Heyo you guys. I am still alive. I am kinda busy with another project I'm working on with another guy mostly because I was once an editor for the author, ahsoei. It is called One-Punch DxD: Neo, a rewrite of his most popular work I am now co-writing with. I suggest you check it out as production there is a lot more frequent than here. Fav and Follow that story as well. Anyways, Zaralann checked it out in a hurry as he had a lot of problems on his own side, being from Russia and all. He was busy moving his stories to another site, and it kind of killed his mood, too. Anyways, here you go.

"Do you think… you can teach me how to use a sword?" Momonga asked Murayama and Katase outside his door.

He had to sneak the two girls out of his home after a lengthy conversation with Ophis and the conditions of her stay.

"Eh? Why? Aren't you… like, a great Wizard or something?" Murayama asked.

"Yes, but I like to strengthen my weak points, which is close combat. As much as I hate to admit, I do need all the help I can get. And I don't like to rely on pure power as much as you think." Those who purely rely on power, Levels as well, would only invite arrogance and death, a trait shown in many Players who could not handle those on their Level, usually filthy casuals or PK-Trolls.

That and Momonga thought warriors are cool, plus the absence of the Level-Cap invited new possibilities for him. Murayama and Katase looked at each other for a moment, unsure of how to process his change.

"We… well… you've really changed, Issei." Murayama admitted as she smiled at him.

"Does this mean I'm no longer a pervert in your eyes?" Momonga joked in a hopeful tone.

"Well, you're still holding Asia here… and…" Murayama paused a little.

"Ophis... Don't worry about her. She is not human, and she is too strong for her own good. She can defend herself." Momonga waved off her concerns.

"Right. I am still not convinced that she is a Dragon God though…" Murayama confessed as she glanced at Ophis at his waist.

It was understandable. Ophis fit the Trope of an 'Overpowered Loli' like Rubedo Tabula made with the Caloric Stone… Well, a more adorable one, at least. She was still hugging his waist now, it was very awkward as the two girls were occasionally casting glances at Ophis every now and then.

"Yeah… I don't blame you." Momonga agreed as he felt her head snuggling onto his side.

"What about Asia? What do you plan to do with her?" Katase asked.

"I wanted to help enroll her in our school, but I am not sure how yet. I am trying to get the money needed and the papers for her admission." Momonga informed.

"Oh… that… is pretty selfless of you." Murayama admitted, taken back by Momonga's honesty.

"Haha, really? I just… can't bring myself to see her waste her future." Momonga rubbed his head sheepishly. "She needs a school and a family to look after her until the time comes, right?"

Murayama and Katase looked at him, amazed.

"Wow… Asia must be lucky to find someone like you…" Murayama murmured.

"Before or after I lost my memories?" Momonga joked.

"Well, definitely after… You will never come to the girls' locker room, right?" Katase interrogated.

Momonga smiled a little.

"Nah. Consider my status as a pervert revoked. I'm not the same person I was before." The two smiled in relief, but Murayama's face showed concern again the next second.

"Also, tell your idiot friends to never come into the locker rooms," Murayama added.

"That might be impossible even for me." Even without reading those idiots' minds, Momonga could tell that no matter what he did, they would still go and peep on them unless he resorted to Magic.

"Awww! Can't you use your Magic on them?!" Katase whined.

"No. I have decency, you know? I cannot help you with Motohama and Matsuda." Momonga shook his head.

He might have a Magic Item that could detect intruders, but it might not be able to tell the difference between perverts and decent people.

"Hah… Well, figures." Murayama placed a hand on her hip. "We'll consider your request. Though it won't be for free."

Murayama added, and Momonga could understand that.

"What should I pay you with?" Momonga asked. "Would you two be satisfied with real katanas? Or gold?"

Murayama and Katase froze at the mention.

"Wait, you can make them?" Murayama asked.

Her eyes bore an ignited flame, a passion burning for swords, perhaps. Momonga could tell by the way she was looking at him expectantly.

