chapter 12: Equipment

Equipment #1 - Prudent Owl Cane - This particular staff is a keepsake and memory of Takeshi's adoptive father. What makes this staff so special is that it increases casting speed and magical boosts to the user. In Takeshi's hands, the time to cast the spells only cost half a second, effectively making him a quick cast Magician. An interesting story behind it is that the staff is blessed by a divine owl. (I also took this from Log Horizon)

And that's a wrap to the second chapter!

Alright, where to start...?

Basically, Takeshi meets the DxD crew, Kiyome discovered that he is a Magician, and then struck up a deal with Azazel. All in the second chapter. Things certainly don't slow down for Takeshi, huh?

Oh, and another thing.

Takeshi accepted accepted the deal due to an ideal he carries with him, which will be explained next chapter. Hopefully, the third chapter can be finished by then.

_________

Takeshi narrowed his eyes in concentration as he shuffled through the various papers around him on the floor of his bedroom. He was currently trying to come up with a plan on how to take down four Fallen Angels while taking them alive to Azazel. Clearly, he knew that this is no easy accomplishment for him. And it didn't help that his magic isn't much for offense. But if he planned it right, he can use it correctly to help him in battle.

"Alright...From what Azazel told me, they're all located at the abandoned Church of this town." Takeshi muttered to himself, drawing a circle around the map he is working on. "Their location is known, but I don't know about their numbers. There are four Fallen Angels, but something tells me they are working with more. They couldn't do this all by themselves." Takeshi mused as he scratched his chin.

"If that's the case, then perhaps draw them out and take them down one by one? No, that wouldn't work. They'll most likely work in groups." Takeshi muttered. He then closed his eyes in thought while crossing his arms. "If I remember correctly from war tactics and history books, there is a strategy where one guy is able to take down a squadron thanks his own traps and stealth." Takeshi said to himself, before he noticed the small forest near the Church.

"Ideally, the perfect location is for me to use this area for ambush. But there lies another problem, since they probably know their surroundings while I have to adapt quickly..." Takeshi pointed out to himself. He then sighed as he scratched the back of his head.

"Honestly, this is a situation where I will not win easily." Takeshi muttered to himself. His ears picked up a soft meow, and turned to see his Blair crawling up to him while softly meowing at him. Takeshi gave a sigh as he petted his cat on the head.

"Hey Blair. Looks like your owner is having a bit of trouble on his hands, huh?" Takeshi said while giving a slight chuckle, setting a bit of stress off of him. Blair simply meowed at him, purring as it was being petted.

*Ding Dong*

He heard the doorbell ring in his house, and raised an eyebrow to see that someone is approaching his house. Takeshi stood up and left his room and made his way towards the front door of his house. Grabbing the door knob, he turned it and opened the door to see who it is.

When he opened it, he was greeted with the sight of a female teenager around his age. She had short bright red-orange hair and turquoise green eyes, and a facial expression the seemed to give out the impression that she is a lively girl. She currently wore a short casual one piece pink shirt with a short white jacket that stopped at her waist. She wore blue jeans along with it, and casual heels.

Takeshi simply blinked at the girl, while the girl meanwhile squinted her eyes, as if she is trying to recognize him.

"Let's see..." the girl muttered. "Short black hair, brown eyes, and glasses...you're Takeshi Fuyushima, are you?" the girl asked.

"That would be me, yes." Takeshi confirmed, before he looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Can I help you with something?"

The woman in turn gave a sly smirk at him.

"Oh? I was given the order that I was supposed to help you, Takeshi-kun." the girl said with a sly tone. Takeshi paused for a moment, taking in the girl's words, before he blinked in realization on what she just said.

"Wait...are you...?" Takeshi said with realization. The girl smiled at him, as she made her way into his home. Takeshi closed the door, and turned to see the girl sprouting out black wings out of her back.

"You earn a prize! For guessing correctly, you now earn the help and support of a Fallen Angel! Congrats!" the girl said joked while she gave a mock bow. Takeshi simply titled his head at this.

"I didn't expect Azazel to send help so soon..." Takeshi commented as he folded his arms. The girl merely snorted at this.

"Well, Azazel is a man with a lot of free time on his hands, and almost everyone in the Grigori knows this. It shouldn't be a surprise when he just waltzed in and asked me for some mission. I was a bit bored, so I accepted. But I didn't expect myself in a top secret mission that involved helping a Magician against four Fallen Angels. Ah well, this certainly brings excitement." the girl said while waving it off.

"Excitement wouldn't exactly fit the situation I'm currently thinking of." Takeshi said, before he sighed. "Well, at least help is here. I should be thankful for that." Takeshi said, before he held out his hand towards her.

"Well, since we're going to work together temporarily, I suppose introductions are in order. Takeshi Fuyushima, novice Magician who's only proficient in Enchanter Magic. Hope we work well together." Takeshi introduced himself. The girl in turn returned the hand shake.

"Erika Chiba. two winged Fallen Angel and your partner in crime in this little operation. Hope you can keep up. Oh, and Chiba is just a last name I have when I'm in the human world." the girl, now known as Erika, said as she shook his hand.

(Lower Level)

"*Whistle*...this is one big training hall." Erika whistle in an impressed tone as she looked around the underground floor of his home. "Granted, the Grigori has large training facilities, but you have a big one for an average home in the suburbs." Erika commented.

"Well, my dad knew earth magic, and has utilized it to create this underground floor. So yeah, saves up a lot of money when you can make this sort of thing." Takeshi said while looking through a few maps and graphs on a table.

"I see..." Erika said, before she looked at the graphs with a curious look. "Watcha got there?" Erika asked as she leaned in a bit to see the papers.

"Currently, I'm trying to figure out a way on how to take down the Fallen Angels at the abandoned Church. I've come up with at least 50 possible scenarios on which situations could follow up to." Takeshi said while looking through each paper. Erika blinked when she was told a certain fact about his planning.

"Wait, you thought up of 50 possible scenarios for encountering the Fallen Angels and thereon?" Erika asked in surprise. Takeshi laughed a bit as he scratched the back of his head.

"I know, it's not that impressive. I've yet to create more, and I still haven't thought about the situations further on." Takeshi said while seeing how it is nothing.

"It's noth-It's not nothing!" Erika exclaimed in surprise, making Takeshi blink upon her reaction.

"What do you mean?" Takeshi asked.

"You've actually managed to predict at least 50 possible scenarios, and-" Erika picked up one of the papers and looked through it. "-it all seems plausible! How could you not say it is not impressive!? Better yet, how were you able to in the first place!?" Erika asked him in surprise. Takeshi blinked at her as he simply adjusted his glasses. He looked down with a thoughtful look.

"...During my free time, other then training and studying magic, I like to read books. A lot of books." Takeshi told her.