(Special Credit to Son of baal & Jovian Cactus for the Beta Reading Labor!!!)
-Ren POV-
It is with Kiba's offended look of ABSOLUTE respect that a twinge of satisfaction goes down my very being.
A shiver, a chill down my spine.
Without a doubt, the advice of the Aura Gods...
HAS NO EQUAL!
I NEVER DOUBTED THEIR EXISTENCE!
THEY HAVE SPOKEN!
A hushed murmur escaped Kiba's lips as he recomposed himself, "What was that for?" He genuinely inquired.
I waved in casual dismissal, as I replied with unadulterated confidence, "A short prayer, I am a man of reverence after all. I presume Himejima-senpai had informed you of at least that much?"
They were in the same Club, so this was only conjecture.
In the case I am wrong, of course, I resort to Aura Farming Technique #2.
A hint of disbelief crossed his features as he reattached that mechanical, amateurish smile on his face to mask it, "I see, then shall we continue?"
I nod calmly, "Proceed," I gesture with a touch of flair.
Just like that, with his ABSOLUTE respect gained, guarantee of the Aura Gods, I followed him in his footsteps, an air of uneasiness enveloping him as his guard had risen.
I must say, it is quite ingenious.
A simple mutter of - 'God' and I induce a migraine upon Kiba?
From there, it is a matter of simple conjecture coupled with the fact he can wipe me off the face of Kuoh with some struggle to form the ultimate conclusion that...
He is, without a doubt, 100 percent a Devil.
Who else would get a migraine from that but a Devil or someone of Demonic Origin?
A surefire way to check for supernatural origins of the Demonic variant, as well as a Taboo that will induce respect on those powerful few who DARE to call upon 'God'.
Who would dare do such in the face of a Devilish scoundrel?
An Aura Farmer, of course.
Exquisite...
As my steps grew less audible when Kiba and I left the Main Building's quarters for the outside campus, I quietly pondered:
I must find a way to repay the Aura Gods!
But with the exception of farming more Aura... what else can I do to express my gratitude for their divine providence?
It was only a minute later, after skimming through a vast historic encyclopedia rivaling the great Library of Alexandria within my superhuman mind, that I stumbled upon a method of repayment:
Worship.
Shrine.
Tribute.
Indeed...
This young one shall enact a shrine worthy of an Aura God... a Shrine exuding nothing but AURAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
-------------------------------
The Occult Research Club.
Located in the old schoolhouse, an impressive three-story building, and quite the perfect front for the supernatural:
Isolated and rather eerie - perfect for a Demon posing as a school student.
Devilish funds included, given that a club was given an entire three-story building to themselves, which is indulgent, even for Kuoh Academy.
I had believed that my destination would be the Student Council Room, since Kiba had requested me to have an audience with President Shitori.
But in hindsight?
I'll admit, not bad, this choice is far superior.
As stated, isolated and unfamiliar, unlike the Student Council Room, which I am familiar with, having been dragged against my will by President Shitori for a lecture or two.
The closest I have been to this building was climbing to its top to stand... MAJESTICALLY FILLED WITH AURA.
Only to be shooed away like a pest by Himejima.
Of course, I elegantly shooed myself away - I'd lose Aura otherwise.
Ironically, or perhaps because she is the King of this place, Gremory never deigned it necessary to shoo me away.
In any case, I find it necessary to assert the following:
I am not a hooligan or a ruffian, I have manners in my infiltration of relatively private property.
Unlike petty thieves and squatters, I have CLASS.
"We're here," Kiba mentioned as he opened the large, looming door to reveal the mysterious inside of the Occult Research Club.
My nose was immediately assaulted by the smell of odd, flowery incense and... a combination of familiar perfumes.
One, a familiar belonging to Himejima permeating this place, whilst another...
Smelled like an overpriced adult actresses' cheap cologne she sells to squeeze funds out of easily aroused teenagers and desperate, lonely adults.
"Lead on," I give him a close-eyed nod as I follow him inside.
One might ask. Why would I let them have their way?
Allowing them to take me to unfamiliar territory, giving them the advantage as they attempt to psychologically isolate, corner me, and pressure me even before I arrive.
A casual swing of power, by letting me keep my perfect attendance, as they make a show of dragging me out of class.
Mhm, it would seem daring, most assuredly foolish to let them have their way.
But it is by knowingly, calmly, and confidently walking into a dangerous place, a clear trap, that one gains...
A VAST POOL OF AURA!
-------------------------------
"I have to admit, you've got good taste." I freely praised as I scanned the halls of the building as we rose from the first floor up to the third.
