The door slid open, and Sakaki stepped inside with a bottle of sake in one hand.
He looked at me for a moment, then clicked his tongue.
“You look like shit.” “Thank you, Master.
Your bedside manner is incredible.” He snorted and sat down near the door, leaning his back against the frame.
For a while, he did not say anything.
That was worse than yelling.
Eventually, he took a drink and spoke.
“You hesitated.” I looked down at my hands.
“Yeah.” “You had a chance to hurt her badly.” “I know.” “Maybe kill her.” My fingers curled slightly.
“I know.” Sakaki watched me carefully.
“Do you know why Akisame lectured you?” “Because I was stupid.” “That’s part of it.” Great.
There were layers to my stupidity.
Sakaki took another drink.
“You fought a supernatural creature like you were still fighting a person.” I frowned.
“She was a person.” “Maybe.” His voice hardened.
“But she wasn’t fighting like one.” I went silent.
Sakaki’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Humans are bastards.
Don’t misunderstand me.
Humans kill, steal, lie, betray, torture, and do all kinds of ugly shit.
I’ve seen enough of it.
But most humans still live with rules.
Laws.
Fear of punishment.
Fear of witnesses.
Fear of consequences.” He tilted the bottle toward the window.
“The supernatural world doesn’t work like that.” I remembered the fallen angel’s smile.
The way she looked at me like I was something amusing.
Something she could keep.
An ant.
I couldn’t help but grimace.
Sakaki continued.
“Out there, strength is law more often than it should be.
A devil, a fallen angel, a stray monster, a rogue mage, a beast from some hole in the world—if they decide you’re prey, they don’t always stop because you hesitate.
They don’t always posture.
They don’t always warn you.” His expression darkened.
“They kill.” The room felt colder.
“That woman was playing with you at first,” he said.
“You surprised her.
Good.
You used the opening.
Good.
You retreated instead of admiring your own work.
Also good.” I blinked.
Wait.
Was I being complimented?
“But then you hesitated,” Sakaki said, ruining it immediately.
“Not because you chose mercy.
Not because you had control.
You hesitated because you didn’t know what kind of fight you were in.” I swallowed.
“I didn’t know if I wanted to kill someone,” I admitted.
Sakaki was quiet for a moment.
Then he nodded.
“Good.” I looked up.
“What?” “Good,” he repeated.
“If killing comes easy to you, you’re either broken or on your way there.” That was not what I expected him to say.
He looked away, his voice lowering.
“I hate the supernatural world.” The words were simple and honest.
“It’s too clean about ugly things.
Too many of them talk about death like it’s natural selection.
Like if you’re weak enough to die, you deserved it.
Law of the jungle.
Strong eat the weak.
Old garbage with prettier teeth.
Those beings take kindness as weakness.
You take a step back, and they take two steps forward, driving you to the edge.” His grip tightened around the bottle.
Then he took a swig with clear irritation on his face.
“At least humans pretend to be better.” I did not know what to say.
Sakaki glanced back at me.
“But hating it doesn’t change it.
If you step into that world, you need to decide what you are willing to do before someone else decides for you.” My hands were shaking.
I hated that he was right.
“So what?” I asked quietly.
“I should have killed her?” Sakaki stared at me.
“No.” I blinked.
“No?” “You should have decided.” That shut me up.
Sakaki leaned forward.
“If you choose to kill, then kill.
If you choose to spare, then spare.
If you choose to run, then run.
But don’t freeze between choices and call it morality.” My throat felt tight.
“Mercy requires strength.
Restraint requires control.
You had neither.” I wanted to growl, but he was right.
“You were lucky we were there.” “I know.” “Next time, we might not be.” “…I know.” “Good.” He stood and cracked his neck.
“Get some sleep.
Tomorrow, your training gets worse.” “That’s not comforting.” “It’s not supposed to be.” He snorted as he turned to leave.
Then he paused at the doorway.
“For what it’s worth, kid?” I looked up in confusion.
“You did better than I expected,” he said with a grin as he left the room.
I stared at the empty doorway.
Ugh.
— The following morning was annoying.
Miu woke me up for breakfast, which was absolutely amazing, despite having to keep my food away from the masters who were attempting to steal it.
These fuckers were so overpowered that I threw my chopsticks at Ma Kensei and Apachai, who did not understand the concept of holding back.
He threw a kick that blew the entire table away, knocking away everyone’s food before a brawl started.
I left the room as quietly as I could.
— Arriving at school, I remembered that the Elder told me the fallen angel who attacked me was still alive.
Well, great.
I would have to report this to Rias since she was overseeing the area.
Very irritating.
As I sat in class, Koneko glanced at me in confusion.
My aura was pretty irritated.
“Fallen in the area.” I mouthed it to her as I glanced at the doorway.
Her eyes widened, and she tapped her ear twice before looking toward the door as well.
Issei walked in with a bandage across his eye and a scowl on his face.
Glancing at me, he blinked and then zoned out momentarily before nodding and quietly sitting in his seat.
Guess Ddraig talked to him.
Or he recognized draconic aura or something.
Do I have that?
I don’t know enough about the supernatural.
I’m too weak to be any further involved.
And I refuse to lose my autonomy.
Looks like Issei felt the same way.
I didn’t feel any demonic energy pulsing off of him.
I’m sure we’ll both be called to the corny Occult Research Club later.
Great…
Whatever.
Status.
— [Status] Name: Raoul Kurokaze Race: Physical Human — Draconic Soul-Integrated Classification: Stabilizing Fictional Existence Current World: Draconic Deus — Existence Density: 0.07% Soul Integrity: 9.10% Narrative Weight: Noticeable — Physical Condition: Recovering Injuries: Shoulder puncture wound — Stabilized Minor cuts — Healing Muscle strain — Moderate — Core: Draconic Mana Core Mana Core Status: Stable Mana Circulation: Crude Aura Leakage: Reduced Draconic Signature: Noticeable to sensitive beings — Skills: Algorithmic Thinking Basic Onmyōdō Basic Martial Arts Basic Talisman Crafting Basic Mana Circulation Basic Footwork Pain Tolerance New Skill Acquired: Combat Awareness — Beginner New Trait Acquired: Survivor’s Instinct — Notable Links: Koneko Toujou — Minor Bond Ryozanpaku Dojo — Official Disciple Miu Fūrinji — Minor Bond Hayato Fūrinji — Major Bond Forming Ddraig Y Goch — Favorable Recognition Nascent Dragon Soul — Life-Bonded Partner — Inventory: World Narrative Hopping Ticket — Cursed Reward Description: A ticket that temporarily transfers the Host to another narrative within the multiverse.
Current Destination Category: Low-Power Ceiling Warning: Dimensional disturbance may attract attention.
— Current Warnings: Fallen Angel Activity Detected Local Supernatural Tension Increasing Host is undertrained for current threat level Autonomy-related anxiety elevated — System Recommendation: Seek instruction.
Avoid isolated combat.
Report hostile supernatural activity to local overseer.
Do not make additional terrible choices under pressure.
— Do you ever get tired of judging me?
[No.]