He absolutely would not forget nor would he let Igor off in the future. From beginning to end, pictures were secretly captured through magic. He was initially against his wife's idea. But now, he was completely onboard. Igor's reactions were just too fun to watch.
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|DxD|- Chapter 36- Devils Don't Eat People
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Work, work, work, and more work. The office was drowned in the musty smell of freshly printed paper. Cleria was deep in work. Each document on her desk was processed with swift efficiency. Three white magic circles hovered across the desk. They were her extra hands that burned words of ink into the documents.
The time was nearing afternoon. She'd been busy since early morning and the realisation of how much time had passed made her want to flip the table.
"Sigh…"
She slumped over the table and lay on her arms. The weight of administrative duties piled on her fragile shoulders. Why did she stupidly say this job was her dream?
[I hate you, cousin.]
She shamelessly framed her decisions as his fault. Over the year, her workload saw an immense increase. This was Diehauser venting on her because his newest obsession suddenly vanished. She hadn't seen him that depressed since the fifties.
At least good news came today. The mystery blonde returned and actively wanted to see her. Why? She didn't know and Shuri wouldn't say. According to the schedule, they should both be arriving in an hour.
"I won't be finished with this."
She slumped over her desk and mumbled her budding frustration. She wanted nothing more than to skin her cousin alive both for this work, and because this proved Shuri didn't take Igor to the Shinto.
[Nywe nywe nywe. Shuri isn't trustworthy, Cleria. She's a member of the Shinto, Cleria. You should know better, Cleria. Meh meh meh.]
She'd definitely hold this over him. Shuri is a very trustworthy person. She knew how those Himejima hoodwinks were. Her friend was clearly an outlier who doesn't glorify the gods like her deranged clan.
[If only she'd let me reincarnate her. We'd be best friends forever.]
Cleria didn't stew in her thoughts for long and soon sat up. Her five minute break was over and work called. Some days, she hated this job.
"Tch."
Alright. Maybe 'all' days.
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|DxD|
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Belial Territory, Underworld
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The Underworld, separated by realms and dimensional paths that cannot be travelled through normal means, yet it all ended at an office with even more piles of paper. Paperwork was what united everyone in positions of influence. Administration was an unavoidable cost and despite being a clan leader, Diehauser still had to spend his days filing paperwork.
Diehauser worked with the grace of a man who has done this for centuries. A system of magic circles processed all his paperwork in a conveyor belt-like fashion. At his proficiency, he could do them with his eyes closed, but for the sake of his peace, he had to appear busy or else his queen definitely would saddle him with more work.
"Hm?"
He perked up. Cleria's magic was reaching out for him. It was…odd. He reached out to it, interested to see what she'd say. He didn't mind saddling her with more work if she called to gripe.
"Well this is interesting. Usually it's me who calls. And you, my dear cousin...take an awfully long time to answer."
"{That's because you always dump me with more work!}"
He smiled.
"It's all a part of growing up, Cleria."
"{Agh. Just grow some balls and say you're bullying me.}"
"I've grown balls and I am indeed bullying you, little cousin~."
"{…}"
Diehauser could barely restrain himself from chuckling. He could imagine Cleria steaming on the other end of the connection.
"Are you there, Cleria?"
"{You…hmph! Anyway, I didn't call you for this.}"
"You didn't call me for my testicles? I assumed you'd be interested given how you commented on their…growth."
"{Cousin!}"
"Did you not once promise to take a dog's testicles and—"
"{Stop! How did we go from paperwork to testicles!?}"
"Well…"
"{Don't answer!!}"
Diehauser pushed the small magic circle away from his ear. It was not just because Cleria was loud, but also that he finally couldn't hold in the chuckles. His fist covered his mouth, but his trembling shoulders betrayed him. Bullying his little cousin was always a fun pastime.
"{Whuuuuu…}"
Deep breaths came from the other end of the connection.
"That's right, Cleria. Take deep brea—"
"{Diehauser! I know you now. Don't start your nonsense or I really will grind testicles into your coffee, you hear?!"
He hid a chuckle through a cough. Who said Cleria was a gentle woman? Whoever imagined that clearly didn't know her. She was a fiery tigress who'd bully whichever poor sod was unlucky enough to marry her.
"{Stop laughing!"}
At this rate, she'd have to marry outside the devil race.
"Fine, fine."
He flicked away the tears in his eyes.
"I'm listening, little cousin. What did you have to say?"
He finally relented. He could bully her in the futur—
"{Igor has returned and has asked to meet me. He'll be here at—}"
"I'll be there."
His voice deepened with resolution. All previous jolliness was replaced by a stony face.
"I'll be there now."
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|DxD|
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Kuoh Town, Japan
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[Devils are people too. Devils are people too. Devils are people too. They're not threats. They won't attack. They're going to be nice. So calm down, Igor. The old man is looking out for us.]
Igor convinced himself to be calm in a nest of very powerful entities. Behind the decorated walls were energy signatures that kept him on his toes. The woman leading the way, Lina, as she called herself, was very strong.
"Lady Shuri. Young Master Igor. We have arrived."
Igor squeezed Shuri's hand for comfort. He kept his expression schooled as best as he could, but he felt like a flopping fish in a mansion full of cats. They were in a long hallway with lavish decorations and golden-framed paintings. The floor was a soft red carpet fit for royalty.