A wood-paneled, gloomy interior that is reminiscent of the architecture of the Victorian Era, a mixture of dim lighting with what seemed to be expensive lamps, decorated the halls.
The floor was similarly wood-paneled and resonated a satisfying sound upon each step, much to my delight.
Kiba nodded with stoic gratitude, "I agree; it would be better if you express the compliments to the Club President herself."
As I nodded, we arrived before yet another door leading into what likely is a vast room - our destination.
Taking a whiff of the air, I quietly contemplated, "Hmm..."
Pausing before the door and noticing with a disturbing level of sharpness, Kiba mentioned, "Is something the matter?"
"It's nothing, you Occult Members certainly have good taste in incense as well."
The cheap cologne smell isn't in this room, but on the second floor - did they lock up Hyoudou?
Should I raise my guard?
WRONG!
FALSE!
INACCURATE!
A BLUNDER!
I must seem in complete control!
DECEPTION!
Kiba's hand paused at the door handle as he turned around to greet me with a curious yet sharp look, uncertainty clearly lingering in his seemingly stoic expression, "Before I lead you in, can I ask you a question?"
"Certainly."
"Why haven't you questioned me when I led you outside the main building?"
Kiba had indeed proved to be a rather poor conversationalist on our short route here.
All smiles, all stoic - no words.
To give credit where it is due, it gives me little room to probe for information if he keeps his mouth shut.
But it is much the same in my case as well.
I'd give him some Aura Points for that - not out of my own pocket, obviously.
My lips curled upwards to form an enigmatic smile, "Now that you mention it, it does seem odd, doesn't it?" I emphasized.
Not really, I believe the stink-eye I was getting a little earlier was enough forewarning to put two and two together to make this make sense.
Also, Issei snitched as I had anticipated.
His muscles tensed for a moment, but I looked on unflinchingly.
I asked, "Shall we go in?"
He nodded as he grasped the handle with a tight grip, opening the door with an audible creak.
Now?
Let the show begin!
The goal?
Without question.
-------------------------------
-Third Person POV-
As the doors leading to the Occult Research Club's Meeting Room opened, Ren's eyes were greeted with quite the sight:
Once again, the gothic Victorian-era theme architecture continued expectedly, in this room, coupled with a wide array of expensive couches, tables, and chairs.
A strange drawing at the very center of the room, appearing almost magical or demonic in its design.
Ren's nose, once more, was assaulted by various perfumes mishmashed with the aroma of high-quality tea.
Before him was quite an array of renowned individuals across Kuoh Academy.
To say the assembled party was stacked would be... a gross understatement.
The prior probing, curious Quartet was present with the addition of Ren's sweet-toothed, coincidentally also a Devil Classmate, Koneko Toujou.
They all sat on the expensive sofas with a calm yet dignified air; a heavy atmosphere covered the entire room.
An atmosphere Ren all but ignored.
Calmly passing by the momentarily surprised Kiba, as all gazes were practically dissecting his very soul, Ren seated himself to the left of Koneko, who held only a hint of uneasiness in her blank stare as she continued devouring a cookie nonchalantly.
Leaning into the comfortable seating, exuding the air of a monarch, Ren tilted his head as he directed an expectant look towards the two renowned girls in front of him.
The confidently smirking, crimson-haired Rias Gremory and the grave expression donning Sona Shitori.
Turning around to look at Kiba, Rias was the first to shatter the suffocating silence, "Thank you for getting him here, Kiba."
"I'll go fetch some tea," Akeno mentioned with a flirtatious smile directed knowingly at Ren.
Kiba nodded dutifully to his President's gratitude, "A pleasure to ser-" yet Kiba's words were interrupted by the guest.
"Why am I here?" Ren inquired with a calm, measured tone that held a significant amount of weight.
With a hint of amusement, he added before anyone could answer, "I was informed that I'd be meeting President Shitori. I truly wonder what the Occult Research Club seeks from me?"
Rias interrupted confidently, her elbows on the table as she leaned in with a similar amusement, "Oh, I just found it quite odd we never had an exchange of words before, I believe now is a better time than ever to finally connect with my cute and eccentric Kouhai."
"Is that so? Was I unworthy of your highnesses' attention?" He seemed to knowingly remark.
Sona joined in on the conversation, sharply biting back as her eyes met with his, "Don't play coy, Kobayashi." She hissed, appearing visibly the most distraught by Ren's act.
Rias nodded as she took on a more serious attitude at Sona's tenseness, "We know what you did, and you know we were watching."
Tilting her head and smiling in a charming fashion, she mentioned, "So far we've known you to be eccentric, but harmless. Cute to some, might I add."
