《DXD — Crimson Lord》


 Chapter 1: A Drop Of Red

    ¡°He who desires but acts not, breeds pestilence.¡±


    My footsteps echoed through the dark, filthy catacomb as I forced myself onward. The air was thick, rough, and dusty, the damp walls enclosing me as I allowed myself to sink deeper and deeper into the deadly game.


    Behind me, five homunculi followed without thought, their existence reduced to one singular purpose. These hulking, lifeless beasts had been created solely to kill me. This chase was all the meaning their short lives would ever have. No matter how many I cut down, they wouldn¡¯t think to retreat or protect themselves, their minds were consumed by their own bloodlust.


    But for all their strength and relentless drive, that was also their weakness¡ªthey were predictable.


    I took a sharp turn to get myself out of their vision, diving into the familiar twists and turns of these endless tunnels¡ªmy home, my battlefield. The maze opened up to my memory, and I found myself back where the battle had started.


    The main chamber was drenched in absolute darkness, a void so deep it filled my demonic eyes with joy, shielding them from all light. The space was ornate, a carefully crafted arena with polished stone walls and platforms that divided it into multiple levels and isolated spaces full of ambushes waiting to happen. The architect, whoever he had been, was clearly not only a master of his craft but also someone deeply acquainted with the dance of battle.


    And now, thanks to me, half the place was stained with rough splashes of blood.


    Those homunculi weren¡¯t easy foes. That man had a way of constantly refining them¡ªmaking them stronger, faster, more resentful. He hadn¡¯t yet managed to give them true minds yet, but he compensated for that with their unnatural bodies¡ªbuilt to never tire or rest, so they could chase me to the end of the earth like rabid dogs.


    They would fight me to the death, and so there was death.


    I had slain three of them before I was forced to retreat¡ªcutting them down in swift, lethal strikes, going from one ambush into another before the entire pack could turn on me. Five remained, but three was enough.


    Gripping my crimson scarf tightly, I closed my eyes, centering myself. My heartbeat reverberated in the silence, and I felt it¡ªtheir blood, pooling in the cracks on the stone, still warm. It surged to my call, rushing through the air in the form of thick mist, responding to my will. It coalesced at my hand, shifting into the shape I projected so clearly in my mind.


    A weapon I knew intimately, something of my very own design.


    A jagged crimson spear, an elongated, spiraling lance of crystallized power, formed in my grasp.


    By the time the five remaining homunculi appeared, their hulking forms squeezing through the tunnel I had just fled, it was already too late. Their twisted faces twitched as they caught my scent, their blank eyes wild with hunger even as my red aura dawned upon them.


    ¡°Secret Hardblood Art ¡ª La Sangre.¡±


    I launched forward, spear in hand, and with a single, fluid motion, I carved through them. Flesh tore. Stone shattered.


    It was warm.


    My body dropped to one knee, the exhaustion catching up to me in a rush. My breath came in ragged gasps, the weight of the battle settling over me. But before I could recover, slow, deliberate applause echoed through the chamber. I stiffened, every muscle tensing as I recognized the sound, and the measured rhythm of his steps.


    Ajuka Beelzebub.


    The man who created me.


    ¡°I see you¡¯re pushing yourself as hard as ever, Nyx,¡± he said, his voice carrying an almost affectionate amusement.


    ?


    I still remember the first time I opened my eyes in this world. It wasn¡¯t that I¡¯d never been conscious before, but my memories felt distant, covered in fog. Like a dream I could barely remember. As the tank that held me drained, I felt the cold air kiss my skin for the first time. My body¡ªweak, fragile¡ªtrembled under its own weight. I dragged myself forward, gasping as my lungs filled with breath, and looked up at the Devil who had brought me back from the darkest pit.


    ¡°Can you hear me?¡± Beelzebub¡¯s voice was calm, always calm.


    I tried to speak, but my throat was raw, my tongue heavy, forcing me to cough. Instead, I nodded weakly.


    ¡°Good.¡± He crouched before me, his eyes studying me with clinical detachment. ¡°Do you know who I am?¡±


    Somehow, I did. Despite the haze in my mind, I nodded again.


