Chapter 49: Ray's Troubled Mind

"Nice to meet you again, Lord Michael." Ray saluted to Michael as he is a faction leader like Azazel who is just one rank above him in leadership.

"Michael is fine, Ray. However, how have you been since the battle three days ago? We left immediately after and didn't have time to talk." Michael replied with a gentle and soft smile on his face, befitting as an angel.

"Are you perhaps talking about my revival after being killed by Katerea suicidal attack?" Ray asked while reaching his arm to one of the wandering servants, holding a silver tray that carried glasses filled with alcoholic drinks.

"Indeed, it worries me because of the nature of the healing itself that is more of a curse than healing ability." Michael expresses his concern with a frown slowly creeping onto his face.

"Ah, indeed the s- ability is more of a curse that prevents my death than healing." Ray replied to confirm Michael's understanding. "However it didn't have any adverse effects toward me if that is what you are worried about." He added to reassure Michael.

"I see…" Michael nodded as he looked around the massive banquet hall before asking another question. "Can you perhaps share how you received the curse?"

"Ah, you are not obligated to answer if you don't want to. It was my own curiosity as it is rare if not the only curse that I am aware of that provides benefit only without adverse effects." Michael quickly added.

In Ray's mind, he is quickly formulating an answer to Michael's question. He didn't see the need to conceal it from Michael as he is the last person he could imagine will sell him out. He is also going to be working closely with each leader very soon as he will be receiving new recruits from the New Devil faction and the Heavens faction that included the Church.

"Are you aware of my origin?" Ray replied first with a question.

"Indeed, Azazel already made the information available to each faction leader including me. I am surprised at first however this also isn't the first occurrence as it had happened before in the past."

"I see, then you can say that the curse is actually a skill that I acquired instead of receiving." Ray said before he looked at Michael's expression. Understandably he is confused when Ray said the curse is actually a skill.

"Are you aware of the legend of Hercules and the Twelve Labours?" Ray asked and Michael nodded for him to continue his explanation. "In short, the other world is quite special where individuals with great achievement that resulted wil legend, passed for generations will be recorded and given access to a special space called Throne of Heroes where human, gods and other creatures with legends will be held and then summoned to fight against any event that threatens the foundation of human order or the survival of humanity as a whole."

"And Hercules is one of them, a demigod that is a hero and possesses a legend that passed all the way to modern time?"

"Yes." Ray replied with a nod as Michael tried his best to digest the information. "My skill is based on his legend of Twelve Labours that gives him twelve lives in total. A body that knew no death and a life for each labor he overcame."

Michael's face morphed from surprise to amazed then frown as he muttered the part about 'Body that knew no death'.

"Body that knew no death… is that related to why your body wouldn't be harmed by an attack that caused your death?" Michael refers to his battle with Kokabiel which was recorded and seen by Michael and a few others.

"Heh, as expected of you, Michael. No secret I could hide from your eyes." Ray chuckled dryly as he purposely didn't mention that part but as expected it was easy for Michael to connect the dots.

"Yes. Indeed as you deduced." Ray replied.

"I see…" Michael said and conveniently Azazel and Serafall arrived near us. Thanks to them Michael stopped talking to Ray as he was asked questions by the other two.

Ray took this chance and escaped to a balcony of this large palace made for the purpose of helding banquets only in the Underworld. He didn't know other guests, the majority of which were devil nobles, with only Azazel, Baraqiel, Penemue, me and Michael our escorts being the non-devil.

The trio, Irina, are already being dragged along with Rias and her peerage to meet with Rias's friends.

Ray sighed before looking at the purple sky and artificial moon hanging on the sky. He habitually reaches into his pockets to find his cigarettes and lighter before lighting one up.

"Ah, here you are!" A female voice shouted to him which surprised Ray and made him turn his head to see the person calling him.

"Who?" Ray asked after seeing the petite blonde which reminded him of Mittelt. Blond hair but curled like a drill instead of twintails and dark blue pupil instead of lighter blue like Mittelt.

"Ah, excuse me. I forgot to introduce myself." She made a curtsy by lifting the edge of her dress slightly. "My name is Ravel Phenex from the Marquis house of Phenex." Ravel added the detail about her background in consideration to Ray, a human who probably didn't know much about the Underworld.