"A-Are they really Magic Swords? You're not kidding, right?" Katase asked, gulping a little.

They really seemed excited about having Magic Weapons.

"Yeah. I can make them right now, but it is too public doing it outdoors. Would you two rather have them now or later?" Momonga inquired.

"W-Wait! Let us think!" Murayama and Katase huddled again, whispering to each other.

Little did they know that he could hear every part of their conversation as if he was within their secret Chat Group.

"Alright, let's ask him." Murayama and Katase nodded as they broke off and smiled at him.

"Um, could we… have a chance to design our own swords?" Murayama asked.

Momonga was quite surprised when he eavesdropped their conversation on getting their own custom swords.

"I… hmmm. I've never made custom swords before, but I can try." Rubbing his chin, Momonga could consider this as a chance to practice the finer details of his Item Creation Spells.

The two smiled at him brightly. It was probably the best smile he received this moment since he took over Issei's shoes. He could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel Issei dug for himself.

"Alright! Then it is settled! We'll let you know when we're done with the designs!" Murayama giggled as she left with Katase, but stopped before taking their third step. "Oh, and… don't worry. We'll keep your secret! We promise we won't tell anyone."

Momonga hoped so. He might have to give them some Items to protect them from mental attacks or else he would mindwipe them beforehand. Either way, Momonga would consider this experiment a success for now. They seemed to take the information of the supernatural fairly well. The snuggling of Ophis stirred him from his thoughts as he looked down on her, seeing her looking back up at him. Momonga did not know what to do with her like this. She looked like a child in need of attention more than an Omnipotent Dragon God.

"Um… do you want to eat something?" Momonga asked.

"... Mmm."

"... Is that a 'yes' or a 'no'?" Momonga couldn't tell behind that stoic expression. Maybe he could ask Asia to try and be Ophis' friend.

Either way, Momonga must convince his parents to let the girl stay at his home for now… hopefully, they would be just as flexible with her like with Asia.

"... and that is all I saw." Koneko informed Rias in the clubroom lounge on the sofa, sipping her tea in one hand and holding a cookie in another.

She informed her all she could from her time spying on Hyōdō Issei, from school to the shopping district. Hyōdō unexpectedly had terribly acute senses, raw and untrained, but very sharp and dangerous if refined. She could not follow him back home because of the lack of cover, so she had to abandon the mission for now with what she learned so far. She couldn't hear most of what Issei said when speaking with the blonde nun as she had to stay farther from her target than usual.

Rias sat next to her in thought, one leg over the other, humming as she smiled with a cute, devious grin.

"Interesting. To think that Issei has a nun with him. Hmmmm…" Rias was musing to herself as always.

Koneko silently ate her cookie as she ruminated her thoughts on Issei.

Issei had a unique presence, someone that might be the person Rias was looking for to aid her to escape the arranged marriage with Raiser Phenex. The reason being was that Koneko couldn't appraise his presence no matter how much she squinted her efforts, and him being sensitive to her presence proved that he was somewhat special at the very least.

Not many humans could sense her concealed presence, after all.

"I think I can use her as a way of getting him… though I might have to wait for Sōna's attempt." Rias ruminated aloud.

Koneko stopped chewing when her mind drifted to Issei. Koneko remembered a strange reaction in her body when she laid eyes on him. According to rumors, Hyōdō Issei was nothing more than a mega pervert that deserved to burn at the stake with his two cohorts. However, when Koneko saw Issei, she didn't see a pervert… instead, she saw something like a caring older brother.

Issei must definitely be planning something.

Koneko was fully aware of the Perverted Trio and, from first glance, she knew that the three were rotten to the core. She was aware of all the dastardly attempts Issei and the rest of the Perverted Trio performed, having the gall to sneak into locker rooms to peek on the changing girls, stealing underwear from the lockers, or even try to obtain a vantage point to peep at them showering. Koneko remembered that one time when she saw Issei and the other two run out of the gym locker room, all having a red handprint on their cheeks.

