DXD: The Retired Hero

I still remember it vividly. My first world.

How long has it been? How many worlds did I travel to?

I already lost count.

I remember being excited, at first, but the memories become blurry. Can you blame me? I sometimes forget my original name.

"His name shall be Damian, Damian Gremory."

Well, I guess my name is Damian now. Great, looks like this is another one of those being reborn routines. Wonder what will happen this time? Demons attacking? Gods attacking? Or is it humans this time?

My vision was still blurry, probably due to the fact that I was still born.

"Why is he not crying?"

Asked another voice from behind me, but I just didn't really care to keep up appearances at this point.

"It is fine dear, remember Sirzechs didn't cry either, it just means that he will grow up to be strong!"

Seriously, what kind of name was Sirzechs? I would have sighed if I wasn't a baby. I couldn't do anything yet, I still needed my mana core to develop. This was one of the reasons why I hated being reborn, instead of just being transported to another world. The first two years were just sitting around and doing nothing.

___

Just kill me now.

"Little Damian, who's a cutie patootie? You are, yes you are!"

I blinked at the grown woman wearing a pink... fairy outfit? Her hair that was tied into pigtails bounced around as she tried to tickle me to get some sort of reaction.

I just blinked at her.

"Awwww! You are so cute!"

I just sighed inwardly, as bad as this was, it wasn't the worst, the worst was the other guy, that was coincidently sitting in the room.

"Can I have my brother back?"

Asked the person I was thinking about and I was pressed into the woman's chest as she hugged me possessively.

"No! I'm keeping him! Wait you're turn!"

the giant red-haired man looked crushed as he sulked and dropped his head.

"Gah."

I let out the occasional sound, just in case they thought that I was mute. I tried that a few times, and I had to leave the family that I was born into as soon as I was old enough to form my mana core.

Speaking of the Mana core, it was coming along very well. about one-fourth of the way done.

"Dan-tan! Can you say my name? Come on, say, Levi!"

How old was I, six months? Do kids talk when they're six months old? Damn, my lack of knowledge.

"It is odd, most devil children talk when they are about four months old... Guess he's just a late bloomer."

Ah yes, I was a devil too, so... Longer lifespan, maybe I could get this over with and then just live in peace for a few years. That sounded nice.

"Ah, look at him, he's frowning! That's adorable!"

I took a breath, the air of the underworld filling my little lungs.

"Alright! My turn."

The man took me from the woman whose hands I was in just a moment ago. I was held up in the face of a man whose hair resembled my own, though, unlike mine, his was long, some bangs falling down in front of his face.

I reached out, grabbed a bang, and pulled.

"Does Dan-Chan likes my hair?"

I looked at him with a blank face, or as blank as I could make my face with the lack of motor controls. Fucking hell, this was going to be hell.

I have been there, and I am there currently, so I don't really know how that statement holds.

Huffing slightly I let go of his hair and dropped my hand down, slumping in his grip. That didn't last, however, as he brought his cheek to mine and started rubbing our cheeks together.

What the hell was wrong with this man?

"My dear little brother! I shall protect you for forever!"

"For forever"? Who the hell thought you grammar, you daft moron?

I just continued to go along with this charade by yawning.

"Aw, are you sleepy? Your primary sin is going to be sloth, I can already see it."

He muttered the last part as he cradled me in his arms, shaking me side to side.

"Sleep now little one, you're big brother is here."

I just deadpanned at him and closed my eyes to rest them. Fucking hell, I didn't get tired easily, but these people had a special way to annoy me.

Reminded me of that girl that I painted the side of the mountain red with... she went on and on about how she "Didn't like me or anything" so I just... accidentally kicked her... with all of my strength.

Yeah, that was fun.