"Oh, the sister of Rias's former fiance." Ray bluntly said without considering if the topic might be sensitive to the devil affiliated to Phenex house. Though Ravel didn't look offended and actually the opposite as she nodded excitedly.

She was about to move closer but stepped back while pinching her nose as the foul smell of the cigarette reached her by the blow of wind.

"S-"

"No, it's not your fault Sir Raymond." Ravel immediately retorted before Ray could finish a word. "Ravel was the one imposing on Sir Raymond's time." She bowed apologetically.

"Uh… just call me Ray. I prefer that over Raymond since it's quite mouthful to speak." Ray remembered before he noticed the awkward silence as Ravel looked at Ray very attentively and Ray scratched the back of his neck by force of habit. His socializing skill is non-existence toward a stranger like Ravel unlike the trio or Rias and her peerage which he already acquainted enough to be considered friends.

He didn't know how to deal with an overeager type like Ravel that he secretly wished to have Presence's Concealment EX to vanish away.

Ray waited for a few more moments and Ravel still didn't say anything while looking at his face. He took the reign and asked her why she was here instead of being inside meeting other devils.

"Hmn… Maou Leviathan didn't inform Sir Ray yet?" She asked with slight disappointment before she continued. "Um, Ravel is one of the volunteers to join the new army led by Sir Ray. Ravel is very excited to work alongside Sir Ray and wanted to introduce myself…"

Shock was plastered on Ray's face after hearing what Ravel said. He already knew the formation of an army for the alliance between three factions but he expected the same as Grigori where they send the weak volunteers to serve in the new army. He didn't expect a 'High Class' devil like Ravel that was also from a noble house to join the army.

It isn't concealed to the leaders that those recruits will be subjected to the enslavement of the implant when they join which is why Azazel uses unimportant 'rejects' like the Fallen Angels girls to form his initial unit. If a noble or important person like Ravel is subjected to the enslavement, wouldn't that be quite an issue if it became public? Then they raised the issue about leadership since a person with an important background will definitely be entitled to higher rank either by the person or their family and many more issues that the more Ray thinks about it the stronger the headache becomes.

Ray turns his body to face the balcony before he takes a deep puff of his cigarettes to numb his mind but it isn't strong enough to even let him escape his thoughts for a moment.

"Sir Ray?" Ravel called but Ray didn't reply as he looked disappointed for some reason.

"Sorry, I was reminded of a troublesome thought." Ray sighed. "Anyway, are you sure your le- the Maous approved you joining the army, the alliance is forming?"

"I wasn't informed that high-ranking devils are allowed to join, especially from the noble houses or the Pillar Clans."

"Ah, indeed but I begged my father to allow me to join." Ravel chirped with an embarrassed chuckle at the end.

Ray however is confused as multiple thoughts pass through his mind trying to come up with a logical explanation for her act but he could form any. It's illogical for Ravel to join the new army since there isn't any benefit she can get from joining.

"I am not undermining your willingness to be a volunteer for the new army but, may I ask why you decided to join?"

Ravel looked flustered for a moment before she composed herself to answer Ray's question.

"Um… Ravel was actually attracted to Sir Ray's heroic tale often spoken by my peers." Ravel said with heavy blushes on her face while her hand was playing with her thumbs. "Ravel wanted to join the new army and fight alongside Sir Ray."

Ray felt his headache intensified as he definitely isn't dense enough to not know her real reason but the question is why? What had he done to attract her attention when he thinks none of his deeds are really considered as heroic…

Then Ray felt an urge to facepalm. He made a quick scan over what he has done since arriving in the DxD world. A nobody, human, magicless human defeated not one but two Ultimate Class beings. Which is Kokabiel and technically Katerea due to the deliberate misinformation by Azazel to promote the new army. Then Ray did fend off an attack on Peace Conference, the current most important and historical event which definitely is known by many since none of the leader decide to made the information a secret since it was the first victory for the alliance against the terrorist group, Khaos Brigade.

