[Motohama's POV]
The crimson wine pouring into the glass made me realize this was the same liquid that had painted the carpet earlier.
I watched it fill up, settling just below the rim as woman held the bottle with surprising grace for someone who'd apparently struggled with the cork twenty minutes ago. Her hand moved with the confidence of someone accustomed to formal meetings and business negotiations, the kind of confidence that came from holding a position like Chief Secretary of Grigori.
The bottle clinked softly against the glass rim as she finished pouring, setting it down on the table between us with deliberate care. She tilted her head slightly, orange eyes fixed on me through those glasses, and I felt her gaze like she knew everything about me already.
"Would you care for a pour as well, Motohama-san?" She asked
I shifted my gaze from the wine glass to her, taking in the full picture that greeted me across the table.
She sat with one leg crossed elegantly over the other, posture immaculate despite the casual setting, and the black nightgown she wore left very little to the imagination about why this world probably had a hard time taking negotiations seriously. The tempting dress clung in all the correct places, and I made a conscious effort to keep my eyes on her face.
My brain helpfully reminded me that this was a business meeting, even if the dress code suggested otherwise, and staring would probably complicate the already weird situation I'd walked into.
What a great way to start this meeting.
"I don't drink" I responded.
GLUG.
She took a measured sip from her glass, savoring it with the appreciation that suggested she actually understood wine beyond its alcohol content, then set it down with a soft clink.
"And here I thought you would enjoy some nice wine after catching a good look of my beautiful body?" The playful lilt in her voice made it clear she'd noticed exactly where my eyes had briefly wandered, and the slight smirk tugging at her lips suggested she found my discomfort amusing rather than offensive.
I released a sigh that probably communicated my entire emotional state in one breath.
"I didn't intend to" I replied, rubbing the back of my neck "I thought the representative probably got killed, but it turned out you just don't know how to open a bottle of wine properly"
She laughed, the sound surprisingly genuine and warm for someone who probably dealt with fallen angel politics on a daily basis.
"Can you blame me?" She adjusted her glasses "I received a call from my leader at the same time I was attempting to open it. That man has absolutely no sense of timing in his life, no wonder he never got married"
Says the woman who's also unmarried, but pointing that out seems like a quick way to end this meeting prematurely.
I kept that observation to myself, wisely choosing survival over witty comebacks.
She shifted in her chair, recrossing her legs that drew the eye despite my best efforts, and her expression transitioned from playful to something more businesslike. She reached for her wine glass again, twirling it slowly as it gave her a moment to collect her thoughts before diving into whatever actual purpose had brought me here.
Then she paused and blinked, looking at me with a chuckle.
"How rude of me. I haven't even properly introduced myself"
I know exactly who you are, Benemune aka Penemue, Chief Secretary of Grigori, one of the fallen angel Cadres, cast out for sleeping with a human which honestly makes this whole nightgown situation kind of on-brand for you.
The thought flickered through my mind, but I maintained my expression of polite interest, letting her proceed with the introduction as if I didn't have knowledge of every major individuals in this world.
"I am Benemune" she stated, inclining her head slightly in what might have been a formal bow if she'd been standing "Chief Secretary of the Grigori and Cadre among the Fallen Angels. I serve as one of Governor-General Azazel's primary administrators and representatives in matters concerning our organization's external relations"
I nodded, accepting the introduction with appropriate gesture.
"Sato Motohama" I responded simply, keeping it casual to contrast with her formality "Just a human, who is currently allied with Sitri and Gremory family in this territory"
CLINK.
The wine glass met the table again as Benemune set it down, her orange eyes studying me with renewed interest.
"Before we proceed with the primary purpose of this meeting, I must extend formal apologies on behalf of the Grigori" she said.
I leaned back slightly in my chair, waiting for the elaboration.
"The incident at the church, and the actions undertaken by those fallen angels, were not driven by orders from our organization" she continued, watching my reaction carefully "Their behavior was unsanctioned, unauthorized, and contrary to the Governor-General's explicit directives regarding interaction with Sacred Gear users in this territory"
Knowing Azazel, I'm fully sure she's telling the truth. If that research-obsessed maniac was really after Issei's Sacred Gear, he would've taken Vali's as well, and with someone of his power, it wouldn't have been a tough job. The fact that he sent low-level goons instead of handling it personally tells me everything I need to know about how unofficial that whole operation was.
The logic checked out, at least from what I understood about Azazel's character.
"Kalawarner already told me the truth" I replied, keeping my words neutral and straightforward "So there's no room for apologies anymore, Benemune-san"
Her eyebrows rose momentarily, surprise flickering across her features before being replaced by something that looked suspiciously like a smirk.
SWOOSH.
She leaned forward slightly, interest clearly piqued by this revelation.
"I am quite curious what method you employed, Motohama-kun, to make her divulge such secrets with such thoroughness" she said, her tone dropping into something more conversational and slightly mischievous "You're not into all that torture methodology, are you?"