    ¡°Then I will make this brief,¡± he continued. ¡°My name is Ajuka Beelzebub. You were dead, but as part of my research into reincarnation, I have brought your soul back from the abyss. I apologize for the lack of consent, as such things are impossible in death. I can only imagine how painful it must have been, and hope that you consider it worth it.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t wrong.


    The rebirth had been agonizing, far worse than death itself. The sensation of being yanked from the void, torn from oblivion, still burned in my memory. I remembered the desperation of it¡ªthe blind, clawing grasp that had pulled my soul back just as it began to fade into nothingness, ripping me away from reality and across the Dimensional Gap.


    I hadn¡¯t been ready to die.


    But I wasn¡¯t sure if I was ready to live again, either.


    ¡°If you so desire, I can put you back to rest this very moment,¡± Beelzebub continued. ¡°I won¡¯t keep you here against your will. However...¡± He reached into his coat and produced a burning-red chess piece. A jagged, broken king. ¡°If you choose to stay here with me and help me document the reach of this little experiment... well, I can promise you one fair chance. Nothing more, nothing less.¡±


    His eyes shined, cold and calculating. There was no deception in his words, no hidden malice. He was completely serious. If I chose it, he would snuff out my life in an instant and return me to the peaceful slumber where my soul had rightfully belonged.


    But something inside me refused.


    I couldn¡¯t return to death¡¯s cold embrace¡ªnot after remembering the sensation of air filling my lungs, the chill of stone beneath my feet. These simple, physical sensations that I had never realized I would miss... They reminded me that I was alive, as I enjoyed them like never before.


    Despite the trembling of my frail, crumbling body, I reached forward and grasped the blood-red chess piece.


    The instant I touched it, a surge of power overwhelmed me, dragging me into unconsciousness. But, in that moment, it also nursed me back to health. That jagged kingpiece fed into me, multiplying the feeble strength left after my sloppy resurrection, until my frail form was replaced by something new¡ªsomething stronger. A body not entirely my own¡ª


    A demonic body.


    I was not particularly powerful, not by the standards of this world, but it was a body. A healthy body. More than I could have asked for after barely clawing my way back into hell.


    The years passed quickly after that, and as I¡¯d promised, my focus narrowed down on helping the Satan explore the limits of my resurrected soul. This second life¡ªmy life¡ªwas now a continuous cycle of training, both magical and physical. Day after day, I would go through endless drills, honing my abilities and pushing myself further, always chasing the next power up, the next level of myself. The work was grueling, repetitive, but it became my bread and butter, and I honestly learned to enjoy it.


    In truth, I was the student more often than not. Most of what I gained came from observing and learning. After all, standing beside one of the most ingenious Devils in existence afforded me countless opportunities to witness the unimaginable. The way Ajuka''s mind worked, his relentless drive to unravel the mysteries of existence, was a marvel. But it was his research into the soul¡ªits essence, its nature, its origin¡ªthat caught my attention the most.


    There was something both awe-inspiring and unsettling about it. The idea that a concept so sacred could be dissected, analyzed, and perhaps even manipulated... It was no longer just an abstract idea. Souls were real, we had become aware, and were now taking the first steps into taking control of that reality.


    Through my teenage years, I also awakened my Sacred Gear: Crimson Oath.


    It was a vitric scarf, normally of a soft, feeble white, wrapped snugly around my neck. But despite its fragile appearance, it became the vessel of my new power. The scarf allowed me to harvest, store, and manipulate blood as my primary source of energy. My affinity for it was immediate, more instinctual than any other magic I had tried to master. It responded to me, to my will, more naturally than the elements ever could.


    And so, I embraced the power¡ªunashamedly, unapologetically.


    Unlike vampires, I didn¡¯t need to rely on others¡¯ blood for sustenance. I could choose to consume just about anything, and then sacrifice a portion of myself to feed the Crimson Oath. Sometimes it was an arm, sometimes a leg. It craved pure, potent blood, growing longer and more vibrant with each drop I offered, unfurling like the wings of a great crimson bird. The more I nourished it, the stronger the bond between us grew.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    And with that bond, my body began to change.


