74 A Star In The Palm Of My Hands (3)

"Why do you want from us!?" Rias demanded, her frustration evident as she glared at Brynhildr, who had just dropped a massive fireball near them out of nowhere.

"Mmmm," Brynhildr responded with an indifferent shrug. "How about you two? What do you want from us?" she asked playfully, a teasing smile on her lips.

Rias hesitated, unable to come up with a convincing lie quickly enough.

"T-that..." she stammered, clearly struggling to find a good, friendly reason for their presence.

"We were just curious as to why big shots like you two would be interested in coming to this small town, that's all," Akeno interjected smoothly, trying to cover for Rias and present a plausible excuse.

"So, you followed us like stalkers?" Brynhildr raised an eyebrow, her suspicion evident.

"Well, in this kind of situation... Sort of—but we assure you we aren't that kind of people," Rias quickly replied, trying to salvage their dignity.

"People you say... Even though the two of you are devils from the Underworld." Brynhildr's smirk widened as she enjoyed their discomfort.

"How..? How did you know?" Both Rias and Akeno's faces turned to expressions of confusion and alarm, worried that they might have accidentally emitted demonic power.

"You can blend in with humans with those appearances of yours. But you can't hide that from someone like me," Brynhildr said smugly, enjoying the upper hand.

"!!!"

The three of them suddenly turned towards the direction of the abandoned church, sensing a massive spike of energy. Instinctively, they knew they should run away.

'I assume it's Otto's doing. There's no way those four losers could have caused that,' Brynhildr thought, before looking back at Rias and Akeno, who were frozen in place as she covered the area with her curtain.

"Hehe," Brynhildr grinned, suddenly appearing behind the two to startle them further. "Say, shouldn't you two compensate us~?" she said playfully.

"What!? That's unreasonable, Ms. Brynhildr," Rias protested, trying to reason with her. "We only came to take a look."

"Oh no no no, Ms. Rias~," Brynhildr purred, leaning in closer. "Otto and I felt emotionally damaged by your actions. It's only fair that you make it up to us."

"You—ugh." Rias began, wanting to retaliate against Brynhildr's outrageous request but refraining from doing so.

After taking a moment to calm down, Rias and Akeno exchanged nervous glances and decided to hear Brynhildr out.

"What kind of compensation are you talking about?" Akeno asked cautiously, trying to gauge Brynhildr's intentions.

"Oh, nothing too drastic. It's just that Otto seems to be stressed these days~." Brynhildr seductively whispered in their ears, her tone dripping with insinuation.

"What do you want exactly?" Akeno asked, her curiosity piqued by the sudden change in Brynhildr's demeanor.

Seeing Akeno's reaction, Brynhildr thought that she was a pervert like herself. "Pleasing a man is a way of removing stress, no~?" she whispered suggestively.

"What!?" Rias glared at Brynhildr, the idea of someone from the house of Gremory sleeping with a stranger appalling her.

"Hmm..." Akeno didn't reply immediately, knowing that her actions might reflect on her master, who stood beside her. She didn't want to embarrass Rias or dishonor the Underworld.

"Oh~? Are you refusing?" Brynhildr asked, caressing their cheeks with a teasing smile.

Rias slapped Brynhildr's hand away in defiance.

"I. Won't. Serve. Anyone. Let alone someone I've never met before," Rias stated calmly, though her tone was laced with anger at Brynhildr's suggestion.

"That's unfortunate. But refusal has its consequences." Brynhildr's smile faded slightly, replaced with a cold look.

"I said, we refuse," Rias replied, her Power of Destruction swirling around them, threatening to consume Brynhildr.

"This..." Brynhildr seemed to recognize the power from the past. "The Power of Destruction... from the House of Bael."

Rias stood firm, her power intensifying.

"I'll give you one chance. Let's just let this matter go," she said, not wanting to make an unnecessary enemy out of Otto.

"Hmmm~... How about you?" Brynhildr winked at Akeno, who had remained silent.

"My master has already given you our answer. So, no," Akeno replied, standing resolutely beside Rias.

