Researcher-in-Training [1]

https://discord.gg/ZrWk2jqjbV

I was sat at the dinner table enjoying a juicy Salisbury Stake—with Azazel sat opposite me enjoying the meal as well, I must admit Grigori has a lot of things going for it, but the food has to be a cut above the rest. Or maybe it's just because I've been eating mush for the past year—that anything remotely decent taste amazing to me.

"So, where's my sparring partner you talked about?" I had expected a third person to be joining us considering how Azazel told me it was time to meet my training partner, but there was no one else here.

"Ah, unfortunately she can get nervous around new people, after I mentioned you she became a little hesitant, don't take it personally though, she's like this with anyone new to her" He mentioned it was a she, strange I expected Vali to be my sparring partner, perhaps something else has changed in the original plot.

"Now then, back to that other proposition I had for you—Koen, have you ever considered becoming a researcher?" I was rather shocked by his suggestion, a researcher, me? Isn't that a role designed for braniacs and book worms, I highly doubt someone with my lacking intelligence could fit into such a role.

"I can see you're a little confused—now don't get me wrong I'm not trying to force you, it's a suggestion, after I saw how fluently you absorbed that information on Sacred Gears I had a hunch that you might have potential for the role, and once you gave me that hypothesis of yours, my suspicions were confirmed" Azazel seems pretty sure about what he was saying.

Though I have to admit—the prospect is rather riveting, it might end up opening a new path of progression towards me. Azazel of course could just directly help me with comprehending my Gear, but if I could provide him information from a perspective of someone who holds the Gear itself, and can understand it on a comprehensive level, he would be able to help me more effectively.

"As much as I'm tempted to pursue such a career—I just don't feel that I'm fit for it, I won't lie to myself—I'm well aware I lack the intelligence to engage in research and experiments, well at least effectively" Azazel chuckled in response.

"Haha, it's not like I'm going to make you form world-shattering breakthroughs or anything, how about this, I'm sending one of my Senior Researchers on a short expedition to one of the areas Grigori has jurisdiction over, it's just a simple observational visit to collect basic data, and it'll be a good experience to give you a taster of what the job is like—interested?"

I can't help but feel like he's actively trying to push me towards being a researcher rather than a combatant, but I'm interested in the field anyways—so I don't mind all that much, perhaps it's just his addiction getting the better of him. "Well if it's just observation I don't see why not"

Azazel nodded enthusiastically, "Well then it's settled" he looked to his side with a wry smile. "And it seems your sparring partner has just arrived".

Looking over his shoulder I saw a petite young girl with light silver hair and hazel eyes—she was wearing a white dress and cyan slippers—she couldn't be much younger than me but for some reason her figure intimidated me, like there was a sleeping power that I didn't want to disturb at all costs.

She hopped up on the seat next to Azazel and leaned on his shoulder—she glared at me as if I was an intruder of some sort.

"This is my adoptive daughter, Valia Lucifer, she's a year younger than you—so that you makes you her big brother" I did everything I could to hide my shock, did this verse just do a genderbend? And on such an important character. I made sure I didn't give away any hints that I knew who she was.

Recognizing Azazel was one thing—but if I knew who his "daughter" was, that would arose a lot more than just his wariness. Internally though, the shock hadn't dissipated in the slightest, Vali was a girl! I don't care that this doesn't change much in the grand scheme of things, but to me it's still a major difference.

[How Valia will look like]

"Hmph, I don't approve of him as my sparring partner—not even the adults here can challenge me how is this runt going to be any good?" This brat, who're you calling "runt" you're a year younger than me. Although I don't actually have a problem with her having a haughty attitude, Vali has been through quite a lot—granted the situation with his father's jealousy has remained constant in this verse.

Furthermore he—or I suppose she, is literally eight years old, expecting maturity is quite foolish on my part.

"Now now Valia, he's a Sacred Gear user just like you, ah, I know—why don't you introduce yourself?" I could tell "Valia's" expression had eased a little and was replaced by curiosity, him mentioning that I had a Sacred Gear seemed to trigger something.

Friendly office mode—activate. "My name's Koen, and as Azazel mentioned I have a Sacred Gear by the name of [Flame Shake], simply put I have the ability to use pyrokinesis. I look forward to training with you"

"[Flame Shake]?—Never heard of it, it's probably a weak Gear" I was sat there in disbelief, friendly office mode didn't work?

"Valia...I already told you there's no such thing as-" before he could finish his sentence Valia cut him off.

"Yeah yeah I know, no such thing as bad Gears only bad wielders, you tell me that every time, but they always give up within a minute of fighting me" Azazel wanted to retort but she was right, every other person Azazel had assigned to be her training partner asked to quit almost instantaneously.

Suddenly I realized a huge issue with sparring against her, or more specifically a future issue. Once she unlocks her [Balance Breaker] she'll be practically invulnerable to my flames. [Flame Shake's] flames according to DxD are ineffective on Dragons, and the scale mail her Gear provides are made from Dragon Scales.