    My once-brown eyes gradually shifted, stained drop by drop with an unholy scarlet hue that couldn¡¯t be hidden. My teeth sharpened¡ªfangs extending just enough to unsettle anyone who looked a little too closely. My regenerative abilities grew stronger, reaching absurd levels of resilience. As long as I had blood stored within my Sacred Gear, I could heal from nearly any wound.


    Even on the brink of death¡ªwhen my body was broken and bloodied beyond recognition¡ªI could be restored in mere minutes. A few drops of blood placed on my shattered form would be enough to reform me, to stitch flesh and bone back together.


    I had become something... other¡ª


    A bloodfiend.


    And yet, despite the evolution of my power, I was never certain whether my creator valued my existence. His experiment, in the technical sense, had been a success. With the help of a mutate piece, Ajuka Beelzebub had managed to resurrect a human soul from another world, transforming me into a proper Devil. But even as my abilities grew, when compared to the likes of Sairaorg Bael or the Super Devils, my existence felt painfully insignificant.


    In the grand scheme of things, there was little someone like me could offer to one of the Satans. That truth gnawed at me constantly, a quiet reminder that I might become nothing more than a footnote in Ajuka¡¯s endless experiments. What reason would he have to keep a failed subject around? Any Devil in his position would cut their losses, eliminate loose ends. I couldn¡¯t afford to assume otherwise.


    All I could do was push myself¡ªto exceed my limits, to prove that my life still held some small sliver of potential. Without that¡­ how much longer could I expect to survive in this borrowed time?


    ?


    ¡°I see you¡¯re pushing yourself as hard as ever, Nyx,¡± he said, his voice carrying an almost affectionate amusement.


    I spat onto my sleeve, the taste of homunculi blood still clinging to my tongue. It was worse than the blood of a diseased animal¡ªfoul, acrid, almost unbearable, barely blood at all.


    ¡°Lord Beelzebub.¡± I bowed respectfully, ignoring the bitterness in my mouth. ¡°It¡¯s the least I can do if I am to become a High-Class Devil.¡±


    His lips curved slightly. ¡°We¡¯ve had this conversation before, Nyx. Even if you lack overwhelming power, your physical capabilities already qualify you as a High-Class Devil.¡± He paused, then turned on his heel. ¡°Follow me. There¡¯s something I¡¯d like to discuss with you.¡±


    With a quiet sigh, I activated my Sacred Gear, pulling the last remnants of blood from my clothes. The low-quality essence of the homunculi offered little nourishment or value, if any at all¡ªevidenced by how my spear had shattered after only a single attack. Still, I didn¡¯t want to leave a mess on the pristine floors of the manor. Being a Devil isn¡¯t the same thing as being an asshole.


    As one would expect, the Beelzebub estate extended like a colossal city, a network of districts so vast they rivaled the size of a small country. It was easy to imagine a human spending their entire life here, never once stepping foot outside these lush, carefully maintained lands. The streets were wide, bordered by immaculate greenery, and each turn seemed more ornate than the last as all buildings and businesses maintained a certain air of geometrical architecture and detail, making it feel like they belong together.


    Many families of Devils were gathered under the banner of Beelzebub, most of them long-time supporters, dating back to before the Great War. Meanwhile, others had incorporated more recently, choosing to swear their allegiance to the new lord of hell while he was still coursing the first years of his mandate. After all, with Evil pieces defining the new structure of demonic society, it was hardly a surprise that more and more houses would decide to try and organize themselves around the mastermind behind it all.


    And although a few houses had withdrawn from Beelzebub¡¯s protection in recent years, they were vastly outnumbered by those eager to join. In my short life, I had already witnessed several innovations and reforms aimed at accommodating the ever-growing number of residents. After all, High-Class Devils were no longer the overwhelming majority, and not every newly reincarnated Devil could rely on their peerage¡¯s personal teleport circle.


    To address this, Ajuka had overseen the creation of a highly efficient infrastructure¡ªflying rail stations and a public teleport network connecting different sectors of the estate. With a simple gate in place, two once-distant industrial districts could now function as one, entirely negating geographical concerns. It was a near-flawless system, one that had swiftly positioned the Beelzebub estate as the beating heart of engineering and manufacturing in the Underworld¡ªa dreamland for inventors from all houses and standings.


    And at the heart of it all stood the residence of the Blue Satan.