"Shame." Brynhildr sighed before suddenly exerting her utmost pressure on them, forcing them to kneel under the weight of it.

"Ugh," the two groaned in pain as Rias' demonic power was immediately shut down by Brynhildr's overwhelming presence.

"You're strong for your age, I'll give you that," Brynhildr praised, squatting down to face them.

"Hmmm, you're beautiful just like your cousin, Black Haired-san," she said to Akeno, referring to Shizuku Himejima.

"What are you talking about..?" Akeno struggled to speak clearly, her breath labored under the oppressive weight of Brynhildr's power.

"Nothing~," Brynhildr replied nonchalantly before turning her attention to Rias, who was gritting her teeth in defiance.

Without warning, Brynhildr reached out and grabbed both of Rias' breasts, groping them firmly. Rias let out an involuntary, lewd moan, her face flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment.

"They're soft~," Brynhildr mused, kneading Rias' breasts with a casual, almost absentminded motion. "You must've seduced men with this lewd body of yours."

Rias glared at Brynhildr, her eyes blazing with humiliation.

"Get your hands off me!" she demanded, her voice shaking.

"Watching you resist makes me want to do it more~," Brynhildr licked the corner of her lips, slowly tracing her fingers toward Rias' crotch.

"S-stop..." Rias spoke in an embarrassed tone, her voice barely a whisper as Brynhildr reached her panties.

Meanwhile, Akeno stood frozen, unsure of what to do but curious about her master's next reaction. The tension was palpable, the air thick with a mixed feeling of fear and anticipation.

Just as Brynhildr's fingers were about to reach Rias' most private area, the moment was abruptly interrupted. The curtain that Brynhildr had placed around them was torn apart by an outside force.

"..." Otto's presence was like a cold wind, sweeping through the tense scene. He looked at them, his expression unreadable as he was back to his original appearance.

Rias had her legs spread in an M position, a wet patch visible on her panties. Brynhildr was behind her, an excited expression on her face as she cupped Rias' large breasts with her hand near Rias' crotch.

"Oh... Hi Otto~!" Brynhildr greeted, her tone dripping with mock innocence.

She let go of Rias, whose body slumped from the intense stimulation. Akeno quickly moved to support her, glaring at Brynhildr with a mix of anger and concern.

"What did you do?" Otto asked, though he could easily guess the nature of Brynhildr's actions.

"Nothing~ just girl things." Brynhildr replied nonchalantly, straightening her clothes as she walked towards Otto.

'Hmmm, I missed the show... They must've done some hot yuri things to each other...' Otto thought, feeling a mix of curiosity and approval for what he assumed was "harmless" fun between the girls.

Rias, regaining some of her composure, looked up at Otto with a mixture of defiance and humiliation.

"This... this is unforgivable," Rias muttered while being supported by Akeno.

"Who are you?" Otto asked, acting as if this was their first time meeting.

"Rias Gremory, from the House of Gremory," she introduced herself weakly, still exhausted from the encounter.

"I'm Akeno Himejima, her queen piece," Akeno added, hiding her blush after hearing Rias's earlier moans.

"Himejima..." Otto showed a fake thoughtful expression. "Are you related to Suzaku Himejima, by any chance?"

"I am..." Akeno confirmed, realizing that the two had met her cousin.

"Hmmmm... So what did she—"

"She sexually assaulted me! And demanding I sleep with you!" Rias screamed, her frustration and humiliation pouring out. though her voice was contained by Brynhildr's repaired barrier so no one other than them could hear her tantrum.

Otto looked at Brynhildr beside him, who averted her gaze innocently.

"Just having some fun, you know," Brynhildr replied nonchalantly, shrugging. "They stalked us, so I thought I'd teach them a lesson they'll never forget."

Otto sighed before turning to face Rias and Akeno.

"I apologize for my sibling's actions," he said, his tone genuinely contrite. "So how about this? I'll do each of you a favor in exchange for letting my sibling off the hook."