There were only two methods I thought of to deal with this issue—on the one hand, I could just look for another training partner, but there is also the possibility of trying to look for a way to make my flames effective against Dragons and those of the Phenex Clan. Though I haven't the faintest idea of how to accomplish that.

"Who knows, I might end up surprising you" I have no idea why I said that, I think I just wanted to snap back at her, honestly I probably didn't have the slightest chance at beating her considering my Sacred Gear is currently really weak and my only real battle experience is against a fucking raccoon.

"Hmph—that's what everyone says" she snapped her head back and snuggled into Azazel's shoulder, continuing to ignore me.

And like that our rowdy dinner continued—it was mostly me arguing with Valia as Azazel watched on helplessly, honestly I enjoyed this atmosphere quiet a bit, sure it was noisy but it was far more preferable to wallowing away in my apartment accompanied by bottles of alcohol. Don't get me wrong I haven't given up on my reunion with Beer-chan—but who says I have to drink alone anymore, if you get what I mean.

And then she did something quite abrupt, she got out of her seat and came towards me, Azazel was just as shocked as I was—she was being super apprehensive about my being here just a few moments ago.

She grabbed my hand and looked me straight in the eye, though I could kind of tell what she was doing—she seemed to be...inspecting me? "Three months" she blurted out.

"Hm?" I didn't know what she was going on about.

"If you can give me a good fight in three months, I'll agree to be your training partner, as you are now—you can't even hold a candle to me, also Azazel has to vouch for your progress" This was extremely odd, her previous bratty attitude had practically vanished, and although her words were crude but her mannerism was that of a sophisticated individual.

Had she realized something about my Gear that I hadn't? Or maybe Albion told her something—who knows.

---

I woke up on a particular day with an unusual amount of enthusiasm coursing through my veins, it was time for me to go on the visit Azazel was talking about, I don't know why I was so excited but I could guess that I clearly have some interest towards researching as a whole—I just hope I don't end up as those "NEET" type scientists who isolate themselves in a lab for their entire lives.

I made my way through a rose colored door and entered into Azazel's office—he was waiting there for me alongside an unfamiliar individual. He had blonde hair, brown eyes, tan skin and extremely emphasized eye bags—everything about him screamed researcher.

"Ah—Koen, you're here, this here is the Senior Researcher I was talking to you about, Nakajima Chie, he's a human just like you and also the one who created the log for [Flame Shake]"

"Azazel-san, why bother brining up such a menial product of mine...surely you could introduce me with something more impressive..." his voice was monotone and devoid of energy—I wont lie, I was having second thoughts about the researcher life upon seeing him.

Though this was a great opportunity—I could now question the man who made the log for [Flame Shake] and see if he has any other hypothesis' that could help me, now that I'm here surely he'll have more information to draw his conclusions, and I didn't fail to notice he was now a Senior Researcher, good job man.

"Would you be excited to know that the young boy before you is the current wielder of [Flame Shake]?" That sentence seemed to trigger something in Nakajima, his eyes brightened and he rushed towards me and kneeled down. He grabbed my hands and looked me straight in the eye.

"If you have any questions feel free to ask me! No wait, I implore you to ask me! Let us have a joyous relationship together!" I was kind of freaked out by his sudden outburst.

"Likewise however, I'd appreciate it if you could put a little distance between us...it kind of feels like you're going for a different kind of relationship here" I said nervously, I mean come on, the guy was on one knee and holding my hands, I require my personal space.

He took a minute to realize what I was implying and quickly got up—he cleared his throat seemingly trying to regain his composure and dialed back his "enthusiasm" slightly. He scratched the back of his neck and looked at me with an embarrassed expression.

"Ahahaha...sorry about that, I just got a bit excited about finally being able to put an incomplete log behind me, anyways I'm sure you're more interested in what exactly we'll be doing in our observational trip"

I nodded awaiting for him to continue his explanation.

"There's a new species of kelp that has appeared recently—well it's called kelp only because it looks like it but it isn't actually situated under water. It's scientific name is 'Infernus Laminariales' but for short we like to call it 'Fire Kelp' we've been trying to collect samples of it but we've run into a major issue"

"I hope you don't mind me interrupting, but may I know why you're trying to collect samples?" Although I thought observing a new plant species would be intriguing and all—I wondered what the point was in researching it in the first place, or perhaps I'm just curious as hell and want to know everything I can, take your pick.

"As of now it's been confirmed to resonate with users of any fire-based ability or those born with a fire-based bloodline such as those from the Phenex Clan or Dragons—our goal is to try turn it into a form of enhancement drug to sell to users in order to grow their strength quicker, Grigori is a research institute but at the same time our funds need to come from somewhere, and as an added bonus our reputation might improve as well".

"Hm—that's rather interesting, but why are you guys struggling to collect samples?" I wondered what could possibly hinder an organization such as Grigori from obtaining a mere plant, how special was this thing?

All I got in response were knowing smiles from both Azazel and Nakajima—why did I have a bad feeling about this...