Thus, Koneko was more concerned with Issei's behavior. What, in the name of Satan, happened to him? There was no way he could be reformed under such a short time. Koneko was very close to wanting to take the girl away from Issei for her safety if not for the fact that she seemed happy being around him.

"Koneko-chan." Rias called out, snapping Koneko out of her thoughts.

"... Yes, Buchō?" Koneko asked softly, finishing her cookie and her tea.

"What are your thoughts on the current Issei?" Rias asked on the matter of her target with a sweet smile.

Koneko hummed as she continued sipping her tea for a second.

"He is suspicious, I don't buy his act." Koneko was sure that the pervert was still the same, or somehow worse.

"See? Nice to hear you agree with me on that, Koneko-chan." Rias walked over to Koneko and patted her head.

Koneko closed her eyes, trying her best to resist Rias' hand ruffling her hair. While it felt pleasant, she did not like to indulge in the feeling as it came from her Neko side, something she wanted to repress.

"Now I know something has definitely happened to Issei… What could it be to turn a pervert into a gentleman like this?" Rias mused. "What do you think it might be, Koneko-chan?"

Koneko had one obvious answer.

"He is a sexual predator that must be exposed for his crimes." Koneko relentlessly concluded.

"Ara ara. That is a bit too harsh. Did you become a victim of his before?" Rias asked.

Koneko shook her head. If Koneko were to ponder on the source behind her animosity towards Issei… it would be because of how weird it was to see a member of the Perverted Trio catering the needs of a seemingly harmless girl. There was some other reason but she could not tell why… the way Issei kept feeding her and treating her did not sit well with her for some reason.

"No… Buchō, I want to keep spying on him," Koneko requested.

Rias looked surprised when she turned her head her way with determination.

"Ara ara. May I know why my cute junior wants to?"

"I… want to make sure the girl is safe from pervert hands." Koneko reasoned.

Rias contemplated her request for a moment.

"Hmmm. Alright. Be sure to inform me of what you've learned, alright?" Koneko nodded.

Throughout the class, from morning to afternoon, 'Issei' laid his face down on the desk, his eyes so drained of life that he almost looked dead. He had remained in this stare during the lecture, which concerned the students around Issei and soon the math teacher as well.

"Oi. Issei." Matsuda called out as he poked Momonga's shoulder.

The depressed corpse did not respond.

"H-Hey, you alright?" Motoyama waved his hands up and down before Momonga's amber eyes.

"Ugggh…" They only elicited a groan.

At least they got something out of him.

"Yo, dude. What happened?" The Perverted Duo was now curious about what rendered Issei into this state.

"Mr. Hyōdō, are you unwell?" The math teacher asked.

"Ugggh…"

"Wow." Kiryu whistled at the sight as she hunched forward to get a better look at the amnesiac. "You look like a zombie. Were you up all night this morning?"

"Uuuugh-huh." Momonga lied in grunts.

The source of Momonga's exhaustion derived not from surviving his studies for an entire night, but from yesterday once the mental fatigue of dealing with a Surprise Dragon God at his doorstep caught up with him - and the two happy parents that found Ophis precious enough to hug. He still couldn't believe that they bought his lie about her being a girl lost and abandoned in the streets.

Said girl was slithering under his clothes in the form of a small snake. There were many words that came to Momonga's mind but he couldn't voice them out to Ophis vocally or mentally.

"Dude, get some sleep. You're gonna become one of the living dead at this rate."

'You are part-right.' Momonga quipped.

The rest of the class started giggling at 'Issei's' poor lifestyle.

"Coffee… can fix it." Momonga rebuked.

"There's a limit to how much fatigue caffeine can stave off, Mr. Hyōdō. However, since you're finally awake, would you care to tell us the solution to the formula..."

"Six."

"That is correct… Excuse me, could you repeat that again?" The teacher asked, adjusting his glasses as he blinked his assumed drowsiness away.

