Harbinger of Ruin: Ch.28

Sandanzuki!

Dirt and dust shot up as I lunged forward, my blunt blade slicing through the air and barely being blocked by Xenovia while the force of my attack pushed her backwards.

She quickly found her footing and stopped my push, locking her sword with mine before trying to slide her blade towards my neck. I quickly pushed up and to the side, forcing her blade to miss me before hopping backwards as she kicked at my head.

Tapping at her heel, I slid to a stop with a smirk while she huffed as the two of us decided that would be enough for the night.

“I do love this new form of training you've invented. What did you call it again?”

“It's called fencing and I didn't invent it. It's been something humans do for ages.”

“Ah, that would make sense, then. Devils usually do not care for looking out for the well-being of others,” She muttered and I rolled my eyes as I dismissed both of our blades while rubbing my upper back with a frown.

“You got me good with that last one.”

“Yet, you still won 11 to 9,” She answered and I shrugged as we began walking to the stairs.

“Only because I realised that you struggle with opponents that attack from numerous angles with feints and quick strikes. Once I did, it was quite fun to try and trick you.”

“I admit your fighting style is quite the intricate and unorthodox one, especially since you tend to switch your fighting style on the fly to fit different weaponry.”

“Well, considering I can shift my weapon to fit the situation, it would make sense that I would go for my own, unique, all-rounder style instead of focusing on one specific style,” I answered with a smirk and she just nodded in amusement before I looked forward with a sigh.

Even after the spar, my mind was still on the situation with Arondight and Ascalon from earlier because I wanted to really figure out just how the holy energy and divine flames had gone from one to the other.

On the one hand, that meant that Arondight was now a fully demonic blade which would be good for me, but on the other hand, Arondight's flames felt more stable on it than it does on Ascalon.

'That could have been the demonic power of Arondight was keeping it under control, but Ascalon is a Holy Blade so its holy energy is boosting the divine power of the flames even more. Speaking of divine flames, just who the hell do those flames belong to?'

“If I may ask you something, Yuuto Kiba?”

“You know you can just call me Yuuto, right?”, I spoke with a smile, chuckling as she just raised an eyebrow at me before nodding.

“Very well, Yuuto. What is your thoughts on having a harem?”

“Uh, I don't mind it, but if I ever do have one in my long lifespan, I don't think it would be with many women.”

“And what would you say is the maximum that you would have?”, She continued her odd line of questions and I blinked at the complete shift in topic.

“That's a very odd question to ask after a sparring session. To answer it, though, I'd say three or four? Honestly, it depends on if everyone involved would not mind the others and genuinely care for one another. I'm not the type to collect women to satisfy my ego.”

“Hmm, I see. That is far less than I expected from someone like you,” She hummed thoughtfully with her hands behind her back and I ignored the sight of her white shirt sticking to her curvaceous form while raising an eyebrow at her question.

“Someone like me? What's that supposed to mean?”

“You're attractive, strong and…how does one say it again? You give off this 'dangerous yet loving guy' aura.”

“…What does that even mean?”, I asked and was surprised as she looked at me with a faint smile before giving a nonchalant smile.

“It means you pretend to be polite, calm and composed, but there's a part of you that enjoys the chaos and unpredictability. You flirt with trouble and trouble,” She spoke as she gave me a sideways glance and a wink, “likes to flirt back.”

“Are you flirting with me?”

“No, it is simply an observation,” She answered and I hummed with a knowing smile as she smiled and continued walking through the exit.

Yeah, observation my ass.

“You know, you're surprisingly observant when you don't think about nothing but destruction.”

“Only when the situation calls for it,” She said as we stopped at the stairs that left to my room on the second floor and the hallway to her room on the first floor.

“And does this situation call for it?”, I asked and she took a step closer, looking me dead in the eye while raising a hand to softly touch my chest.

“It may. If you ever decide on that number, make sure you first discuss it with your 'girlfriends' before informing me, okay?”, She said before walking away, but I noticed the slight sway to her hips and the smile she gave over her shoulder as I let out a soft sigh.

“What the hell is my life turning into?”, At first, I was focused more on Ascalon and Arondight, but now I had another thing to worry about.

That thing being if Xenovia had a thing for me and the off-chance that Rias might ask her to join her and Akeno in tormenting me until the end of time.

'…Damn, why couldn't I just be Saji or Gasper? Their lives are a lot less chaotic than this,'

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“How could I forget about this?”, I just smiled at Rias' anguished groans as she palmed her face, patting her back from where I was sitting beside her while looking at the amused couple sitting on the sofa across from us.

“You may feel annoyed by us being here, Rias, but as your parents, we are obligated to witness your academic achievements. I would also like to review your workbooks and see if you have keeping up with your studies,” Lady Gremory spoke with a smile and I hid my smirk as Rias stiffened and looked at her mother.