I reached for my water glass, mimicking her earlier gesture with the wine, and took a moment to consider my response.
The liquid swirled as I moved it in small circles, buying myself thinking time, and I made deliberate eye contact before answering. This felt like one of those moments where honesty would serve me better than any clever deflection, especially if I wanted to establish the working relationship that didn't involve constant suspicion and second-guessing.
"Trust" I stated simply, looking directly into those orange eyes "It's all that was required for her to disclose the details of her mission. I ensured she felt comfortable around me, built that foundation carefully, and luckily, we didn't disappoint each other"
I finished the water and set the empty glass on the table with a soft thunk, maintaining eye contact.
"Your apologies have been accepted" I added, standing up slightly as if preparing to leave "Can I go now?"
Benemune seemed to snap out of whatever contemplative state my answer had put her in, blinking once before her professional mask reasserted itself.
"I wasn't present solely to extend apologies, Motohama kun" she said quickly, gesturing for me to remain seated with a subtle hand motion.
I raised an eyebrow, settling back into my chair, and motioned for her to continue.
RUSTLE.
She adjusted her position, and I tried very hard to focus on her face and not the nightgown's continued challenge to test my temptations.
"One of our Cadres is currently situated in Kuoh Town..." she stated, her tone losing all traces of playfulness and settling into something grimly serious "And according to our intelligence, he harbors intentions to initiate another war"
No way. Kokabiel is already here?!
The shock must have shown on my face despite my best efforts, because Benemune's expression flickered with something that might have been sympathy. My mind raced through the implications, timeline calculations, and the sheer catastrophic potential of a warmongering Cadre operating in the same town where I was trying to survive long enough to maybe not die horribly. This was supposed to be later in the timeline, or at least I'd thought I had more preparation time before the Excalibur arc kicked off.
She continued, apparently mistaking my silence for processing rather than internal panic.
"This particular individual has stolen three of the seven Excalibur fragments from the Church" she elaborated "The theft was conducted a few days ago, it seems significant planning and resources were devoted to the operation"
First Hero Faction, now Kokabiel. Who's next on the 'ruin Motohama's peaceful life' roster, Rizevim himself?
I felt my expression lock into what I hoped was thoughtful contemplation rather than the barely contained 'are you kidding me' that wanted to emerge out of me.
Benemune must have noticed my silence stretching too long, because she raised a hand in a comforting gesture.
"You need not to concern yourself excessively with this development, however" she assured me, though her tone suggested even she didn't entirely believe the comfort she was offering "As far as I comprehend that individual's motivations, he most likely orchestrated this theft to provoke conflict with the Angels. And I am confident their leaders will dispatch high-ranking exorcists to retrieve the Excaliburs"
Ah, another member joins the delusion club. If those two are considered high rank exorcists, then I am probably a Satan Class.
"Shouldn't you be conveying this information to the Devils?" I asked, genuinely curious about why I was receiving this particular briefing "Why are you disclosing all these details to me when I have absolutely nothing to do with that Cadre?"
A smirk spread across Benemune's face that suggested she'd been waiting for exactly that question.
"Does the name Freed Sellzen resonate with any recognition?" she asked, her tone suggesting she already knew the answer.
"Yes?" I responded, though it came out more question than confirmation.
"He was one of Kokabiel's subordinates" she stated matter-of-factly, leaning back in her chair "And Kokabiel is aware of the fact you killed him, along with the other fallen angels"
My eyebrow rose, but I consciously suppressed any outward display of fear or concern.
Benemune studied my lack of reaction with visible intrigue, her orange eyes narrowing slightly behind those glasses as if trying to decode whether I was giving a damn about this revelation or not.
"So you're informing me that a Cadre might target me because I eliminated one of his subordinates who attempted to kill me first?"
GLUG.
She finished the remainder of her wine in one smooth motion, draining the glass completely before setting it down with a satisfying smile.
"No, I don't believe that outcome is likely" she replied, though something in her expression suggested there was a 'but' coming "However, should that scenario manifest, you must be adequately prepared for it"
Great. So now I have to factor in 'avoid warmongering Cadre' into my already extensive survival checklist. This reincarnation gig really doesn't come with enough benefits to justify all these antagonists coming from nowhere.
I tried to rise from my chair, hoping desperately that this meeting had finally reached its conclusion and I could return to my late-night potion brewing sessions with Kalawarner, but Benemune was apparently far from finished.
WHOOSH.
She moved with surprising speed for someone who'd been casually sipping wine moments ago.
"Motohama-san," she began, her voice taking on a different quality that made me pause mid-stand. "Aren't you going to introduce me to those vials you're carrying earlier?"
I sank back down, attempting to deflect with practiced casualness.
"They're just normal beverages that I happen to enjoy, Benemune san" I offered, knowing even as the words left my mouth how unconvincing they sounded.