He proposed the deal, seeing it as an opportunity to get involved with the High School DxD cast.

He had a particular interest in acquiring one of the Sacred Gears from the Khaos Brigade and hoped that Rias might take this chance to seek his help with her marriage ordeal with Riser.

"And why should we trust you?" Rias, still fuming, looked at Otto skeptically.

'Tsk,' Otto thought to himself.

"Then you wouldn't mind making a contract with me, would you?" He replied, sensing their distrust after Brynhildr's actions.

Rias assessed Otto's expression, her suspicion deepening. She still hadn't confirmed that Otto was genuinely Vincent Fabron and was wary of any potential ulterior motives.

Otto maintained an innocent look, which only made Rias frown even more.

"... Hmmm, take your time... I don't mind." He said, breaking the awkward silence.

Rias exchanged a glance with Akeno, who gave a subtle nod. They both understood the importance of having an associate like Otto.

"Fine... I'll accept." Rias declared while still glaring at Brynhildr, who had assaulted her.

'I could get his help in dealing with Riser later,' Rias thought. It felt low to ask for help from someone outside the Underworld, as it might backfire on her. Moreover, Otto didn't seem like the type to serve under someone, judging by how Brynhildr acted towards him.

"I'm relieved that you accepted my proposal, Lady Rias." Otto bowed courteously.

Rias, still wary, took out her contract flyer and handed it to Otto. He took it with a nod, carefully examining it before forming a contract with Rias.

"Now that we have an understanding, we'll be taking our leave in Kuoh now..." Otto turned to leave, but paused, glancing back at Brynhildr.

"And you, behave yourself." Otto glared at Brynhildr, which didn't faze her one bit as she knew he was just pretending.

Brynhildr played along, raising her arms in surrender. "Fine, fine. I'll be good."

As Otto and Brynhildr departed, Rias and Akeno watched them go, a mix of relief and apprehension in their eyes.

"Do you think we can trust him?" Akeno asked softly.

"We don't have much of a choice," Rias replied, knowing that Otto might retaliate if they rejected his offer. "For now, we play along. If he can help us deal with Riser, it's worth the risk."

She hid the fact that she still felt humiliated by the indecent thing that Brynhildr did to her. The memory lingered in her mind, causing a flush of anger and embarrassment to rise every time she thought about it.

"Rias, are you alright?" Akeno noticed her friend's distraction. 

"I'm fine, thank you for worrying..." Rias said, though her tone carried an undercurrent of lingering resentment. She hadn't forgotten that Akeno had stood by and done nothing while she was molested by Brynhildr, Otto's perverted sibling.

Akeno's eyes softened with guilt as she looked at Rias. "I'm sorry, Rias. I should have done something." Thinking at how lewd her master was.

...

Back with Otto and Brynhildr...

"What was that massive spike of energy?" Brynhildr asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Oh... You felt it?" Otto responded in mild surprise. He was certain it was just pure elemental energy and didn't require magic of sorts.

"Yeah, it completely froze the two devils entirely," she explained, recalling the moment when Rias and Akeno had been paralyzed by the surge of power.

"Hmmm, the cause was the Star of Eden. It slightly got out of control," he explained.

A few hours back at the abandoned church...

After Otto had quickly mastered the ritual to extract Sacred Gears from Raynare, the tension in the room was palpable.

"So, can we leave now?" Raynare asked, her voice trembling as she watched Otto inspect the ritual with unnerving intensity.

"Hmmm," Otto muttered, examining the magic circle and considering ways to streamline the process. He was displeased with how long it took.

"Hello?" Kalawarna called out cautiously, her fear growing with each passing second of silence.

"No," Otto replied coldly, not even looking up from the ritual.

"But you promised us that you'd let us go after you learned the ritual," Dohnaseek protested, desperation creeping into his voice.

"I didn't, though," Otto said bluntly.

"You—" Dohnaseek, seeing no other option, decided to fight back, despite knowing the odds were against him.

"..." Otto watched Dohnaseek's movements with a detached interest, perceiving them as sluggish.