    Calling it a manor seemed like an understatement, though it was the closest comparison one could make. Unlike the Gremory¡¯s fortress of polished stone, Beelzebub¡¯s residence was not a castle. It was a manor in the truest sense¡ªtwelve floors high, stretching for miles in every direction, an unfathomable fortress rumored to have been carved from the wood of a single colossal tree by the Old Satan himself. This explained its peculiar appearance¡ªgrand yet weathered, like a hollow stump. Despite its enormity, it managed to evoke a strange sense of decay, as if nature itself had claimed it over the centuries. And just like bees, hundreds of maids moved with tireless precision to keep the place immaculate, barely pausing to offer polite nods as we passed. Their smiles were fleeting, mere gestures of courtesy, as they continued their work without expecting acknowledgment¡ªcontent with the privilege of crossing paths with their master.


    I had long since given up trying to map the manor, and knew only the first two floors by heart. Whatever secrets lay hidden within those hellish corridors, they were unlikely to be worth the effort it would take to find them.


    Oddly enough, the tunnels beneath the house, originally built to confuse and trap enemies in times of war, were far easier for me to navigate than the structure above. Perhaps it was because they were designed with a clear purpose, or perhaps I had simply spent too much time in them, as the luxury and opulence of this house never failed to make me feel out of place.


    This time, however, I could tell exactly where we were headed.


    Ajuka led me to one of his private studies, the one on the ground floor where he typically received emissaries from other families. The room was spacious and bathed in natural light, with curtains of white silk threaded with gold and a desk that could easily double as a banquet table.


    ¡°Do you know why I¡¯ve called you here, Nyx?¡± His tone was relaxed, informal, as though we were old friends rather than lord and subordinate.


    I hesitated for a moment, then took my seat. ¡°I can¡¯t say I do, sir.¡±


    ¡°Be at ease. I actually hoped to share a small celebration.¡± Beelzebub smiled as he pulled a crystal bottle from a desk drawer, the liquid inside dark and heavy. ¡°After all, your part of our agreement has been fulfilled.¡±


    ¡°Has it?¡± I blinked, uncertain, as he poured our drinks. ¡°Does that mean¡ª¡±


    ¡°It means I no longer have any use for you.¡±


    The words hit me like a blow. My breath almost caught in my throat as my blood turned cold. I stared at the glass he¡¯d poured for me. I wasn¡¯t one for drinking, but when sitting across from a Satan, what choice did I have?


    ¡°So,¡± he continued, his tone unchanged, ¡°what will you do now?¡±


    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Now, sir?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± He swirled his drink. ¡°Or do you think I¡¯ve forgotten my promise? I told you I¡¯d give you a fair chance in this world. I¡¯m curious¡ªwhat¡¯s on your mind?¡±


    I tried to suppress the sigh of relief threatening to escape, but in the end, I placed my elbows on my knees and exhaled slowly. ¡°Was that¡­ some kind of joke, Lord Beelzebub?¡±


    He chuckled softly. ¡°Maybe, I wanted to see how you¡¯d react. You¡¯re too hard on yourself, Nyx. Sometimes it¡¯s difficult to tell what¡¯s going on in that head of yours. I may not be the most available of Devils, but after all these years, I had hoped you¡¯d have learned to trust me a bit more.¡±


    ¡°I apologize.¡± I bowed my head again. ¡°After dying once¡­ I¡¯ve learned not to take anything for granted. And with my¡­ condition, it¡¯s better that I remain¡­ mindful of myself.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes. Your condition.¡± His expression grew thoughtful. ¡°Are you still struggling with the¡­ impulses?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s getting better,¡± I admitted, my voice low. ¡°But there are moments¡­ moments when it¡¯s just as bad as it was in the beginning.¡±


    The resurrection hadn¡¯t come without its costs. At times, an uncontrollable surge of obsession would overtake me, pulling my thoughts in strange and irrational directions. In battle, it often manifested as an insatiable craving for violence, a need to obliterate a particular opponent. But outside of combat, it was worse¡ªa compulsive hunger for insignificant things. It could be a glint of shiny metal or a bauble in a market stall. More than once, I¡¯d found myself gripping my own wrist to stop from pocketing some worthless trinket, even biting my hand to keep the desire at bay. It was the kind of mindless greed you¡¯d expect from a lowly imp who¡¯d never seen wealth before. For someone like me, who had been offered luxury and opulence, the urge for such petty theft felt absurd¡­ humiliating.


