LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 22: Circumstance
"So, do you not respond to summonings like the others...?" asked Vahn, standing behind Rias and carefully brushing her hair at his own request.
"It's more that there aren't many people within Kuoh Town who possess the Spiritual Power necessary to summon a High-Class Devil," answered Rias, sporting a relaxed smile as she sat perfectly straight with her eyes closed.
Before Vahn could ask, Rias explained, "Most of the clients of a High-Class Devil are fairly successful businesspersons, politicians, or rising stars in the entertainment industry. However, as I am still considered a Young Devil until the eve of my one-hundredth birthday, I am prohibited from getting involved in human politics."
"One hundred..." repeated Vahn, once again reminded that Devils were, in fact, not humans.
"That's right," affirmed Rias, further explaining, "Because of our tragically low conception rate, the average age of Devils across the Underworld, at least according to the most recent census, is 393. Even in my family, the difference between mine and my brother's ages is more than six hundred years, and he only recently fathered his first son. I'm hoping our first child will arrive within two to three hundred years, but with your vigor, we could get lucky and have one before the turn of the century."
"And what if one arrives even sooner...?" asked Vahn, finding it difficult to imagine the process taking hundreds of years after how proactive he and Rias had been the previous evening. He didn't believe he was ready to be a father, but the more he learned about the circumstances of Rias and her people, the direr it sounded. Thus, even if he weren't ready, he was willing to father as many children as Rias desired...
Leaning back to stare up at Vahn with an amused smile, Rias teased, "If your seed is that potent, then you should prepare yourself. A lot of female Devils are going to want a piece of you."
"Hopefully not too many..." responded Vahn, offering an uneasy smile that caused Rias to exhale from her nose. She truly appreciated his loyalty, but if she had to endure and manage his inexhaustible libido alone, she would never get any work done. And with her family managing a domain the size of Japan's main island, she would have a significant workload, albeit only after another eighty or so years.
"Then how about we limit things to members of my Peerage?" proposed Rias. "If I fill the remaining positions exclusively with women, that would total six people. Though, rounding up to seven would make scheduling a done deal..."
"Then let's go with that..." said Vahn, feeling that even three was already too many, but he knew that was likely due to his still-human sensibilities and lack of experience. Being involved with seven girls might seem like a lot to him now, but weighed against hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of years, there was room for a lot more.
"Akeno and Koneko will be pleased to hear it," hummed Rias, leaving Vahn at a slight loss as he continued brushing her hair. He was fine with Akeno, as her figure was remarkably similar to Rias's, but Koneko felt like she still had a bit of growing to do before they could even consider being intimate. Well, more intimate. If it was things like sitting on his lap or sleeping in the same bed, he felt that was within the bounds of acceptability...
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"Hmm...?"
Sensing that something was amiss, Rias, who was straddling Vahn and making out with him on the sofa in the Occult Research Club's Club Room, disengaged his lips and tilted her head slightly.
"Is something wrong...?" asked Vahn.
"I can sense fear and anxiety from Issei," revealed Rias, getting off him as she explained, "There's a chance that the Fallen Angel who murdered him could be returning to finish what she started, so I will go there with Akeno to ensure things don't get out of hand. Please wait here."
"Can I not go with you...?" asked Vahn, knowing the answer even before he asked.
"I'm sorry, Vahn, but you're not yet strong enough to take on foes such as Fallen Angels..." answered Rias, gently cupping his face and caressing his right cheek as she appended, "But I have no doubt that you will grow into a Super-Class powerhouse in the future. You just need time."
After punctuating her words with a kiss and staring at him apologetically, Rias turned away from Vahn, summoning Akeno before the two teleported to Issei's location. In their wake, Vahn was left feeling sullen, but since he had the means to grow stronger and ample motivation, he appreciated but didn't need the assurances Sis provided. What he needed was to train...
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"Hmm...I would prefer it if we all entered as a group and didn't overuse it, but it's your power, Vahn. You do not need my permission to do with it as you please," stated Rias, following his request to expand his personal use of the Corridor from 3:15~6:00 PM to 3:15~10:00 PM.
"I know..." responded Vahn, scratching the back of his head as he added, "But since we've been spending that time together, I thought it would be selfish to just do it without talking to you first..."
"And I appreciate that immensely," said Rias, smiling as she grabbed the sides of Vahn's face and kissed him. She had been straddling him in their bed when he mentioned having something he wanted to discuss, so now that the discussion was over, it was time for more practice.
"Wait..." said Vahn, causing Rias to blink in surprise before pulling back to stare at him with what he found to be an adorably befuddled expression. After all, their relationship hadn't exactly been filled with restraint up until that point.
Surprising Rias further, a blush tinted Vahn's cheeks as he said, "If we use the Corridor, we can take as much time as we want..."