Sona sharply nodded, adding her own two cents, "However, recent discoveries put the harmless into question."
The tense silence hadn't ceased, only disrupted by the rhythmic approach of footsteps, Akeno lowering herself to gently place a cup of tea in front of Ren.
A calm, genuine huff of "Thank you" escaped his lips as he extended his hands to grasp the cup and take a gentle sip of the steaming tea.
Gulping the boiling liquid that once more raised a few eyebrows, he replied measuredly, "And so?"
Sona, at this point, sighed rather audibly and uncharacteristically of herself, "I, as well as many others here like Akeno, know you well enough that you have no... malicious intent."
He nodded firmly, waving his hand at her, "Inaccurate, but proceed."
Sona's brows twitched in slight perplexion and worry, to which Rias took over once more, raising her own cup of tea to her lips, taking an audible sip.
"We called you here so that you would answer a few questions, and another matter I'll mention after you give your answers. They are pretty simple ones, so don't worry." She waved her hands dismissively with a calm, reassuring smile.
"First... do you know who Sona and I are?" Rias pointed at her chest with a look of familial pride.
Arching an eyebrow at that rather rudimentary question, Ren replied simply, "Your Satan's Relatives," he stated with absolute confidence, as if that was the most obvious question in the world.
...
"An odd way to put it, but he's right." Stroking her chin, Akeno chuckled lightly, her eyes glittering with mirth.
Sighing with a hint of relief, Rias nodded and presented her argument, "Correct. So before I pose our next question, you must understand the importance of cooperation with us and that you don't think this is some unnecessary interrogation."
Sona took her turn explaining, "The entire city of Kuoh has been entrusted to the protection and authority of the Devil Clans of Sitri and Gremory and is under our care - any unknown supernatural element, individual, or occurrence needs to pass through us; whether it enters or leaves Kuoh, it is supervised by us and must be reported to us to keep this place safe and in order."
Ren listened on intently, not a hint of visible surprise in his mask as he nodded along as if he knew all of this already.
Exchanging a look with Rias, Sona pressed on, "Therefore, your combat ability to drastically overpower a low-ranking Fallen Angel, detect a distant stealth-trained Devil, raises more than a few eyebrows and even puts to question my... competence." She admitted with all the wounded pride she could muster.
Ren let go of all subtlety as he stated, "If it eases your wounded pride, Devil, my blood relatives are unaware of my unfathomable prowess themselves."
Mulling his words over, Sona nodded in understanding, "...I figured as much."
Silence overtook the room once more, as Ren's self-admission of prowess had lowered all masks in this little play.
Directing a grave nod to Ren, "With all that said. What are you? What is your goal and... why reveal yourself now?" Rias questioned seriously.
"If you fail to reply satisfactorily..." A warning escaped her lips as the atmosphere grew downright asphyxiating, as what felt like mana subtly escaped the Devils' bodies.
It most certainly appeared as if she and the rest of the gathered members had some contingency planned against a superior opponent.
However...
Ren appeared unbothered, "I'll answer all your measly inquiries... on one condition."
"Which is?" Sona asked.
"Bring Hyoudou here, I believe he would benefit from hearing this."
...
The thick atmosphere had lowered considerably as Rias could only blink in response, "O-Okay, sure?" She agreed with an almost relieved tone.
The request to bring in Issei held no surprise for them.
After all, Ren had directed Issei to the supernatural - them.
Indeed, Ren's feats had spread a great deal of doubt about how much they actually knew about him.
Even now, they couldn't really make heads or tails of him, though his capabilities were without question.
But, so far... so good?
To Ren's lack of surprise, at the clap of Rias's hands, the seemingly magical graffiti on the floor had proved its alleged magical nature, glowing a brilliant light as it flashed in front of them.
The brilliant light swallowed up the room, clearing to reveal... nothing.
A collective deadpan crossed the features of all those present, to which Ren could only hum analytically, "I take it he lacks the means to arrive?"
Sona ignored Ren's pondering words and directed a beguiled look at Rias, "Is this the one you're betting on? Not enough Magical Power to pass through a teleportation circle?" she arched an eyebrow.
Caught off-guard, she stuttered, "E-Erm, yes?"
The tension in the air practically evaporated following Akeno's delighted chuckle, "I'll go get him."
-------------------------------
The excited, flushed, and hysterical Issei Hyoudou needed no introduction as his entry announcement and greeting to Ren was one loaded case of sexual harassment:
"Kobayashi! Duuuuuuuuude! They've got a BATH in here! A BATH! Do you have an idea what kind of boobies swing around in there?!" He excitedly greeted with absolutely zero hesitation in front of an assembled party of the literal school authorities and aforementioned 'kind of boobies'.
