Demon Among Devils

Chapter 20: "Stop Saying That"

When he first met Gasper Vladi, the human-vampire hybrid shook his hand.

Gasper: "It's an honor to meet the one who has helped my master so much"

Rias's new Bishop said with earnest respect.

An amused expression danced across his features. The politeness in the greeting and the boy's diminutive stature reminded him of a certain Ken Amada… if Ken was timid instead of stern and liked to dress himself in women's clothing. The amusement promptly vanished from his face. The thought, and everything that came along with it, was absolutely horrifying.

In the meantime, Gasper was peering up at him with wide eyes, staring at him with what amounted to an unhealthy dose of fascination.

Gasper: "Is it true that you summoned an Archdemon to help my master in the Rating Game because you couldn't stand her being in the arms of another man?"

For a moment, he was sure he hadn't heard correctly. Then his eyes flickered towards the only one who could be responsible for such a misrepresentation. Rias met his gaze and tried hard to look innocent. Before he could reply and shoot down the notion however, his new admirer was already moving on.

Gasper: "Is it true that you manifested an aspect of Death to cheer up Himejima-san when she was feeling under the weather because you were attracted to her so much?"

Unlike Rias, Akeno wasn't ashamed in the slightest at her fabrication. The girl in question grinned at him and if that wasn't enough to convey her intention, the suggestive wink she sent his way when he glared at her certainly did. Again, just like before, the diminutive vampire didn't give him the opportunity to correct that assumption.

Gasper: "Is it also true that you can help people create swords just by thinking about them?"

This time, it was Kiba's turn to look uncomfortable. The sword-user rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and began whistling to himself when he became the center of attention. Gasper's face, meanwhile, was bordering on the worshipful.

Gasper: "And is it also true that you can make people fall in love just by kicking them?"

His eyes flickered over to Asia and Koneko, both of whom had wrapped their arms around a certain boy's limbs and appeared adamant in their unwillingness to let go. The former smiled bashfully at him. The latter detached an arm long enough to raise a fist towards him before mouthing the word, "later". Issei, for his part, seemed utterly confused on what to do with the two girls latching onto each of his limbs.

He sighed inwardly.

As he understood it, Gasper had been sealed away within Kuoh Academy due to the uncontrollable nature of his power. It was only recently that Rias was capable of managing the Dhamphir's unstable state enough to where the boy could be safely allowed out.

The whole circumstances surrounding the hybrid's sealing was unknown to him, but he could not help but be a bit rankled about it. Imprisoning someone for a fault not their own did not sit well with him, but he understood the necessity.

Sometimes great power must be kept under lock and key for the good of everyone else as well as the source of power itself. That, and he had grown respectful enough of Rias to trust her judgment in matters like these. If she deemed it necessary to seal her only Rook away until the time was right, then he would defer to her greater experience on the subject.