"Six. The answer is six." The answer was correct, but the teacher just introduced a new lesson in mathematics, yet Issei of all people managed to solve it while rotting on his desk in what he assumed was either insomnia or depression.

Maybe both.

However, the truth was something else. It was a special Devil Skill he obtained called [Numbercraft], something he got from Diodora. This Skill simply aids the calculation of arithmetics, which was helping him a lot in his math studies. It even helped him organize his thoughts better to a significant degree, something he hoped to improve.

"Would you kindly take over and explain to the class how you managed to find the solution?"

"No." Momonga did not feel like grabbing attention, nor did he want any.

"Would you rather have detention?" The teacher threatened.

"Ugh…" Momonga, now forced to take action, slid off his desk and fell to the floor as he slowly rose to his feet in shambles.

His actions stunned the teacher. The former member of the Perverted Trio was even walking like one of the living dead.

"Actually, never mind. Return to your seat. We can find someone else. Motoyama, would you take over?"

"Wait, what?"

"Splendid. Please come up to the board." With cold, calculated brutality, the math teacher cut off his victim's escape route.

The comedy made Momonga chuckle as he shambled back to his seat, slithering onto the desk like a lazy slug. Upon slamming his head face down, burying it in his arms, Momonga smiled in secret as he struggled to contain his laughter from sacrificing Motoyama in his stead.

After class finished, Momonga left the room and got ready to head home. Murayama and Katase still haven't finished with the design for their swords yet, though they promised to start sword lessons in the evening.

Frankly, Momonga was slightly excited. He was finally going to learn some swordsmanship from a senior practitioner. It was quite tiring mimicking the practice swings of others while worrying if he did something wrong. His Death Knights… He refused to deal with them until eventually.

As Momonga left the room and entered the hallway, he saw a certain girl walking towards him. No, she looked more like a young woman judging from her regal gait. She was bespectacled, her glasses semi-rimmed with square lenses, had long straight black hair extending to her knees, her bangs split around her forehead above her heterochromatic eyes, her left violet and right brown.

The way she looked reminded Momonga of the way Yuri Alpha looked back in Nazarick, now that he thought about it, a cool glasses beauty.

"Mr. Hyōdō?" She asked.

Momonga blinked for a moment as he looked left and right, seeing the students in the hallway whispering amongst themselves.

"Hey, that's Vice-President Tsubaki."

"He's talking to that guy of the Perverted Trio."

"Is she calling him about the Kendo Club incident?"

Momonga thanked them for the exposition, but that did not explain why she was asking for him out of all people.

"Um, yes?" Momonga asked, pointing at himself.

While he donned a clueless facade, actually he was clueless, he silently cast [Mana Essence] to check his suspicions. He nearly grimaced when he saw the girl's high MP Bar hovering overhead.

She was a Devil for sure, and her presence did not inspire confidence. Did the Devils see through his true nature? Did Momonga slip up? Either way, Momonga had gathered the Devils' attention, so he must confirm their motives.

"President Sōna would like to see you in her office. Please follow me as I bring you to her."

Momonga smiled awkwardly, trying his best to quell his growing anxiety.

"...Alright"

'Stay calm. You have Ophis hiding under your shirt in case things go wrong.' Momonga reminded himself in his head. In the worst-case scenario, Momonga could simply cast [Time Stop], kill them within the spell's duration, and flee the scene after leaving no evidence. If they were somehow resistant to Time Magic, then Momonga could simply cast [Silent Magic: Death] at them. After that, Momonga could bring the bodies back to base, revive them, then rewrite their memories before throwing them back to their offices safe and sound stave off the attention.

He was sure that they had no resistance to Instant Death and Time Magic from his conversation with the Three Idiots.

As he followed her, he attracted some eyes from the other students, both his juniors and seniors. They were mostly commenting on Tsubaki's beauty and how graceful she looked, which Momonga did not deny that she had a unique charm even though it was from her devil side. As for him, mostly negative comments from the girls while some remarks of envy from the boys.