“I'm not a young teenager anymore, mother. I am a young adult woman that knows how to look after myself.”

“I suppose you do, but as your mother, I must insist,” She spoke with a soft smile that did not hide her authorative tone and I watched as Rias frowned at that before looking to Lord Gremory with a polite smile.

“My lord, may I interest you in this new coffee blend that I've created? It's far healthier than the counterparts and much softer yet also more rejuvenating.”

“Truly? Well, lead the way,” He spoke and we quickly stood up and left the room, the two women not caring for us as they glared at each other.

“Well, that could have gone worse,” I murmured before blinking as Lord Gremory stood with an expectant look.

“What are you waiting for, my Lord?”

“T-The coffee?”, He asked and I sighed as I pinched the bridge of my nose.

“It was a lie, my lord.”

“Ah, y-yes. Of course, I knew that,” He nodded, but I just raised an eyebrow at his 'convincing' nods and shook my head.

“That was also a lie, my lord. It's this way.”

“Really?”, He asked excitedly as he followed after me and I nodded with a chuckle as we made our way to the kitchen before I reached into one of the cupboards and pulled out a small metallic cylinder.

Screwing open the top, I tipped it slightly into a cup and poured out a bit of the liquid into a cup, putting the top back on and placing it next to the cup while Lord Gremory blinked at the small amount inside of the cup.

“Believe me, I would pour more, but like I said, this is far more potent than your regular coffee blend,” He just raised an eyebrow before picking it up, lifting it to his nose and taking a whiff before he raised an eyebrow with an impressed hum.

“It smells quite…sweet.”

“Its flavour is a mixture of chocolate, vanilla and a few hints of caramel.”

“Hmm, that is a sweet combination,” He murmured as he took a sip and I just chuckled as his eyes widened as he put the cup down while coughing a few times.

“Argh! Urgh! Urgh! What! Urgh! What was in that?”

“The normal ingredients that every other coffee would have.”

“Then how is it that strong?…Also, why does it taste so good?”

“Oh, that's because I first grind it down by using a dagger that infuses every grain of coffee with a chocolate sweetener. Then, I blend it with a dagger that adds a hint of caramel to every grain. Finally, when I boil and stir it, I stir it using a dagger in the form of a sharp spoon that combines the two flavours from before while also adding the essence of vanilla into the liquid itself. Its potency is enhanced by the demonic power that I infuse into the coffee during the entire process. I call it and the combination of daggers…The Yuuto Grande.”

“W-Well, I must say that the flavour is quite a-Argh! Quite a shock!”, He grunted while coughing again and I just stared with a deadpan look as the man pounded the counter while sounding like he was coughing his lungs out.

“Father! What's wr-You gave him a Yuuto Grande, didn't you?”, Rias calmed down the moment she saw myself and her father standing next to a cup and the metal flask, Lady Gremory looking both cautious and intrigued as she heard her daughter speak.

“The Yuuto Grande?”

“Yes, it's my own unique blend of coffee that I made. Would you care to try some, Lady Gremory?”, I asked as I took out a wine glass from the cupboard, pouring a bit into the glass while she walked closer and picked up the wine glass.

She first swirled the liquid in the glass while looking at it, letting it sit there and spin before taking a quick sniff of the liquid and giving an appreciative hum.

“It is quite sweet,” She spoke and I nodded as I explained the entire process, to which she just nodded before taking a sip.

However, instead of coughing like Lord Gremory and everybody that has tried it thus far, I was surprised as her eyes widened slightly before she…moaned?

'Oh, yeah, she's moaning, alrigh-And her nipples are hard. Uh, I don't think the boyfriend of her daughter is allowed to see this.'

“Mother!”, Rias gasped as she quickly rushed over to pull my head into her own chest, but unfortunately, she left one eye out and I just watched as Lord Gremory's eyes were wide while Lady Gremory blinked before covering her chest with an apologetic smile.

“Oh, my deepest apologies, but I must say that the flavour is utterly divine. I never imagined that a simple drop of coffee could affect one's senses so…intimately,” She spoke and I watched as Lord Gremory cleared his throat with his face caught between curiosity for more, lust to his wife's slightly dazed smile and sheepishness at Rias' glare.

“Perhaps we should label this as a…private blend? Just for those close to us?”

“I already have my lord. Only close friends and family are allowed to try the Yuuto Grande. Oh, and close allies to House Gremory. It's far too potent for mass consumption…for now,” After all, once I can get the potency down somewhat, oh, I'm going to have a coffee goldmine.

“Wonderful and please, call me Zeoticus and my wife Venelana. It's the least we can do after you allowed us to test that wondrous liquid,” Zeoticus spoke with a smile and I just watched as Venelana nodded while Rias grumbled something about 'sexy coffee' before letting me go.