I really wish I'd had a choice other than consuming the Gravebloom Restoration potion to counteract Hell Claw Surge's after-effects while she was positioned right beside me observing everything. The escape from it apparently died somewhere between the blood-wine carpet and this interrogation.
Benemune's smirk turned into something more knowing, more playful. She adjusted her glasses with one finger, as she looked me in the eyes.
"You need not fabricate stories for keeping it a secret" she said smoothly, her tone suggesting she found my attempts at deception more amusing than offensive "I am fully cognizant of the fact that you manufacture your potions independently, with assistance from your newly acquired fallen angel companion. I've been maintaining surveillance on your activities for quite some time now"
You know what, I am not even going to ask why she was stalking me. I don't have energy to dive into all that.
It was inevitable that this would be revealed eventually. There's no utility in excessive concern if she already possesses the knowledge. As long as she remains ignorant regarding the gacha system, the situation remains manageable for me.
I made a split-second decision to pivot from denial to negotiation.
"What does Grigori have to offer?" I asked directly, meeting her gaze without flinching "You're not expecting to acquire them without appropriate compensation, are you?"
She paused, and then after a moment she laughed with genuine amusement.
"Of course not" she replied, her smirk widening "I wouldn't insult your intelligence with such presumptions"
She leaned forward, and I made a heroic effort to maintain eye contact rather than acknowledge the very deliberate display of cleavage that accompanied the movement. The nightgown was doing exactly what it was designed to and I refused to give her the satisfaction of knowing it was working. It shifted as she settled into position, clearly enjoying my internal struggle.
"How about this proposition" she said, raising her finger "If I determine the potions' authenticity to be verified and satisfactory, then I can arrange for artificial sacred gears to be provided to you"
"Artificial sacred gears?" I echoed, keeping my tone carefully curious despite knowing exactly what she was referencing.
She nodded, apparently accepting my ignorance at face value.
"Grigori has achieved success in creating them after conducting countless research studies on Sacred Gear mechanics and applications" she explained, falling into what sounded like a sure acceptable pitch "While they are demonstrably inferior to naturally occurring Sacred Gears, they can prove quite advantageous in serious combat situations"
I considered the offer, weighing the implications.
At first, I wanted to avoid Azazel, not because that man was inherently malicious, but because his obsession with creation and research was disturbingly troublesome to navigate. But now that the dangers are escalating to levels too significant to dismiss, I can't help but acknowledge the necessity of this alliance. Not just for myself, but for my teammates. As a leader, even an unwilling one, I need to consider their survival alongside my own.
I nodded slowly, coming to a decision.
"I agree to your proposition, Benemune-san" I stated formally, hoping this transaction would remain as straightforward as it appeared.
Her smile turned into triumphant one as I retrieved three potions from my pocket, setting them on the table between us. Each vial caught the light differently, the Hell Claw Surge, the Gravebloom Restoration and the Bluethorn Boost Elixir. I launched into explanations of each one's properties, mechanisms, side effects, and optimal usage scenarios, watching her expression transform with each detail..
Her orange eyes widened progressively with each revelation, smile expanding until it showed a visible gleam in them.
"Magnificent"
She breathed once I'd finished, reaching out to touch the vials with reverence usually reserved for holy relics. "It's truly magnificent that you can manufacture such remarkable alchemical constructions in merely a span of weeks following your Sacred Gear's awakening"
"I'm still in the learning process, Benemune san" I admitted with genuine modesty "Though I believe I'm making satisfactory progress"
I gestured toward the window, where the night sky stretched beyond.
"We'll need to relocate to an open area if you want to verify their authenticity" I explained, already mentally mapping potential testing locations "I have another complete set available for demonstration purposes"
She studied the three potions resting on the table, her expression shifting through several calculations I couldn't quite track, then her gaze returned to me, as I tilted my head in casual inquiry about what's her next move.
A playful expression spread across her face, as she pushed up her glasses and I swear I saw them glowing white for a moment.
"I think I have identified a better method to verify their authenticity" she announced, her voice dropping into registers that definitely weren't business-appropriate.
Hm?
I felt a sensation at my crotch that made my entire body freeze, and looking down revealed exactly what I'd expected, Benemune's foot, somehow freed from whatever footwear she'd been wearing, was currently exploring territory that had absolutely nothing to do with potion testing.
My gaze snapped back up to meet hers, finding her orange eyes locked on me with a lustful, seductive intensity that communicated very clearly what kind of 'testing' she had in mind.
Don't tell me she knows about mine and Kalawarner's other sessions as well?
Well, she did admit to surveillance, and it seems that surveillance had been thorough enough to capture every questionable decision I'd made regarding stress relief and fallen angel companionship. The evidence was currently pressed between my legs with increasing pressure, and Benemune's expression suggested she found my predicament absolutely delightful.
It seems it's going to be a memorable night.
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. . .
A/N : Throw powerstones for faster updates!
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