Lina opened the door and gestured for them to go in. Shuri led the way and Igor followed behind. They entered an office that looked more like a luxury suite fit for royalty. There was a large desk in the middle and behind it sat a woman with white hair and grey eyes. Her kind smile was especially striking under the chandelier.
She was the strongest presence he sensed…or at least that was true in the past. The moment Igor looked to the left, his eyes narrowed into pinpricks. A man in casual clothes lay on a small couch with a book in hand.
He had no energy signature nor an imposing presence. Aside from a head of white, he seemed like an average beach goer. But instincts never lied. Every fibre of his body was screaming at him to run. This was like stumbling into a sleeping bear. Forget fighting. Even running seemed impossible.
Vitality was ready to pour into every muscle and drive him to smash a wall open. He gripped Shuri's hand tightly and got ready to pull her away. They could not stay here any longer.
"Please relax, Igor. Everyone here is a friend."
A gush of energy from Shuri cleared his muddled head. Her hand squeezed his own in reassurance.
"..."
Igor exhaled a breath he'd been holding. His head lowered and his eyes closed beneath furrowed brows. His heart thumped like flapping wings. The jump-scare from suddenly encountering a very powerful existence nearly drove him mad with fright.
[Calm yourself, Igor. If aunty is calm, then I must be as well.]
Blue eyes revealed themselves to the world once more. There was a wavering confidence in them, but Igor was determined to see this through. There was only one reason he would willingly submit himself to danger like this.
His mother.
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|DxD|
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Azure eyes, a serene smile, and silky free-flowing yellow hair that fell like a waterfall. Seraphine Reverie von Dimori—a woman who was as beautiful as she was dangerous. She was a prodigy at magic, a genius of her time who outranked her peers. Seraphine died too young before she could fully blossom. The least that could be done was give her a proper burial.
Igor wanted to do that, to see his mother one last time. Wherever she was, it could not be more than a few minutes from where he fought that stray devil. As long as he had that location, he could search outwards.
Igor met the two gazes of the powerful devils with forced determination. Shuri told him he shouldn't lie. At most, he could decline to answer—as if he'd lie in the first place. Even with Shuri calming him, he was still wary of them, especially this man before him.
"Why hello there, Igor."
Leather creaked as Diehauser rolled off the couch to his feet. He almost glowed with glee the moment he finally set eyes on Igor. Behind his calm smile was a desire to poke and prod at this growing mystery.
"My name is Diehauser Belial and this here is my little cousin. A pleasure to meet you."
He stretched out his hand. He felt rather ridiculous in these casual clothes, but needs must be met. At the moment, Igor was extremely wary of him. If he was dressed in his armoured robe, the boy might've run away at first sight.
Or perhaps Igor might run away this very moment. It was becoming awkward having his hand left open like this.
"Don't worry. I don't bite…much."
A sigh came from behind him.
"Cousin. Please mind your words."
Cleria closed her eyes in cringed embarrassment. Minute one and it was already going off the rails. Diehauser did say to be very casual around Igor, but surely not to this extent. Diehauser was still patriarch and should act as such in front of foreign dignitaries. It would be much better than…whatever persona he was playing.
"Don't mind her, Igor."
Diehauser ignored his cousin.
"My cousin puts too much consideration into decorum. But between you and me, that's a little boring, don't you think? So let's start off simply."
"..."
Igor felt incredibly small in front of this man. It didn't matter how kind he looked. Nothing could erase the simple fact that if Diehauser wished, he could squish him to death right now.
"Hello…"
He squeezed out a quiet greeting through his clogged throat. He tentatively reached out to shake Diehauser's hand. His muscles threatened mutiny with each centimetre covered. Reaching for Diehauser's hand was no different than reaching into the jaws of a mighty beast. Only willpower forced his nerves to fire forward.
Diehauser didn't rush the boy. His reactions to him were very interesting. Diehauser was absolutely sure his energy signature was hidden. On the streets, he would seem no different from a normal human, yet Igor had a biological aversion towards him.
When Igor took his hand, Diehauser once more felt that unnatural warmth. His hand was a few degrees warmer than fresh blood. Did that mean if his skin was cut, the wound would steam? Another question for consideration.
"You don't need to be so wary of me, Igor. I don't pose a danger to you. On the contrary, I'm more likely to help you."
Diehauser ignored Cleria's snort. He'd deal with her later.
"Since we're all here, I believe honesty will be prudent. For instance, and do forgive my bluntness, but I do hold interest in you, Igor. This unique energy you have is a mystery I wish to study by observing you. Nothing invasive of course. So it is in my best interest you remain healthy and…grow stronger."
The moment Diehauser opened his eyes, Shuri felt a faint trace of apprehension. She was beginning to reconsider staying here any longer. Diehauser's presence was already not something she expected. And…she couldn't bring herself to trust him, not with Igor on the line.
"Cousin. You're creepy. Please sit down."
Cleria's blunt reprimand came swiftly. Remain healthy? That's no different from saying 'have a nice twenty four hours'. Her cousin was immensely smart, but he clearly could not talk to children.
"Please ignore my cousin, Igor. Sometimes he's not alright in the head."
Cleria smiled kindly and gestured to the two chairs. She had to clean up the mess her cousin made before Igor blew a fuse.
"Now, please take a seat and tell me what I can do for you."
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AN: Igor's first conscious meeting with the devils went rather well. Diehauser was creepy though.
On the other hand, I was a bit under the weather yesterday. If I'm not updating, there'll be an announcement on my p@treon. It's not nice when you're suddenly ghosted.
Chapter 36
END