"Mmm...you're not wrong..." conceded Rias. "But there's no knowing when an enemy might appear or attack one of us. It's fine if you enter with Kiba, Koneko, and Issei, but unless we all enter as a group, I need to be outside to keep an eye on things and respond to emergencies..."
"I understand..." responded Vahn, ceasing the conversation by squeezing Rias's butt, prompting her to narrow her eyes and bite her lower lip before they resumed where they left off. An alarm went off after three hours, but though they were supposed to be practicing restraint, Rias didn't hesitate to give it what looked like a casual flick, shattering it to pieces before they greeted another sunrise without rest...
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"Oh, what am I going to do with the two of you~" sighed Akeno, cupping her cheek and smiling as she entered Rias's room and found the crimson-haired heiress taking Vahn for a ride.
"Ah, Akeno. You've gotta try this position when," expressed Rias, gazing back at Akeno over her shoulder and beaming as she relaxedly explained, "It doesn't conjure the same feeling of oneness that comes from having his weight on top of you, but it lets you get a good look at Vahn's face as you explore new movements and angles."
"I'll be sure to keep that in mind when my turn comes~" hummed Akeno, meeting Vahn's gaze and winking playfully as she parked the service cart she brought in next to the bed. She had suspected that the young couple would get carried away, so she brought water, multiple towels, and some snacks to accompany their revitalizing ginger tea.
"If he's okay with it, you can start by cleaning him," proposed Rias, having to raise her hips quite a bit to dismount Vahn and take a seat on the towel Akeno had set down for her.
"I wouldn't want to impose~" hummed Akeno, meeting Vahn's gaze as he sported a slight, red-faced frown. Despite this, he didn't need to consider his response before nodding, conceding, "I'll be in your care..."
"And I'll do my best not to disappoint," responded Akeno, licking her lips in an intrinsically seductive manner before ensuring her fringe bangs and antenna-like ahoge didn't get in the way as she bent over and thoroughly cleaned up after her mistress. The way he twitched, fidgeted, and did his best not to produce any sounds stoked her sadistic tendencies, but since Rias had strictly prohibited her from making Vahn into a sub or awakening him to masochism, she resisted the urge to make him cry out.
"Mmm...thank you for the meal..." expressed Akeno, raising her head and rising to her feet before using a handkerchief to wipe her mouth. She was surprised by how sweet the flavor that filled her mouth was, but far more surprising was how invigorated it made her feel.
"Oh, my..." muttered Akeno, raising her brows and looking to Rias, who, in turn, nodded and confirmed, "Vahn possesses truly extraordinary vitality. The first time he releases his seed inside of you is going to be a very eye-opening experience, so make sure you're prepared when the time comes."
"I look forward to it," responded Akeno, directing the words and her smile at Vahn. He felt embarrassed having allowed her to do what she did, but since Rias was the one who proposed it and didn't seem to mind at all, he didn't let it bother him too much as he joined the duo for a pre-breakfast snack before his and Rias's morning shower...
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"Today will be a bit different from normal," explained Rias, kickstarting the usual meeting by revealing, "We have received reports of a Stray using an abandoned factory as a lair, so in place of usual club activities, we will be hunting it the moment we return from the Corridor. Vahn, Issei, this will be an unpleasant but important experience for both of you, so utilize the time until then to prepare yourselves mentally."
"I have a question," said Issei, raising his left hand as he asked, "What's a Stray...?"
"A Stray or, more accurately, a Stray Devil is typically a Low-Class Devil who succumbed to their desires and fled their Master's side," explained Rias, closing her eyes and briefly shaking her head before opening them and adopting a serious expression as she added, "As I explained before, Devils are essentially masses of desire. They shape everything from our appearance to how our powers manifest, so when a Stray abandons their Master in the pursuit of their desires, they assume a form that reflects the change in their mental state. If they willingly return to their Master's side, there is a chance they can regain their original form. But that is sadly very rare."
"In other words, they're former people..." extrapolated Issei, a deep frown marring his and Vahn's faces.
"Former being the operative word," confirmed Rias. "When you see them, they will look and behave like monsters. If you lower your guard, even for a moment, they will kill you without mercy. I will try to reason with them, but the moment negotiations break down, it is our duty to put them down. Failing to do so would result in many more victims."
"I can do it," affirmed Vahn, his expression and tone serious and resolute as he balled his right hand into a fist at her side. Rias smiled at this, but as defeating Strays was ultimately her and the ORC's responsibility, she was taking him there to observe, not participate.
"Right!" exclaimed Issei, punching his left fist into the palm of his right hand as he smiled and exhibited the competitiveness common to Devils, asserting, "If Vahn can do it, so can I...!" despite being an introvert who hadn't been in a single real fight before the previous day. Now, even after experiencing having his heart pierced and spears of light stabbed into his body, he was eager to face the next challenge...
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