Momonga sighed as they went upstairs, already resigned to their treatment.

When they arrived at an ornate door of mahogany, Tsubaki lightly knocked on the door three times.

"President Sōna, I have brought the person you've asked for." Momonga paused as he took a deep breath.

This was his first time interacting with a Devil up close. Diodora was more of... unwanted encounter, so he did not count.

"Come on in, Tsubaki."

The door opened inwards, revealing a sole girl behind a mahogany desk. It was the first time Momonga saw the Student Council President like this face to face, and the rumors did not exaggerate on her being a serene beauty. The tales didn't mention, however, that the girl across him held considerably higher MP and HP Bars than some of the hidden Devils he caught by chance.

Not only that, the way Sōna stared into his eyes with her scrutinizing gaze was unsettling. It was like she was trying to infiltrate his mind and find every secret hidden there. She pushed up her glasses as she inspected him from head to toe.

"Hmmm, Mr. Hyōdō." The girl Momonga learned as Sōna called. "Would you please have a seat?"

Momonga couldn't help but gulp a little. For some reason, it felt his boss called him for something he did wrong back home. Reluctantly, Momonga walked to the chair and took his seat.

"Alright… may I ask why I am called here?" Issei asked. "Did I do something wrong?"

"Oh, no. I have brought you here for questioning regarding your mental health." Sōna replied.

"Mental health? Like?"

"You have undergone a drastic change recently. Lately, the female student body had requested me to evaluate your current state mostly to confirm whether your perverted tyranny had truly ended."

'Ahhhhh…' It was always from the female students.

"…I see..."

He slowly slumped his shoulders, sighing, wondering when the bias would end. Sōna calmly pushed up her glasses.

"Are you alright, Mr. Hyōdō?" Sōna asked.

"I am… in good health." Momonga worded. "Just not happy to hear the reason."

"Oh. So you are shameful of your past misdeeds?" Sōna asked.

"... in a sense." Momonga made a mental note to strangle Issei if he saw the pervert in heaven… or Hell, in case he got the chance to enter either realm.

"Interesting." Sōna mused to herself.

"What are you planning to do?" Momonga asked. He wasn't sure if he should try and bait some information out of Sōna, but that only worked if she was aware of his knowledge of the supernatural. Momonga would have to bide his time until developing relations sparked an opportunity at least.

"If you are worried about expulsion or mandatory check-ups, worry not." Sōna snapped her finger as Tsubaki nodded.

Momonga looked at the other bespectacled beauty, watching her take something out of a glass-door cabinet… Was that a chessboard? Punitto Moe introduced that to him in YGGDRASIL before. Tsubaki calmly returned to Sōna's desk, placing the chessboard on it before putting the black and white chess pieces on each side.

"Forgive me if I am direct, but do you perhaps play chess by any chance?" Sōna asked.

Never.

"No." Momonga slowly shook his head as he stared at the chessboard with nervousness. Judging by how Sōna looked, Momonga had the impression that Sōna was a bona fide chess master. "Do you play Chess by any chance?"

Momonga asked back.

"Hmm, I do. Frequently with my close associates, in fact." Sōna answered.

"Then, I am afraid that my skills will not live up to your liking." Momonga did not want to play for two reasons.

One, he preferred not to embarrass himself in front of a girl. Two, Punitto Moe once stated that true chess masters could decipher the other's mentality with one game, and the fact that Sōna was a Devil made her fall into that category, or at least Momonga assumed so. He absolutely had no chance against an actual intellectual, and she fit the role visually and academically since she is a student council president.

"Nonsense. Contrary to my appearance, I do not discriminate. Besides, it is a private pleasure of mine to tutor others, especially in Chess," Sōna replied.

'Crap.' Sōna cut off every one of his escape routes. Now he had no choice but to play as she strips him naked in Chess.

"Mind if I ask why the invitation?" Momonga asked.

"Hmm, mostly to pass the time as we talk. And it helps me understand others better." Sōna answered.