    Yet, somehow, I sensed it intrigued him.


    ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Ajuka mused, his eyes narrowing slightly. ¡°And what about your little secret experiment?¡±


    I tensed, my fingers tightening around my glass. ¡°Secret experiment?¡±


    ¡°The one you¡¯ve kept hidden away,¡± he muttered calmly. ¡°Not in the laboratory I built for you, of course. No, I¡¯m talking about that little project that led you to construct a sanctuary of your own.¡±


    Caught, I downed the rest of my drink in silence.


    ¡°Why do you persist in pretending to be human, Nyx?¡± He sighed, exasperated but patient. ¡°We are Devils. Our urges, our desires¡­ they are woven into our very existence.¡±


    I leaned back in my chair, exhaling slowly. ¡°I suppose¡­ it¡¯s because if I fully embrace what I¡¯ve become, then there¡¯s no going back. I can barely control myself as it is. If I let go¡­¡±


    ¡°If you let go, you might actually find a way to be happy,¡± he said, his voice softening with unexpected fondness. His eyes studied me, unblinking. ¡°Come now. I wasn¡¯t joking. I do intend to see what you¡¯ve been hiding from me.¡±


    Ajuka flicked his hand, and in the blink of an eye, we stood inside the hollow I had carved beneath the catacombs. The space was small and rough, barely enough to fit the equipment I¡¯d managed to drag down from the manor above. It wasn¡¯t much, but it served its purpose¡ªat least for now. In truth, I had never expected to hide this place from him for long. On these grounds, everything felt like it was within his reach, as if the manor itself was an extension of his soul.


    "I hope your ambitions are a little grander than your hiding spot suggests," he quipped.


    I ignored the jab and snapped my fingers, lighting the candles scattered around the chamber. The flickering flames drew long shadows against the jagged stone walls, and with their light came the sound of chains scraping against the ground. From the deeper recesses of the cavern, low, guttural grunts echoed back at us.


    "What in the Underworld¡­?"


    Lifting one of the candles, I brought it closer to the source of the noise¡ªa homunculus, bound and unmoving, held in place by crimson chains that pulsed faintly in the glow of the candlelight. The creature rested within an intricate magical circle, its markings precise and calculated, weeks of effort finally culminating in my first working prototype.


    Ajuka¡¯s gaze sharpened as he turned to face me, his amusement gone. "When did you¡ª"


    "It wasn¡¯t hard, once I realized how their biology works," I interrupted. "They¡¯re dangerous, yes, but if you take enough blood, they fall into a deep sleep. Just like us. After that, they practically heal themselves, as long as you keep them alive."


    "And this circle..." He stepped closer, eyes narrowing in recognition. He reached out toward the homunculus, fingers hovering over the glowing runes. "You''ve been... dissecting my magic?"


    I let the silence hang for a moment, considering how much to reveal. Then, gripping my scarf, I summoned a small fragment of stored power. In response, a massive, marble-white finger materialized, hovering ominously in the air between us.


    "When you summoned my soul into this world, you used a homunculus like this one, didn¡¯t you?" I asked, watching his expression closely.


    Ajuka hesitated, then nodded. "Not exactly like this one. But... close enough."


    "I thought," I continued, my voice quieter now, "that studying their biology might help me understand my own regeneration. Maybe even allow me to create a secondary body in case something happened to this one." I paused, feeling the weight of my next words. "But that was just a convenient excuse, in case you ever found this place."


    His brow furrowed. "You mean¡ª"


    I activated the lower layer of enchantment, and the magical circle beneath the homunculus flared to life. The ground trembled, and a section of the floor before us crumbled away, revealing a hidden passage leading deeper underground.


    Grabbing a candle, I stepped forward, gesturing for him to follow. "This is the real laboratory I¡¯ve been working on.¡±


    For a moment, Ajuka simply stood there, staring at the newly revealed path. Then, to my surprise, he let out a soft chuckle. "And people call me paranoid.¡±


    The room below was far more spacious, and the magical circle etched into the floor reflected that¡ªits intricate designs stretched up the walls, swirling into the stone curves, leaving barely enough room for a desk cluttered with instruments. It was both incredibly similar and nothing alike the once placed above, a complete reimagination of the concept based on my past failures.


