Update after some time. this is probably my most underwhelming chapter so far, but please bear with it. Time Skip of Issei as 1st Grade elementary school, the Issei here is slightly OOC and slightly more mature than a normal kid, but once again please bare with it.

6 Years Later Issei First Near-death Experience

Issei POV

Right now both me and Irina, locked inside a prison-like dungeon. The only person with us is a man just outside the prison bar seating in front of us, one of the adults who captured us…

(W-Why is this happening to me?)

I questioned it in my head.

Just a while ago both of us, just play in the park as usual but then suddenly some adults we never see came out of nowhere after a light appeared and captured both of us. Then, they make some mysterious magic circle like thing and when we realized we were in this dungeon.

We both struggled our capturer but all it causes us is get slapped at the face, even now I feel like to cry, but hold it back as I'm a boy…

As for Irina, he is now shouting at the person

"Hey, Old man! Who are you?! What do you want with us?!"

He asked the man without fear.

If it were I wouldn't even dare to talk like that after all our safety depends on these people's moods for now.

"Shut up brat! Why should I answer your question?! Just be quiet?!"

"What?! You suddenly came out of nowhere and captured both of us, we have every right to know!"

"Tch what troublesome brat! Fine, I tell you this we plan to use you to make an exchange with Touji Shido, there happy now! Dammit, why those guys make me in charge of this brat!"

Uncle Shido? Why is he coming to this talk suddenly?

"Tch, I can't keep this up. I will leave for a break."

Saying that the man left the both of us, and climb up the stair which looks like the only exit from this basement prison.

"Dammit, so it really is like that. Issei, sorry it seems it's my fault that you got involved in this situation."

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"It just seems that those Magician people captured us because they have some problem with my father."

"Magician?!"

S-So those people are really Magician, I thought those only existed in Anime or something. However, it should explain the strange phenomena where those people appeared out of nowhere and transferred us here instantly. It is still hard to believe, but I need to accept this info for now or else the talk will get nowhere.

"My father is actually an exorcist in charge of this town, he normally hunted stray Devil and evil Magician. Most likely they are one of the people my dad gets involved with due to his work, and intent to use me as a hostage against my father. You most likely got dragged along with me just because you're there. I'm really sorry."

Irina said while his face filled with guilt.

Honestly rather than getting angry at him, I feel troubled to process the whole story he just blabbered out to me.

Uncle is an exorcist?

Magician? Devil?

My parent always told me that that kind of thing is just work of fiction, and even as a child I accepted those facts, yet in a matter of second all of my common sense got thrown out of the window.

However, as I decided previously I should just accept this fact for now…

"…I see, honestly, I'm not sure how to react to all that. Ah, but I'm not angry to get involved in this. Even if those guys don't take me, I most likely will still try to help you and get myself involved in the end, so don't worry at all."

I said my honest feeling to Irina.

What Irina said is true, I most likely just get involved by chance, but still if my friend in danger I will not just stay quiet. Although I will be scared to death I will try to help him, so I don't particularly blame him.

"… Issei, thank you."

"You welcome. Rather than that, do you have any idea how to escape from here?"

"Unfortunately, no. I like to say that we should just beat them up but I have no power to do that."

Irina said as he looks depressed.

"I see, then it will be better to wait uncle save us then. If they're telling the truth then uncle most likely will come later to negotiate with them, when exactly is unknown but until then our safety is guarantee. For now, it is best to wait..."

"That great idea Issei! If my dad here we can beat those people up!"

No! Why is your mind immediately going towards violence!?

...Isn't it obvious that once uncle comes we should escape or at least secure our safety one way or another!?

"That said though there is no guarantee we will be saved just by waiting though. Also, it is a mystery what those people want from uncle. It will be good if it something that can be handed out immediately that way they will release us soon, but if it something that requires a lot of time we will need to be with them for a lot of time."

"It is ok! My dad is strong he will be able to beat them all up!"

Isn't Irina too positive about this! I know he has this admiration toward his dad but this is a little bit too much.

In the first place, even if uncle is indeed as strong as he says that is no guarantee we can be saved, I mean they could just escape with us using that teleportation again and make uncle lose track of us or worse using us as a shield to ensure uncle will not be able to resist at all.

After I explain this Irina forced to agree...

"Ugh, t-that is true, but then what should we do?"

"Nothing. Unfortunately we just a kid, we can only hope uncle could come into agreement with this kidnapper and get ourselves released. For that, it will be better for us not to intervene with the negotiations."

"I-I see."

Irina looks unconvinced but for now, he seems to agree with me.

And so we just sat inside our cell quietly until the time comes.

0000

After several hours, the man that left us finally returned. This time with several of his friends…

"Get out brat."

He said that as he opened the door for us.

Being honest we want to escape from them, but we aware that struggling is useless, so w just followed them. Later, those people lead used another magic circle like thing, and then stop and transferred us outside I a place we do not know.

Unfortunately, even after going out, we are not sure where is this, because the only thing that comes to the field is forest…

We then noticed someone walking to this place, and coming to view is someone we are familiar with… Irina's dad, uncle Shido.

Unlike usual where he normally looked friendly though, he comes walking here while glaring with scary faces.

"I'm here release is Irina and Issei, right now."

"That is only if you fulfill our request."

Said one of the robbed people.

His robe look a bit different from the rest and considering he talks to represent this whole group he most likely the leader.

"You mean to release your friends we captured last week?"

"Right, we call you here just to show how serious we are in regard to that case. We only make a base in this city after officially requesting the landowner here, but then your man raided us for no reason at all. It is obvious we want them to be released."