Although, that isn't the only reason why Ravel is attracted to Ray. The other reason is, Ray is the reason for Riser Phenex who she views with all her being as the strongest was defeated by Rias and her peerage. Then with her older brother's defeat, she replaced Riser with Ray in her mind and his recent deeds helped cemented that thought in her mind.

The cigarette that he only managed to take two puffs already burned down to the filter which he just noticed due to the heat on his fingers. He took out his ashtray case and put the cigarette butt in before sliding the case back into his pocket before looking back at Ravel who was patiently waiting for him to reply.

"Sigh… if the Satans allow it… I don't see the reason to not allow you to join." Ray replied with some hesitation but Ravel is too happy cheering in her mind that she missed the latter part. "Though, please make sure your clan agrees and don't secretly join without their permission."

"Okay!" Ravel chirped before she excitedly skipped back into the hall to somewhere while Ray's body sagged and fell on the balcony fence for support.

"This is too much for me…" Ray sighed again before he heard the sound of someone walking toward him.

"Well, well, we let you off my eyes for just a moment and you are already flirting with another maiden." Raynare said with a playful smirk since she knew Ray enough to doubt he is the one pursuing. "Hmn… Ravel Phenex from the Phenex clan. Not a bad choice, if you can marry her, you are set for life as they are the richest clan in the Underworld if you exclude the Bael clan."

"*Sigh* I know you are naturally sadistic and all but can you stop rubbing salt on my open wound?"

"Why? You should be happy that the princess of the Phenex clan is interested in you." Ray only looks deadpan at Raynare since he knows she is just messing with him, maybe because she is jealous or whatever.

"And? Risk offended her family?" Ray asked Raynare. "I knew the devil enough to know that the majority of the Pillar Clans look themselves above other races and especially a human like me. Even if I am a reincarnated devil, it wouldn't make much difference as you can see from Issei. The only reason he is tolerated is because he is the Boosted Gear wielder."

"I can be 100% sure that her family or at least the clan patriarch is against her pursuing me. I could only hope it wouldn't be troublesome…" Ray added as he can already imagining the Phenex clan patriarch giving him trouble for associating with Ravel.

"I didn't know if I should call you humble or idiot." Raynare said with an amused look. "You do realise that after the new army is officially formed, you will be no less important than the faction leaders themselves as you will be controlling an 'army' no less than a faction would. Even if they have loyalty toward their factions, it's nothing the implant and a bit of brainwashing couldn't fix." Raynare said the latter part through the implant instead of vocally.

Ray looks at Raynare with his eyes bulged. He thinks his ears had a problem that he misheard what she said but it was through the implant and it couldn't be a mistake unless Raynare is joking with him but the seriousness on her face tells that she isn't joking.

"I think that you are too timid sometimes, Ray." Raynare said through the implant as he moved to the balcony fence and gazed at the false moon. "With your implant, simply defeating an enemy can forcefully convert them into our force and plus an unwavering loyalty. What stops you from conquering the biblical factions or even the supernatural worlds?"

"Even Sirzech that you hated, what stops you from using his sister as hostage to force him into submission and be enslaved by your implant?"

"Once you gained one of the Super Devil, subduing other Satans, Cadre or Seraphs will be easier with Sirzech's help and then other factions until the whole world is in your grasp."

Every word from Raynare shook the core of his mind as everything she said was indeed possible but he never thought of them. He never intended to commit such acts as they were never his goal.

"Is.. is that truly what you wanted to do?" Ray asked but Raynare didn't look at him at all as she just gazed at the false moon. "What do you think?" She replied with an ambiguous question.

"Anyway, let's return to the banquet. How can the star of tonight hide in the balcony here and not be celebrated for his heroic deed." Raynare praised with a wide smile as she tugged his arm to pull him back into the banquet hall but Ray was confused as his mind was filled with chaotic thoughts from Ravel and especially what Raynare just talked to him. He just followed Raynare with an unfocused mind as she tugged his arm and crossed it with her own arm. For a brief moment, her beautiful smile morphed into a crazed psychotic smile but fixed immediately before anyone can see.

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(Note: Next chap will be new milestone that I reach as this is my first fanfic that will reached chapter 50.)