    Ajuka¡¯s gaze swept over the chamber. "What could you possibly hope to achieve in a place like this?"


    I hesitated, then admitted, "I¡¯ve been... trying to understand the Kankara Formula."


    The Kankara Formula¡ªAjuka¡¯s legendary magic. It was a miracle, one of the greatest known to the Underworld, and a testament to the unmatched mind of the Blue Satan himself. By dissecting and altering the mathematical properties of his opponent¡¯s spells, Ajuka had gained a fearsome reputation. Reality itself bent to his will. Once he understood the mechanics of your magic, resistance became a futile struggle. He could twist the very laws of the universe against you in the most unfair of ways, and there was very little to be done about it.


    I didn¡¯t possess the brilliance to mirror his mastery in real time, especially not in the chaos of combat. Calculating complex equations on the fly was beyond me. But here, in this controlled space, I could recreate a single instance¡ªone precise, isolated scenario¡ªand bend the probabilities around it to suit my needs, much like my creator did so casually on a daily basis.


    ¡°You¡¯re... trying to pull souls from beyond the Dimensional Gap?¡± It took Ajuka only a moment to grasp the nature of my work. ¡°Nyx, this isn¡¯t something you can just experiment with! That¡¯s why¡­ why I abandoned this research.¡± His voice dropped, shadowed with regret. ¡°I made too many attempts, too many sacrifices. Even now, with all I¡¯ve learned, I can only save one in twenty souls I bring back. The others... they¡¯re tortured for nothing¡ªjust to die again¡±


    I allowed myself a small smile, one laced with quiet defiance. ¡°And what if I found a way to stabilize the Dimensional Gap?¡± I asked softly, my voice a low murmur. ¡°Just long enough for a soul to travel safely across the rift.¡±


    "How¡­? Did you really¡­?"


    I nodded, though a part of me still questioned if this was truly the right path.


    In all honesty, Ajuka Beelzebub had never given me cause to doubt him. His mercy and guidance had been unwavering, his kindness freely offered. Yet I had never accepted it without suspicion, never taken his generosity for granted. Perhaps it was a residue of my past life¡ªfragments of which I barely remembered¡ªbut I had always assumed that my existence hinged on my usefulness, that the moment I had nothing left to offer, my time would end.


    But today, I chose to trust. Despite the risks, despite my doubts, I chose to believe in the possibility of something more.


    I reached for the homunculus finger I had crafted earlier, feeling the weight of it in my hand. With a flicker of intent, I willed it to transform into pure blood. Manipulating it was second nature, after all, there was hardly any difference between their flesh and mine. Finally, I placed the shimmering blood at the center of the room, directly within the heart of the circle, and activated my true spell.


    The air around us shuddered. Cracks splintered through the space, just as they had before, but this time the rupture extended beyond the physical. The Dimensional Gap opened willingly, a tunnel of void between realities, its depths swirling as it siphoned the essence I had sacrificed. The rift was stable, controlled.


    Foreign elements, I had discovered, were automatically detected and expelled by the natural defenses of the Gap. A built-in safeguard of sorts, one designed to prevent cross contamination between worlds, or so it seemed to me. But there was the opportunity, right in front of us¡ªthe perfect opening to slip something through without resistance, to call upon any dying soul and give them a new body.


    Ajuka watched, his expression caught between awe and disbelief. For the first time since I¡¯d known him, the unshakable Blue Satan seemed genuinely baffled. A small flicker of satisfaction stirred within me.


    "Did that manage to meet your expectations, Lord Beelzebub?" I asked, my voice even, though the subtle challenge was unmistakable.

 Chapter 2: Pawns

    ¡°What are you planning to do with this power, Nyx?¡±


    Ajuka leaned back, his usual sharpness softened as he took a moment to do something he hadn''t done in a long time¡ªsit down and clear his mind. It was a rare, almost unguarded gesture from someone who always seemed to be calculating.