"…From the report I heard from my man apparently you guys make a contract with Devil which leads to them to raid you guys. Is that false report?"

"We did. However, for Magician like us, it was obvious thing, in the first place this city is a Devil territory. Why should we get captured by you 'fanatics'?"

"…"

I don't really understand what's going on clearly, but it seems that these people's friends are captured by uncle subordinate and they want to set them free. And from what they're saying the capture was not justified at all, and seeing uncle turning silence after hearing that argument most likely these people is on the right.

Was it like one of those cases where people do unauthorized captures? In that case, it really is a delicate matter?

From the side of an exorcist, they couldn't just admit their fault as they have faces to save, so they most likely will not admit their mistake. This most likely forced these people to pull this kind of stunt like capturing children like us so they can negotiate with the exorcist. If it's like that we couldn't fully blame these people.

"… In regard to that, I can only apologize, it is true my man has treated you guys unfairly. I will immediately write a request to release those guys. However, can you please release those kids? They're not involved."

"No. we need to make sure you keep your words! We will hold them with us for now."

Damn from the talk it seems we need to remain with them for some time.

I had originally wished that we can just be free once uncle comes here, but as expected it is too positive to wish like that.

"Can you reconsider they're not involved in this case?"

"Maybe, and honestly personally I feel bad for this kid, but we often backstabbed by the Church already. Let me be frank I couldn't fully trust your words that you will really release our friends."

"Is there nothing I could do in exchange? Maybe like signing a Magic contract?"

"No, we don't trust you enough for that. In the first plac—"

"STOP BULLYING MY DAD!"

Suddenly Irina shouted.

He has been quiet since while ago, but now like an idiot, he struggled to attack the man who holds his arm.

That idiot! He forgot about our talk! That said for Irina who loved his father very much it must have been hard to just listen to these people talking badly about his father.

...Still, it doesn't change fact that it was idiotic.

And sure enough, it angered the man who holds Irina!

"Shut up brat! What the hell do you know?!"

"SHUT UP! MY DAD IS FRIEND OF JUSTICE, IT'S YOUR FAULT FOR BEING BAD GUY—"

—FLASH!

Suddenly some sort of light appeared from the finger of the man who holds Irina, and then the light pierced her leg.

"GYAAAH!"

Irina screams out of pain and the wound created by the attack causes his leg to bleed.

""…IRINA!""

"DON'T MOVE!"

Uncle and I shouted her name, and uncle especially looks as if he wants to attack the man, but the man who holds Irina created another light in his finger and point it at Irina again. This stopped uncle on his track and make him gritted his teeth.

However, unexpectedly this situation is also a shock for the rest of the magician here. The person who talked to uncle until a while ago who likely to be their leader warned the man…

"Y-You! That is going too far! Why are you attacking the hostage without permission?!"

"Shut up! I couldn't stand this kid! The brat said whatever she likes without even knowing anything of what those exorcists had done! They were nothing but a bunch of murder! Even that man over there, he attempted to kill his friend recently! I want to puke just by hearing it!"

(Uncle trying to kill his friend? That is a lie right?)

However, from uncle's grim look show that they were not lying.

While thinking like that the magician who just attacked Irina continued…

"Why are we even bothering doing something like this?! Let's just kill this brat and kill that man over there?! We can save our friends by breaking in ourselves!"

"Wait calm down! If we do that, we will not be able to guarantee our friend's safety! Stop saying nonsense, and let go of the kid, for now, we need to treat the wound."

"Shut up! I do what I want!"

"I-It hurts…"

The leader tries to calm down the mad guy, but he totally doesn't lend an ear, however honestly none of this matters to me. All I could see is Irina who is crying due to his wounds.

(W-What should I do?)

I have never expected that the person will attack us, due to the fact that these people unexpectedly reasonable. However, that single person's fault the whole thing turned for the worse. At this rate, Irina might be killed…

Once I realized this fact most of the logic left my mind

(I can't allow that!)

When I realized I already begin to run, thanks to the fact the man who holds me is also take in by surprise I manage to escape easily.

I run toward the man's direction while raising my left fist…

I know full well a kid like me wouldn't be able to beat adult, but maybe, just maybe I could make some chance for the uncle to rush and save Irina.

Even if I will put myself in danger

Or even if I end up injured or death

I can't just stand like an idiot when in front of me my friend is in danger.

Thinking like that I rushed to the man, and I felt my arm feel warm.

"A sacred gear!"

Someone shouted, and for whatever reason, the man who holds Irina also surprised.

He pointed his finger at me this time, but because he is I panic probably he didn't shot his magic in time.

—Punch!

The sound was pretty loud, louder than I could have expected, but then the thing entered my vision is the man who still standing behind some magic circle that stopped my fist...

"Damn brat!"

—Explode!

Suddenly a flame appeared right infornt of me, and I get pushed back. I felt my whole body felt like burned or something, but for some reason, I barely feel the pain…

When I noticed I am lying on the ground.

""ISE/-KUN!""

"Stinking brat! Do you want to kill me with that Sacred Gear, well guess what I can kill you first!"

"Y-You! Are you crazy?! You just burne—! No that is enough! Hey, you guys catch him! He went too far on this capture him and rescue the kid we need to save him!"

I listened to some noises around me, unfortunately, I can't make out most of it.

My eyelid is heavy and I could barely tell what happened around me anymore, the only thing I can see is Irina's crying faces right above me still being held hostages by the man.

"DON'T MOV—BAAH!"

"Alright, that's enough out of you!"

While my consciousness started to disappear suddenly a figure of a mysterious man entered, and weirdly enough, his last word I could hear it clearly. That is the last thing I see and hear until I awaken the next day.