“Mother, please do not moan when drinking or eating anything made by my boyfriend and Father, please stop looking like you want another cup.”

“Well, I kind of do…but perhaps after dinner?”

“Also, if you ever wish to consider making this into a business, do not hesitate in calling on the aid of House Gremory. This would truly become a hit amongst the Lords and Ladies of the Underworld.”

“I think the Ladies would like it more,” Zeoticus spoke with a sly grin before wheezing as Venelana delivered a sharp elbow to his side, making Rias sigh as I just nodded.

“I think I will.”

“You make a coffee blend so powerful it turns my mother on and nearly kills my father and yet, you're walking away with a business opportunity.”

“Hey, it's just the magic of the Yuuto Grande.”

“…Did someone say coffee?”, Koneko's voice came from the living room and I grinned before groaning as Rias stopped me from speaking.

“Nope, no more samples. We're done.”

“…But I was going to give her the decaf version?”, I whined while taking out said version from the cupboard only to quickly pull it back as Zeoticus tried to swipe it.

“Yuuto, my dear boy, does it taste just as divine?”

“It does, but it's not as potent”, I said nervously and he smiled wide before typing something on his phone and turning it to me, making me choke on air as I stared at the numbers shown to me.

“One million dollars for another sip.”

“Sold,” I agreed instantly and watched as he sent the money while taking the flask, Venelana looking pleased as I poured into the cup and the wine glass for the both of them while Rias groaned as she palmed her face.

“I have a business vulture as my boyfriend. Satans please help me.”

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“Hey, pretty boy.”

“What's up?'

“You think Rias will look like her mother in the future?”, Issei asked and I raised an eyebrow at the weird question while looking at where Rias was trying her best to go unnoticed.

That wouldn't have worked on any day and most certainly not now when she had not only her mom and dad, but also a giggling Sirzechs walking beside her with an excited smile, drawing the awed looks from all the students that watched them walk by.

“If we're going based off of genetics, I'd like to think so.”

“Huh…I hope you fall and break your neck.”

“No, that would be tame. Let's hope he gets pushed off of a roof,” Saji spoke up and I just stared at the two Pawns discussing my demise before shaking my head as I looked forward once again.

I smiled as Rias looked at me with a pleading look before nodding and looking to the other two.

“Hey, Idiot #1 and #2. I'll see you guys in class, okay?”

“Wait, aren't you and Saji in the same class?”, He asked with a raised eyebrow, to which I just chuckled while Saji shook his head.

“I'll let Saji explain,” I spoke as I turned and walked away, passing the groups of students whispering to each other while smiling as Rias hurried over and wrapped her arms around mine.

“Hello, Yuuto~ Please, don't leave me alone again, please~”

“That would be a bit impossible considering I'm a second year and you're a third year,” I said and she groaned before I looked to Sirzechs, Venelana and Zeoticus.

“Good morning, Lord Sirzechs, Lord Gremory, Lady Gremory. How are you all doing today?”, I asked with a polite bow and Sirzechs gave me an amused grin before winking.

“It was quite entertaining with Rias trying her best to not act like we're family, but it's gotten even better now that we're seeing your little fan club in action. I see you're quite popular with the ladies and their active imaginations.”

“I do try to maintain good public relations,” I replied with a smile, ignoring the amused twinkle in his eyes as he chuckled at my words while Rias looked pleased at the fact that I was taking their attention away.

“Charming, good public relations and quite the delectable coffee. I must admit that you've grown into quite the versatile young man, Yuuto.”

“I thank you for the praise, Lady Venelana,” I spoke with a smile and she nodded before I turned to Zeoticus as he spoke up.

“I must ask, though. When is the wedding?”

“F-F-Father!”, Rias squeaked while I just stared at the man who had an expectant smile on his face.

“Well, I believe that it's a bit too early into our relationship to do that, but perhaps in the next year?”

“Don't you start playing along,” Rias spoke with a huff and I smiled while leaning down slightly to give her a kiss, pulling back to see her blissful sigh before nodding as I looked to her amused parents and brother.

“I se how you're keeping her under control. Now, Yuuto, you've been excused from lessons for the day as you are our escort for the day.”

“Truly?”, I asked and Venelana nodded before Rias snapped out of her bliss to my happy smile as I turned and began walking.

“Very well. Let us depart to the first lesson that Rias has for the day.”

“Wait, what?”

A/N: And we start off the Conference arc with a slice-of-life chapter. Also, Yuuto is starting to make his own business plans to have his own cash while also making himself useful to the Underworld.

Next chapter: Meeting Azazel again along with some buds

As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…

Ba-Bye~!!