Social Anxiety's Final Boss.
Koneko retorted immediately by getting up from her quite nerve-wracking seat beside Ren to swiftly neuter the pervert.
How?
Kicking him in the family jewels, of course.
"Die. Pervert."
Through a feat of devilish strength, the blow didn't elicit a manly roar from Issei, but a pained wheeze - like a deflating balloon - as he crumpled to the ground, clutching the remnants of his shattered legacy.
Shaking her head helplessly, Sona redirected her attention from the defeated Issei back to the calm and elegant figure of Ren, who was sipping his tea without trouble.
"He's here, your answers?"
Nodding, Ren rose from his seat as he took yet another sip, giving a good, long look at each assembled member in the eye - much to his visible delight, none flinched.
"Exemplary, you've got potential."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Ignore that for now," he placed the cup gently on the table and rose up to his full height, "What am I? A humble Human, there is no lie to be found in this statement."
Rias interrupted quickly with a knowing sigh, "Another unannounced Magician? Was this all a scheme to get a valuable pact with the Gremory or Sitri?"
"Jumping the gun there, Rias." Sona chastised.
"It's already happened twice!"
"I want nothing from you," Ren asserted.
"Sacred Gear then?"
"Perhaps." He enigmatically stated.
As theories ran wild in the heads of the silent observers and the totally befuddled Issei was still suffering from groin damage, Ren continued:
"Why reveal myself now, you ask?" he turned to Sona with a knowing look, "Recall my past words, President Sitri, and you'll find that which you seek."
He paused for a moment as Sona tried to recollect one of the many enigmatic phrases he had muttered in the past, only for his tone to lower dangerously.
"...My Goal?" He repeated with a disturbing depth, as a shiver ran down his spine.
His jaw opened, but no words of coherence escaped.
Madness, utter madness.
Obsession, utter obsession.
The mumbles of a madman, of a 'Chuuni' too far gone, yet it sent a shiver down all their spines:
"I, who am yet unfinished, am the Pilgrim Star that grasped upon the thrones of the Luminous Gods.
"I mock the 'final form', and I mourn the 'end.'"
"I shall become the Flame That Devours Its Own Light,"
"And I shall drag the world screaming into the wake of my becoming!"
...
It was so horrifyingly vivid, his movements and his words so manic, so real and animated that his visage disturbed even the hardiest of the present party down to their very core.
He could only be met with silence and wide, confused, and fearful gazes, as the air was downright suffocating - even Issei had ceased his pained moans as he froze in shock.
...
A moment later, the suffocating air was sliced cleanly through as Ren had seemed to switch back into a calm, leisurely tone as if he hadn't gone into a manic episode just a second ago, "And that's my goal. Any further questions?"
To Be Continued!
[Secret Camera Activation!]
[DING! Advice LVL MAX activated!]
[Requesting Aura Gods' advice!]
[INSERT ADVICE HERE!]
[MOST LIKED ADVICE IN THE AURA GOD WEBSITE OF WEBNOVEL WILL BE TRANSDIMENSIONALLY SENT TO THE USER!]
[THIS CAN BE BOTH PRACTICAL AND IMPRACTICAL ADVICE, LIKE SLURS!]
[SPOILERS ARE AUTOMATICALLY FILTERED!]
-Author Note Start-
Guys, they'll thank Ren for saving Issei later put down the pitchforks, they just got the order a lil jumbled cause their a lil pretentious teen devil princesses or smth.
Also Sona isn't in her element, cause as you can tell she has somewhat of a familiarity with Ren (moreso with the older Kobayashi sister but ya get it) so she's distraught about how she couldn't see it - she, in fact, was seeing it.
Also, for a Secondary Camera Scene, Ren sure is...
OVERPERFORMING!
MY CRINGE GOAT!
MY CRINGE GOAT!
MY CRINGE GOAT!
Also, please do me a solid and send advice against forming a cult to the Aura Gods, I don't need to write that shi, this character is so feral it'd probably work.
Stop him before it's too late, disenchant him from it, and suggest the chase for AURA is enough to appease the Gods.
Thank you!
Also, also - as per my usual style of writing things, Canon will slowly begin to drastically deviate.
Yay!
Am I letting someone die again?
I don't think so tbh, Ren is just gonna do his own thing.
Also, also, also, one interaction I am really dying to write is Ren with Vali.
Strongest Chunni Of Today Vs Strongest Chuuni In History typa interaction.
On that spicy note!
Love ya! Bu bye!