The Chess Board was prepared, all the pieces from pawn to rook on the board.

"Now, shall we play?" Sōna asked.

No. Momonga didn't want to.

Issei did not live up to his infamy, now that Sōna appraised him up close.

The sexual predator was nowhere, only a very depressed soul undergoing a period of shame. The myth that the members of the Perverted Trio would undress every female student with their eyes at first chance was now in question since one member was more engrossed in the chess table instead of wracking his brain.

"Care to share your thoughts?" Sōna asked as she moved a piece.

"Thoughts such as?" Issei asked as he reached out for a piece, but withdrew his hand a second later.

So he was the kind to second-guess himself, susceptible to paranoia.

"Are you fond of your reputation?" Sōna asked.

"If by reputation, the ridiculous image of me as a pervert, then no." Issei immediately answered.

"Do you regret being a pervert?" Sōna asked as Issei moved a Pawn.

"... You can say that." Issei frowned at Sōna's answer.

It would seem Sōna had touched a sensitive spot. She moved her Knight next as she replied.

"I apologize if I am intruding. I am merely asking them at the request of the female student body." It was a half-lie.

The number of girls requesting this investigation was around twenty.

"I am not surprised, but it still hurts to hear it." Issei sighed as his hands hovered over his pieces in thought.

Sōna could understand Issei's hesitation. Even professionals would fall before her on the chessboard within Devil society, although suitors would be more appropriate in this scenario. She smiled a little when seeing Issei torment himself as his skin started to perspire as he planned his next move. She felt like a predator playing with her food a little, picking on a tyro just to glean information out of her prey.

"Hmm, no. Are you planning on enrolling in a club, by any chance?" Sōna asked as she moved another Pawn, deciding that now might be the best chance to set up a meeting between him and Rias.

"A Club…" Issei mused before shaking his head. "I am pretty busy these days…"

Issei decided to move another Pawn.

"Hmm, what dilemma is troubling you? Other than enduring the delayed shame of past actions?" Sōna moved her Knight next.

"Hah hah. Your humor is amusing." Issei dryly rolled his eyes. "I am concerned with my studies mostly, among other things."

Issei moved his bishop next. The way he placed his Bishop in a gap between the pawns told Sōna much about his desire to be prepared.

"Academic studies, correct? May I ask why you're taking such an interest in it right now?" She asked as she moved her other Knight.

"I am… just worried about my future." Issei moved another pawn forward.

"I can understand that. Do you want a recommendation for a tutor?" Sōna asked as she moved her other pawn.

Issei paused in contemplation upon her suggestion.

"... Why are you offering?" Issei asked.

"Hmmm, psychological profiling. I am trying to see if you're as bad as the girls say."

"Ahhh…" Issei moved another pawn. "I see… what do you think of me?"

"You do not live up to your reputation up close." Sōna moved another Pawn. "You also look like you were victimized by someone every time I brought up your reputation."

Issei averted his eyes, avoiding eye contact.

"You can say… that my life has been unfair as of late."

"So are you interested in having a tutor? There is one I know in a club that can help you." Sōna asked, finding this an opportunity to send Issei to Rias.

"I find your insistence a bit suspicious…" Issei noted as he moved his Knight out of caution for Sōna's invasion.

"Is there a reason for that?" Sōna asked.

"A Student Council President is delivering an offer in person. Is that not suspicious enough?" Issei asked.

"Fair." Sōna understood that point as she smiled a little.

The candidate possessed a level of awareness she could not help but find promising.

"Would you allow me to recommend a name at least?"

"... Who are you advocating?" Issei asked.

"Rias Gremory. One of the two Beauty Queens of our Academy."

"Gremory?" Issei looked up at her upon hearing that name.

Rias' name drew out more reaction than Sōna expected, but Sōna could understand. After all, Rias, someone beyond Issei's league, was offering her assistance to a random face in the crowd.

"Yes, I understand." Sōna nodded as she moved another chess piece.

"... Understand what?" Issei asked.