    ¡°What will I do, I wonder¡­¡± I allowed a quiet chuckle to slip out.


    An hour before, I would¡¯ve expected him to execute me on the spot to safeguard such magical knowledge. But now? Now I could see the wheels turning in his head, theorizing how to protect me from all the others who would surely come for me if word ever got out.


    ¡°Without a catalyzer¡­¡± he murmured, his voice dropping to a low hum. ¡°You¡¯re still fishing in the dark, picking random people. Even if you manage to bring them here safely, a human who died of natural causes wouldn¡¯t be able to survive a reincarnation.¡±


    I answered him honestly. ¡°That¡¯s why I already have a catalyzer in mind for my Queen. As long as I make a strong connection to the original soul, I should be able to bring back exactly who I want. And considering how many gods and heroes your world has to offer¡­¡±


    Ajuka laughed, though there was no surprise in his eyes anymore. ¡°So, the only thing you¡¯re missing¡­ are your own Evil Pieces.¡±


    As he spoke, a small flame flickered to life in his lap. It flared briefly before burning down to reveal a tight, polished briefcase. With a loud click, he opened it, revealing the Evil Pieces inside¡ªsome whole, others cracked and jagged. It appeared to be his personal set.


    ¡°We could¡­¡± His voice took on a mischievous edge. ¡°As I said before, there¡¯s no real point in you taking the promotion test. If you had asked, I would¡¯ve given these to you any time. You¡¯re my greatest creation, after all.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± I shook my head, the rejection slipping from my lips. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine anything I¡¯d want less than that.¡±


    ¡°You hate it here, don¡¯t you?¡±


    The question caught me off guard. ¡°You could say I¡¯ve been living in hell. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t appreciate everything you¡¯ve done for me, but... A place where I get whatever I want, as long as I don¡¯t leave, just feels like a cage. I¡¯ve¡­ I¡¯ve been waiting for the chance to carve my own path.¡±


    ¡°Then leave.¡± His tone was serious now, all traces of playfulness gone. ¡°Nyx, when I summoned you here, I wanted to see how an outsider¡¯s mind would interact with our world¡¯s magic. For us, everything we can do is already considered normal. But for you, it¡¯s new, and you actually take the time to learn from it.¡±


    I gave him a bitter grin. ¡°You do realize that once I start, I¡¯m not going to stop, right?¡±


    He stood up, placing a hand on my shoulder. ¡°Does that scare you?¡±


    I nodded. ¡°I wonder what I¡¯ll become. Where I¡¯ll be, a hundred steps from now. I¡¯ll need... power, more than I¡¯ll ever have without taking it from others. And the worst part is how eager I am to take it.¡±


    Ajuka¡¯s gaze was unflinching, but there was a hint of understanding in his eyes. ¡°And what exactly will you do with that power?¡±


    I closed my eyes, trying to glimpse the future. ¡°I want to create a world where everyone beneath me can be happy, no matter who or what they are. I want to make sure they reach their full potential, no matter who tries to stand in our way.¡±


    Ajuka¡¯s lips curled into a wry smile. ¡°The last one who attempted something like that called himself God, and we both know how that ended for him.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because he didn¡¯t have Satan on his side.¡±


    ?


    At long last, the day of my promotion test had arrived.


    Just as Lord Beelzebub had offered to let me bypass the process entirely, most descendants of the great pillars never had to take this exam. Their Evil Pieces were simply granted upon coming of age¡ªa birthright rather than something to be earned. After all, the primary purpose of reincarnation was to replenish the dwindling numbers of Devils left in the wake of the Great War. In that sense, this test held little value for me. At best, if I outperformed the rest, the news would spread across the Underworld, cementing my place as a true, powerful Devil¡ªplacing me above the common, weaker reincarnates and serving as a steppingstone for future political connections, which just wasn¡¯t something I was looking for.


    Of course, I couldn¡¯t take this test under the name Nyx Beelzebub. The divide between the Old and New Satan factions was already volatile enough; my mere existence risked igniting a premature civil war. So we had settled on an alias¡ªa name pulled from a long-forgotten house, erased centuries before. It would allow me to move freely, to interact with both sides of society without immediately drawing suspicion.


    Cervantis.


