A Dash of Trickery

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Discord Link: KQAtTw9u7x

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"Well? What's the situation?" Takauji appeared in front of Issei through a spherical construct of light. Folding his arms together as he hoped he had been summoned for good reason. 

Issei didn't give a verbal answer, holding Asia closer to him as he pointed behind Takauji. 

"Who's this?" The Magician wondered. 

He was met with the figure of a tall, mature woman with intense mauve colored pupils just like Akeno. And long, spiky black hair that reached her thighs.

A pair of large onyx-colored feathery wings sprouted from her back, filled with feathers that radiated the sharpness of a Damascus Knife. 

Her clothing consisted of dark, strap-like leather objects that covered only certain sections of her body. Leaving a fair amount of her skin exposed. 

It was pretty skimpy all things considered. 

"You called me here to meet an Exhibitionist? I know the contract doesn't specify what you can and can't request to summon me for, but try to use some common sense Issei-kun." He facepalmed, wondering if the conditions warranted a punch to his summoner's face. 

"That's not it," Issei said. His face filled with a combination of fear and wrath. "She's a Fallen Angel, the one who killed me originally." 

"Oh? A Fallen Angel you say?" The corner of his mouth curled upwards, staring at the figure with intent that she had misinterpreted. 

"Ugh, I feel molested just by your eyes alone. I almost don't want to kill you just to avoid having to touch you," the Magician's demeanor remained unperturbed. 

So this is a Fallen Angel? 

He continued to observe her in silence, the smile on his face soon dissipating as he started to get a read on her. 

Such a weak presence. Let's hope she isn't the strongest of the bunch. 

"So, Fallen Angel. You seem to have some business with Issei-kun over here," his tone remained peculiarly placid as always.

"First of all, it's Raynare-sama to you, filthy human. And secondly, I'm here to retrieve my property." She looked at Asia, causing the nun to flinch. 

"I won't allow it," Issei declared. Summoning a small red gauntlet on his hand. 

"Oh you can't be serious," Raynare shook her head. "Do you honestly think you can accomplish anything with that piece of junk? Just go run off to your master already, if you want to live that is." 

I've never actually seen a Sacred Gear before. But is that what it's really supposed to look like? Pretty underwhelming if you ask me. 

"Did you not hear me? I said I wouldn't allow you to take Asia." Issei stood firm, clenching his fist. 

"Then you can go ahead and die here, again." She created a spear composed entirely of a pink light-based compound. 

Light Magic, the counter to my Darkness Magic. Such a shame that it's in her hands, my instincts aren't even a little wary.

She charged at Issei, exceeding his reaction time by a good amount as aiming right for his heart. 

Might as well allow myself a little fun. 

(STAB!) 

"GUH!" Issei coughed a mouthful of blood, being met with the tip of her spear inserted into his heart. Effectively killing him. 

"ISSEI-SAN!" Asia cried out, attempting to run towards him before Raynare grabbed her by the shoulders. Or at least tired too. 

"You would seek to get in my way as well? Human." Her spear was intercepted by Takauji's blade, courtesy of him using a half-strength Mana Step to reach her. 

"Well, you did stab my contractor's subordinate. So I believe I'm inclined to help," their exchange began. 

"Uh-huh. Then you can go ahead and die here alongside him." She started to exchange blows with Takauji, pushing him back as he seemed to struggle to keep up with her blows. 

"Oh, you're quite strong, Fallen Angel-san." He said as she continued to gain the upper hand on him. 

"Can't say the same for you though, human." Takauji rolled his eyes internally, already having planned his next course of action. 

Time for a bit of acting. 

"... You… how did you… ?" All of a sudden, Raynare had spotted an opening in Takauji's defense. Taking advantage of the moment to thrust her spear through his neck. Killing the pesky human. 

"I warned you," Raynare said with pride. Watching as Takauji fell to the floor with an expression of pure horror, the type you felt in your last moments on face. 

"... No!" Asia shouted, only to be silenced by a chop to the neck from Raynare as she flew away with the nun in tow. 

And then Takauji got up. 

She wants that nun for some purpose, so I doubt she'll die. 

As long as that Fallen Angel remains alive, she should be able to conclude that the Gremory's will retaliate in response to "killing us." 

A one sided battle would be too easy, so make sure you make your higher ups prepare well. 

After all, there's no way to fix my techniques without facing actual battle. Fighting someone as half-assed as you just won't do.

Then again… if she does happen to be their leader which I severely doubt… then I might have just done all this for nothing. 

Oh well, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. 

Sorry in advance nun just in case you do end up dying. I'll make sure to use your death as fuel for Issei's strength should that come to pass. That way it won't completely be in vain.

"For such a basic illusion to work on her despite possessing my element's weakness, what a joke." There was no hole through his neck, only a semi-deep wound on his shoulder.

He walked over to the passed out Issei, who had fainted from the shock of seeing a spear get driven through his heart. 

Which in reality, was a fairly deep wound that had been plunged near his ribcage. However none of his vitals had been hit. 

"Then again, I did actually need to get injured in order to cast the illusion on such a feeble opponent. So I suppose I have some work to do as well." 