Sōna caught his fingers curling up, mostly out of nervousness. He was slowly raising his hand up as his palm was about to face her.

"Me recommending Rias. While I understand your surprise, she would be glad to assist you should you request her." Issei blinked three times at her.

Mostly confused and in disbelief, she believed.

"Is that so?" Issei's hand then reached out and moved another chess piece.

"Well?" Sōna asked, moving her piece. "Will you take it?"

If Issei was a sane man, there was no way that he wouldn't-

"It looks promising but I don't think someone like her has time for a fool like me." This time, Sōna perked her head as she looked at him.

The claims of Issei's loss of libido was starting to hold more merit than Sōna would've liked.

"Really? You wouldn't take the chance to be tutored by one of the most beautiful girls in school?" Sōna asked as she moved her piece.

"It is because she is that popular that I find it hard to believe." Issei mentioned.

Sōna started to find her lips curling up to a smile. While his skills in chess were subpar, his skill in dialogue seemed to rival hers in chess.

Issei formed a very tight barrier with his chess pieces like a turtle hiding behind its shell, waiting for Sōna to whittle her forces away. So Issei would resort to absolute defense in the face of a powerful foe or something? It was a while since Sōna faced that form of tactic since most of her opponents were confident in the offensive. Even for her, this was an annoying tactic to deal with, but she might be able to break him out of his shell and go for the king.

"My, your formation is quite tight. Are you desperate or cautious against me?" Sōna teased.

This formation also revealed how insecure Issei was.

"Um, maybe a bit of both. Bluntly put, I am a 'noob' facing off against a pro. The noob always gets wrecked in this situation." Issei retorted with casual slang.

"Hmmm, that is true." Sōna admitted. "Although it isn't manly to cower in the face of a girl."

"Gender means nothing in this game." Issei defended.

"Kuh." Sōna stifled a laugh at his childish defense.

"A correct statement. After all, many males would belittle me because of my gender." She smiled as she began her siege against Issei's castle.

"I take it that they did not take their losses lightly?" Issei asked as he tried to block Sōna's assault.

"How can you tell?" Sōna asked with a smile as she started to pick his units apart while he hers in retaliation.

"I guessed. And you have an obvious fondness for the classic game… crap, my Rook." Issei was starting to get pressured as he tried to defend against Sōna's assault.

"I'm going to take your King in five… no, six moves."

"Would you surrender if I make it eight?" Issei's asked as he tried to counter her formation, getting more engrossed into the game as he took vigilance.

Sōna smiled as she picked off his bishop and his knight at the cost of her rook, and bishop, and Queen.

"Funny. I might consider it if you manage to checkmate me." Sōna said as she rethought her assault.

Sōna watched as Issei started to disband his turtle formation to go on the offensive. The boy was attempting to fight her on her terms, a courageous move, she thought. Did he see an opportunity to turn the tables?

"Are you trying to boost my confidence? Or lying to me so that I might slip on my toes?" Issei asked as he started to counter her formation.

"Hmmm. I never thought about such subtle subterfuge. I should try that."

"... You should." In truth, she was complimenting him.

Unlike her usual opponents, Issei was quite aware of his flaws to a fault, it seemed considering how tightly he locked his King up behind his other pieces. Verbal sabotage, on the other hand, wasn't a tactic Sōna would usually consider since her skill was more than enough to defeat her foes, so much that she had forgotten that it existed. It wasn't something one would see in Noble society, anyways.

"Let's see, do you wish to make a bet?" Sōna asked, starting to have fun chatting with the boy across her.

He proved to surpass his reputation, someone that she might enjoy a conversation with. His way with words and mannerism made him more… high-class than the male Noble Devil suitors she crushed.

"You're suggesting a wager? In a game you are obviously adept in?" Issei asked.

An obvious point. Ever since Issei entered the room, he looked at her and Tsubaki like an animal treading softly in a predator's den. Was he aware of their true Nature?

