24 - My First Servant

My hands almost instinctively moved toward Rias' breasts, so I could feel a bare breast for the first time in my life. However, I restrained myself and touched her forehead lightly with my fingertip, waking her up.

Her eyes opened so slowly that I felt my heart pound as they opened.

A mischievous gleam appeared in her blue irises when Rias saw my face so close to hers. A teasing smile curved her lips.

"Good morning, sleepyhead." She pressed her body more firmly against mine, her bare breasts brushing my skin tantalizingly. "You were watching me sleep, weren't you? I hope you at least dreamed about me."

Although I felt the blood rushing to my head, I tried not to look nervous.

"Good morning, Rias-san. How... how did I end up here?"

Before she could answer, I felt a movement to my right.

Asia stirred, her small hands clenching lightly around my forearm. Her eyes opened slowly, and she blinked a few times before realizing where she was as well. A huge blush spread across her cheeks when she saw how close the three of us were in that bed.

"Leonard-kun, what... what's going on?" Asia asked, her voice trembling as Rias sat up slightly and revealed her breasts. "Rias-san, are you naked?!"

Rias smiled and scratched the back of her neck. "I got a little hot during the night, so I took off all my clothes. Yawn~!" She said and stretched, winking at me and Asia with one eye. "Besides, Asia-chan, remember what I said? Devils like me and Leonard-kun can heal each other through the mana we share if we sleep together naked."

Asia blushed. "Yes, I remember you saying that. But..."

"But?" Rias tilted her head vertically.

"I had already healed Leonard-kun before we lay down!" Asia exclaimed with her eyes squeezed shut and also holding the sheet as tightly as she could.

"Oops." Rias put a hand over her mouth. "I think I forgot about that..."

"Wait, what's going on here? How did we get here? And why is Asia in my house?" I finally asked, interrupting the whole scene.

Rias adjusted herself, sitting on the edge of the bed with the sheet wrapped around her body. "After we defeated that exorcist, you fainted. Probably from exhaustion, but also because those shots almost killed you... Asia-chan was very worried about you and didn't accept Koneko's invitation to sleep at his house. She chose to spend the night here with you."

"Asia-san, you know we're demons and yet..."

Asia brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and interrupted me. "I d-didn't want to stay in that church any longer. Especially after what happened, and I wanted to be with you when you woke up to thank you for saving my life."

"Saved your life? You were the one who saved mine back then, when you put yourself between me and that Freed."

Asia pressed her fingers together as if to deny it and shook her head. "You put your body in front of the bullets! I... I never thought anyone could do something like that for me."

"I did what—"

"Khum!" Rias cleared her throat to get our attention.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I need to tell Leonard-kun everything we talked about, Asia-chan. Do you mind?"

The blonde girl immediately shook her head, which made Rias smile.

"Leonard-kun, I explained to her what the risks were of walking with us, talking to us, and treating us as equals... If she's lucky, she might not be burned in one of the bizarre ceremonies I've heard about involving the Church, but one thing I'm sure of is that she'll never have what you have. Having someone from the Church fraternizing with devils will never be accepted by them. That's why I offered her to become your [Bishop], and she accepted so she could stay by your side, Leo."

I looked at Asia and asked,

"You... are you leaving the church? Because of me?"

"Actually, Leonard-kun, the moment I saw what Father Freed did yesterday and heard the things he said to me, I had already made up my mind. I love God, but I can no longer collaborate with people who kill innocent people without remorse. When Rias made me the proposal and said that I could try to make it up to you, I felt in my heart that I was ready to no longer follow this path. In Kuoh, maybe I can finally have friends. Even if they are devils, it's okay because you guys aren't bad."

"Asia is now about to become a devil like you and me," Rias stated, standing up with her hands on her hips.

I looked at Asia, understanding the weight of the decision she had made, and realized that despite everything, Asia seemed calm about her decision. Still, I needed to confirm it.

"Asia-chan, are you really okay with this?" I asked, sitting down on the bed.

She offered me a reassuring smile. "Yes, Leo-kun! I don't think God is angry with me; otherwise, my heart would have exploded already." Asia placed one hand on her chest, vividly imagining the scene.

I laughed at her way of seeing things. "I don't think it works like that, Asia-chan."

"You never know!"

"I think it would actually be more like a flash of light," Rias said, with one hand on her chin.

Asia put both hands on her forehead, again imagining the scene with a frightened expression.

Rias and I exchanged glances and started laughing at Asia's innocent manner.

With the outcome of the previous night explained, Rias told me that she would deliver my other items later to the Occult Research Club room so that I could officially make Asia my servant.