'Star of Eden,' Otto thought, deciding to test the prototype that manipulated virtual mass in the surroundings.

Suddenly, Dohnaseek, who was attempting to take flight, crashed down under a tremendous weight. The ground beneath him cracked and buckled as a small black particle formed in front of him, gradually attempting to suck him in.

"Wha—UGHH!!!" Dohnaseek screamed in agony as he was slowly being pulled towards the black particle.

"!!!" The particle-sized black hole began to grow, sucking in the air and everything around it, including Dohnaseek, who was eventually consumed entirely.

'Damn it,' Otto cursed internally as the small black hole's pull increased, threatening to drag him in as well.

He tried to use the orb to control it, but it was ineffective. The black hole's gravitational force was overpowering, and Otto had to lock his feet to the ground to resist being pulled in.

"..." Realizing that the orb was useless, Otto decided to use his authority to close the black hole. However, as he reached out with his arm, the immense force began to draw him in. In a desperate move, he severed his own right arm to free himself from getting sucked in.

Golden particles began to surround the rapidly expanding black hole as Otto, facing a dire situation, attempted something he had never tried before using his authority.

"Kuh..." He groaned, trying to regress the black hole to a state where it never existed, but the effort failed.

"Domain Expansion: Fractured Worlds."

With a single hand sign, Otto activated his domain. Instead of the phenomena he had used during his fight with Reine, this version aimed to revert the surroundings back to their original state using his reverse technique. Combining this with his authority, he made a final attempt to close the black hole.

'Fuck... I almost lost my life just to show off...' Otto cursed silently as he successfully closed the black hole.

"Phew, not even a sweat," he lied, feeling a wave of nervous relief wash over him. The remaining fallen angels, their fingers dug into the ground trying to not get caught in the black hole.

"Lesson learned," Otto said, his voice calm despite the pain and blood loss.

"Don't test me." He flexed his reverse curse technique to regenerate his severed arm in front of them.

"Please don't kill me. Mr. Architect." Mittelt prostrated and begged Otto, giving up her dignity as a fallen angel.

"Hmmmm..." He considered his options, thinking of the potential benefits of keeping them alive versus eliminating them now that their initial utility had been exhausted.

"Please, I'll—" Kalawarna started, joining Mittelt in her plea, the desperation to get out alive.

Raynare and Kalawarna quickly argued, each trying to shift the blame and paint the other as the primary instigator.

"Please, Raynare just dragged me into this. You can use me as your play thing or whatever, just let me live," Mittelt cried, tears streaming down her face, her dignity as a fallen angel completely abandoned.

"You—" Raynare glared at Mittelt, furious at being thrown under the bus.

"Me too! She dragged us into this!" Kalawarna added, echoing Mittelt's sentiments.

"..." Otto listened to their futile pleas before walking towards Raynare who was gritting her teeth.

"Any last words?" He coldly said, as she was already on his hit list.

"Grrrr— DIEEE HUMANNN!" She roared forming a spear made out of light.

Otto swiftly slapped her face so hard that her head twisted back, killing her in the process.

"Hiiiik—!" Mittelt shrieked at the unexpected death scene, thinking that he was going to kill Raynare in a flashy fashion like he did to Freed and Dohnaseek.

As Otto inspected Kalawarna's curvy body, a plan began to form in his mind.

'I'm getting horny.' he thought, realizing that he might have caught Brynhildr's addiction.

"You two will work—no, serve under me," he stated firmly.

"I-I will!" The two replied simultaneously, their voices filled with a mix of fear and determination.

"Good, well said." Approaching them, Otto touched their foreheads, casting an experimental magic spell. This spell could potentially allow him to detonate it with a command, giving him a form of control over them.

"Now, you will follow my orders without question, or else your heads will blow up." He stated.

Mittelt and Kalawarna nodded vigorously, understanding what he did to their head, feeling dizzy.

'No... I won't fuck Kalawarna, at least not now...' He sighed before ordering them to hide somewhere else as he went to find Brynhildr outside.

...

-Chapter End-