"I can see the unfairness of this proposition. To make it fair, how about this? If I checkmate you, you must come up here tomorrow to share a cup of tea with me. How about that?" Sōna offered.

Sōna wondered if she should explain what they were to Issei as friendly as she could. She was considering whether she should invite Rias for a chance to explain herself before Issei at the very least… but for some reason, she found a part of herself not wanting to include Rias.

"That seems like something I would definitely refuse even for a cup of tea." Issei joked.

"Hmmm, as a 'newbie' as you call yourself, though the more sophisticated term is tyro, I will give you the opportunity to formulate your desire, one within reason that is, if you manage to survive the next… four turns," she replied.

Issei raised a brow at her offer.

"Hoh… a fair, tempting chance…" This way, Issei would heavily reconsider refusing.

"Will you accept? It is a feat someone of your level can handle." Sōna asked, challenging Issei's pride.

Sōna was starting to feel something warm bubbling alongside a tinge of excitement inside her. She chalked it up to having fun.

"... It would be dull to not take it, but…"

"So take it. What is stopping you?" Sōna asked as she cut off all of his escape routes.

"There is not enough incentive. The term 'desire' isn't vague enough for me to accept and your confidence does not inspire me to accept." Issei replied.

"Oh, I might be a Chess Master, but I am not without limits in my actions."

"Even against a tyro like me?" Issei joked.

"Is that a dare I am sensing?" Sōna asked with a smile.

"What would you do if I say yes?" Issei asked.

"Make it two turns and I will consider it."

"Three turns or I will destroy you so badly that you will return as an existential crisis victim." Sōna refused to let the newbie have the high ground in this parley, especially when she was… wait, something was wrong.

Upon inspecting the chess board again, she saw that Issei was down to four Pawns, a Rook, two Bishops, a Knight, and a Queen alongside his King.

Sōna still had her two Knights, a Bishop, a Rook, two Pawns, and her King. She looked at her pieces again. Wait, was she losing?

"Then I will accept your terms as soon as I finish you off." Issei said as he moved his pieces.

What went wrong? This wasn't like her to be on the losing end like this. She had more pieces the last time she recounted. Was she that engrossed in her conversation that she lost notice of the current state?

She swiftly calmed herself down as she tried to salvage what she had to defeat the man before her. However, Issei had checked her in two turns with his overwhelming pieces.

How did this happen? Sōna did not know, but she was sure that something was off… Did he cheat? No, she could not sense any foul play as far as she knew.

All she could do was sigh as she leaned back against her chair. Yet, she could not help but smile a bit at this sudden peripeteia.

She had lost… in her own game. Her attempt to trap him somehow lead to her downfall. Either way, whether he had cheated or not, Sōna couldn't help but feel… cathartic for some reason. It made her recall one thing.

When was the last time she lost at chess? And it wasn't by her opponent completely, but mostly her arrogance.

"Fine. you have won."

Yet Sōna couldn't help but smile from the feeling her loss brought.

[Aura of Submission V] - This Passive Skill is specifically designed to affect anyone around the user and subtly influence their perception of the user while guiding them towards the position of submission to him. In the case of fertile females that the user subconsciously finds attractive, it also influences them to lust, affection and even love towards him over time and its Effect can be boosted and even bottled-up and then unleashed for greater results. Cannot be perceived nor can it be noticed, can be resisted by strong enough males but the more compatible females are with the user the more efficient it becomes. As a secondary Effect, it also boosts the positive feelings someone has towards him along with its influence shifting depending on the user's state.

As for concerns from the Review, I will have you all know that Momonga will NEVER enter Rias' peerage despite your worries and concern :/. Interaction, maybe, but join? No.

Another thing, for those complaining about OOCness, Momonga is not in the New World playing the Overlord and the Villain, he has room to be more himself. So excuse me for trying to make him casual in a somewhat carefree environment. I did edit the part with Sōna again though. The question is, what do you think happened? :3

There is one spell that could freeze someone in time, a singular person that is.