Through a combination of Shamak and an external application of Phantom Blade, he had first warped Raynare's perception of her position and Issei's and himself. 

And then made it look like the wound which she did in fact create, had been sent elsewhere. Her overwhelming confidence that she was stronger helped as well. 

"Damn he's light, could use some protein if you ask me." He picked Issei up, casting a teleportation circle back to the clubroom. 

And now time for some more acting. I might earn an Oscar at this rate. 

"... Hey guys, a little help here would be nice." Everyone went bleary eyed the second they saw the state of Issei and Takauji. 

"Put him down here," Akeno ushered. Saving the questions for after they had been stabilized. 

"We got attacked by one of the Fallen Angels along the way, I think they were planning to finish off Issei-kun just as you said." He looked at his contractor as he started his explanation. "He summoned me and I was able to hold her off for long enough, but as you can see I got nicked as well." 

He let himself fall onto the couch, pretending his injury was more serious than it actually was. 

"Luckily she didn't manage to get him in his vitals, but I don't know much of the effect the Light Magic will have on him." 

"She?" Rias asked as Akeno devoted all her attention to treating Issei, seeing as he was the more injured of the two. 

Takauji nodded. "She called herself Raynare, does the name ring a bell?" 

"Yeah, that's the one who attacked Issei-kun when I first found him." She dug her nails into her palm, cursing the arrogance of the people who dared act so brazenly in her territory. 

"I see," he decided to continue his recounting of events. "Issei used the summon clause in the contract to get my assistance." Now she owed him. "Also, I think I saw the nun girl with the Fallen Angel." 

His contractor's eyes rounded. "Did you now?" If not for the fact Issei was both injured and unconscious, her attitude would have differed.

"Vaguely, but who knows, maybe I was just seeing things." He shrugged, breathing a pained groan as he put a pillow behind his head. 

"I'll talk to him about it later," Rias looked at Akeno. "How's his condition?" 

"Like he said, none of his vitals have been punctured. There was just a fair amount of blood loss which he should recover from," she wiped the sweat from her forehead. "He'll make it." 

Rias heaved a deep sigh of relief, finally finding the strength to ease up a little as she planned her next move. 

"Good. When do you think he'll wake up?" She asked. 

"Probably tomorrow morning, his body should be able to manage itself from here on out." Asia did not in fact have that much time, but they didn't know that. 

It was safe to say, her fate was sealed. 

"Alright, we'll keep him here for the night to keep watch just in case anything happens." Akeno agreed, approaching Takauji with a distinct scowl on her face. 

"To be fair, it wasn't Freed who attacked so-" 

"Shut up," she interjected with a harsh tone. "You should have told me that you were being summoned by Issei-kun, but you didn't." 

"It's not like I could've predicted what was going on over there before I went," he countered. 

"Maybe, but you should have called on one of us once the confrontation began." With Akeno's mood taken into account, there was really no use trying to argue with her. 

"I suppose I should have," he forced his voice to sound genuine. "Sorry about that." 

"I'll decide whether I forgive you or not later, for now just stay put and let me do what I need to." She didn't bother trying to ease the pain of his treatment, but Takauji's mind was simply too preoccupied with what he was going to next to notice. 

We already know where their base is now, so if I really wanted to I could just walt in there and see what's up. 

He briefly looked at Issei. 

He would probably be pretty enthusiastic to go with, he probably wouldn't complain if I were to take him along. 

His mind continued to wander, his interest starting to rise in anticipation of what was to come. 

There's no way that "Raynare" could be the leader, which means I should be able to fight someone who can properly make use of the Light element. 

"There, you're all healed up." 

"Grazie," he thanked her in Italian for some reason. But her power of translation simply interpreted it for her. 

"So, how shall we deal with the Fallen Angels?" He asked his contractor. "Now that I've got a better grasp on their abilities, it won't be hard for me to one up them now." Truly an unrivaled level of shamelessness. 

"We'll attack them first thing tomorrow, their intentions are clear enough and there's no reason for us not to respond at this point." She looked at Issei's unconscious body. "No reason at all." 

Guess everything will work out as I want it to, haha, though I am starting to find even my own actions a little random. 

But that's good, random is interesting. I could use some "interesting" right about now. Maybe if I'm lucky I'll run into Freed again. My techniques need some serious fine tuning. 

"Hm, well it is better to get rid of them sooner rather than later." He gave her a satisfied nod. "In that case I ought to start preparing, I can't afford to have a poor performance on such a decisive day." 

He prepared to return home, with Akeno soon walking up towards him. 

"You're staying here Akeno, Issei's condition still needs to be monitored. You've already finished healing Takauji." Priorities, I suppose. 

"You heard her," Takauji said with a smile. Eager to continue his pursuit of magical perfection as soon as possible. 

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Truly shamelessness personified. But will his actions have consequences or not? Perhaps those around him are more perceptive than he thinks, or perhaps everything will go as he wishes. 

10+ Advance Chapters: patreon.com/Accel14

Discord Link: KQAtTw9u7x

Word Count: 2062