Chapter 4: Unwelcome Guests
The alley felt too small with Azazel suddenly in it. The Governor of the Fallen Angels stood there like he owned the place, his white suit pristine despite the grime of the backstreet. His golden eyes gleamed with amusement as he looked between me and Rias.
"Well, well," he said, pushing off the wall. "Looks like I interrupted something."
Rias stiffened, her expression turning guarded. "Azazel."
"Rias Gremory," he replied with a lazy wave. "Always a pleasure. But I'm actually here for your mysterious friend." He turned his full attention to me. "You've been making waves, kid."
I crossed my arms. "And you're here to what? Recruit me? Warn me? Try to kill me?"
Azazel barked a laugh. "Direct. I like that." He shoved his hands in his pockets. "Nah, none of that. I'm just curious. See, when a Longinus gear suddenly goes dark, people notice. And when the guy responsible doesn't even bother hiding his involvement? That's either ballsy or stupid." He tilted his head. "So which is it?"
I didn't blink. "Neither. It's called not giving a damn."
Rias made a frustrated noise. "You're both insane. Do you have any idea how much trouble you're causing?"
Azazel shrugged. "Eh, trouble's my middle name." He winked at her before refocusing on me. "But seriously, kid. What'd you do to the Boosted Gear?"
I considered not answering. But Azazel wasn't an enemy I wanted to make lightly—not because I feared him, but because he was annoyingly persistent.
"I freed Ddraig," I said simply.
Silence.
Rias's eyes went wide. Azazel's smirk vanished.
"...You what."
"You heard me." I pulled the inert Boosted Gear from my pocket and tossed it to Azazel. He caught it on reflex, staring at it like it might explode. "Ddraig's not in there anymore. He's got his own body now."
Azazel turned the gear over in his hands, his usual playful demeanor gone. "This isn't possible."
"Clearly it is," I said.
Rias looked between us, her voice tight. "Do you understand what you've done? The Boosted Gear is one of the most powerful sacred gears in existence. The balance—"
"Spare me the lecture," I cut in. "The 'balance' was always a shaky excuse for your factions to keep fighting. Ddraig's free now. Deal with it."
Azazel finally looked up from the gear, his expression unreadable. "You're either the most reckless person I've ever met, or you're playing a game I don't understand."
"Neither," I said again. "I just don't like seeing powerful beings kept on leashes."
Azazel studied me for a long moment. Then, slowly, his smirk returned. "You're interesting, I'll give you that." He pocketed the Boosted Gear. "Alright, here's the deal. You're coming with me."
I raised an eyebrow. "Am I?"
"Yep." He popped the 'p'. "See, I could drag you in for questioning. Or... you could come willingly, have a drink, and we'll talk like civilized people." His grin turned sharp. "Your choice."
I almost refused. But the truth was, Azazel had resources—information, technology, connections. Things that could be useful.
"Fine," I said. "But I'm not joining your little faction."
Azazel waved a hand. "Yeah, yeah. Just humor me." He glanced at Rias. "No offense, princess, but this is above your pay grade."
Rias's fists clenched, but she didn't argue. She knew she was outmatched here.
As Azazel and I turned to leave, she called out, "This isn't over."
I didn't bother looking back.
---
Azazel's Playground
Azazel's "office" turned out to be a high-tech lab hidden beneath a nondescript building in Kuoh. Screens lined the walls, displaying data I couldn't immediately decipher. A half-disassembled sacred gear sat on a workbench, tools scattered around it.
"Home sweet home," Azazel said, flopping into a chair. He gestured to a minifridge. "Drink?"
"No thanks." I remained standing. "Get to the point."
Azazel sighed. "You're no fun." He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Alright, straight talk. What you did with Ddraig? That shouldn't be possible. Sacred gears don't just get 'unmade.'"
"Good thing I didn't unmake it then," I said. "The Boosted Gear still exists. It's just... empty."
"Semantics," Azazel said, waving a hand. "The point is, you've got skills nobody else has. And that makes you valuable." His eyes gleamed. "Also a target."
"I can handle myself."
"I don't doubt that," Azazel said. "But here's the thing—Heaven's already sent agents to investigate. The Underworld's in an uproar. And me? I'd rather not see you get dogpiled because you pissed off the wrong people."
I crossed my arms. "So what's your proposal?"
"Simple," Azazel said. "You work with me—not *for* me, *with* me—and I'll keep the vultures off your back. In exchange, you let me study how you freed Ddraig."
I almost laughed. "You want me to teach you how to break sacred gears?"
"Not break," Azazel corrected. "Modify. Improve." His grin turned sharp. "Imagine what we could do if every sacred gear user had full control. No more berserk states. No more limitations."
I considered it. Azazel wasn't lying—he genuinely wanted to improve sacred gears. But he was also scheming, always playing the long game.
"One condition," I said.
"Name it."
"Ddraig stays free. No attempts to re-seal him."
Azazel held up his hands. "Wouldn't dream of it. Dragon's free to do what he wants." He leaned back. "So? Partners?"
I smirked. "Temporarily."
Azazel's laugh echoed through the lab. "Good enough for me."
---
Ddraig's New Life
I found Ddraig later that night, perched on a skyscraper overlooking the city. In his smaller, more contained form, he looked almost like a particularly large eagle—if eagles had crimson scales and could level buildings with a breath.
"You're making friends," he rumbled as I landed beside him.
"Azazel's not a friend," I said. "Just a useful contact."
Ddraig snorted. "Be careful with that one. He's smarter than he looks."
"I know." I sat beside him, watching the city lights. "How's freedom treating you?"
The dragon stretched his wings. "Strange. I'd forgotten what it was like to exist without a host." He turned his gaze to me. "You didn't have to do this."
"I know."
Silence stretched between us. Then, grudgingly, Ddraig said, "Thank you."
I nodded. "Don't mention it."
We sat there in comfortable silence as the city hummed below us.
For the first time since arriving in this world, I felt like things were finally moving in the right direction.