded and sat on her chair and turned to Touma. “Then Kamiya-kun, what's your business with us?”
“I would like to make a deal with you, Gremory-senpai.”
“A deal?” Rias tilted her head in confusion.
“I heard that you will be having a Rating Game against the son of the Phenex, right? I will help you out.”
When he said that, Rias and her peerage tensed and adopted a more of a serious expression.
Rias opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She wanted to ask ‘How did you know?’, but considering that it wasn’t exactly a secret and according to Sona, Touma already had a grasp of the supernatural, so she changed her question.
“How are you going to help?” Rias finally asked.
“As you may know, my family owns a dojo and we have been training the student council for a while, so I can offer myself to train everyone here in the physical aspect.”
Rias thought for a while and remembered that Sona told her that Tsubaki was defeated in a spar, so she decided to give it a try.
“Then I would like a few weeks of trial to see the results and if it satisfies me we will officially accept the contract.” Rias said after some careful thoughts.
Touma nodded and found it acceptable.
“So, what do you want in exchange?”
“I have two requests.” Touma said. “First, I want my parents to be protected if anything happens.”
“Only your parents? Then what about you?” Rias asked, confused, finding the request rather unusual.
“Yes, while I believe myself capable enough to defend myself, I am worried that it isn’t the same for my parents, as contrary to me, they are unaware of the supernatural and will be very vulnerable if anything happens.” Touma said.
While he could get stronger eventually and protect himself, it couldn’t be said the same for his parents. Besides, telling them about the supernatural would only increase their worry and hinder his future plans.
Touma hated to admit it, but they were quite…a burden. However, it was a burden that he was willing to accept since the time he reincarnated here.
After all, he was certain that as he got stronger, he was bound to attract unwanted attention to himself and those related to him.
“I see.” Rias nodded in understanding and decided to not peer too much. “Then what about the second request?”
“I want to be paid for each training session we have and of course, only after you accept the contract.”
“That’s acceptable.” Rias said immediately, after all, money wasn’t something she lacked.
“Then I will be looking forward to our partnership.” Touma said and extended his hand, while Rias shook it with her own hand.