    A name with deep European roots, an easy excuse for my vampiric traits without revealing anything about my true nature.


    From now on, I would be Nyx Cervantis¡ªa young heir to a fallen house, seeking to restore his family''s former glory. A fitting story. A complete lie.


    I glanced around the classroom where we had just completed the written portion of the exam¡ªa tedious, mind-numbing questionnaire on the intricacies of Devil society, more akin to a citizenship test than a measure of power or worth. The room was filled with aspiring Kings, and I could tell that most were older than me by appearance alone. One could never reliably guess the age of a Devil, but the majority looked to be in their late twenties or early forties, which, in Devil years, meant they had likely lived for at least half a millennium. Many wore clothes that were worn at the edges, slightly faded¡ªsmall details, but ones that told me exactly where I was.


    Among the underdogs of the Underworld.


    For them, this test wasn¡¯t just a formality¡ªit was an insult. The old nobility saw the ranking system as an abomination, a disgrace that spat in the face of their so-called divine bloodlines. To even be asked to prove their worth, to take a test like some commoner, was a humiliation.


    And then there were the reincarnates¡ªlike me.


    They hadn¡¯t existed long enough to gain real influence in Devil society. Unlike the old houses, they had no ancient name to lean on, no inherent status to protect them. The only way they could claim a set of Evil Pieces was by convincing a King or sponsor to fund their attempt at promotion. Some sat stiff-backed, clearly overcompensating for their nerves, while others fidgeted in their seats, trying to hide the trembling in their hands.


    I recognized that look¡ªthe look of someone standing at the edge of something greater.


    For them, this test was everything. Their one chance to prove they weren¡¯t just the smallest fish in the pond, doomed to obscurity. Being a High Class Devil was the dream of their lives.


    For me?


    It was just the first step.


    ¡°Attention.¡±


    The room stiffened as we all rose to our feet. The servitor in charge¡ªa mature woman with sharp features and brown hair tied into a severe bun¡ªhad returned.


    ¡°We¡¯ve confirmed that all participants have achieved a reasonable score,¡± she announced, her voice crisp, efficient. ¡°Now, I will explain the rules of your combat test.¡±


    She made a brief pause. Just long enough to let her words settle.


    ¡°Each of you will be assigned to a group of six to eight participants, chosen at random. Once all groups are formed, you will be teleported to designated battlefields for open combat. As in a standard Grading Game, any participant who is defeated will be immediately removed from the field.¡±


    A murmur passed through the room. Uncertainty. Anticipation.


    ¡°Any questions?¡±


    An older man, draped in a heavy coat, stood slowly. He adjusted his sleeves, voice measured. ¡°Can we be reassured that our lives will not be in danger? If we are to face unknown opponents¡­¡±


    The servitor regarded him coolly. ¡°I can assure you that lethal force is not required to force a disqualification,¡± she said. Then, with a pointed edge, ¡°And should anyone attempt it, they will face the full extent of the institution¡¯s disciplinary measures.¡±


    The room was silent.


    Then, a younger girl¡ªno older than twenty¡ªraised a trembling hand.


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°C-Could I¡­ inquire¡­¡± she hesitated, swallowing hard, ¡°about the grading criteria for today, your evil authority?¡±


    The servitor turned her eyes on the girl, unimpressed. ¡°If you must know, we¡¯ll be watching your every move, evaluating your decision-making and magical mastery.¡± Her tone was clipped, as if the question itself was a waste of time. ¡°Being a High Class Devil is more than a measure of raw power. If a reincarnate like you aims that high, you should, at the very least, show that you¡¯ve mastered yourself.¡±


    No one else dared to speak after that.


    Without further delay, we were ushered into formation and led down a long, dimly lit corridor. The air smelled of old parchment and stone, a stark contrast to the grandeur above. Eventually, we came to a row of identical doors stretching into the distance.


    ¡°Choose whichever you like,¡± the servitor instructed.


    Without much thought, I turned right and slipped into one of the smaller chambers. It was a waiting room¡ªelegant but not gaudy, especially compared to the opulence of the manor. The furniture was nice enough, and the walls were adorned with minimalistic d¨¦cor. It was a room meant to calm and comfort, not impress.


    Avoiding the urge to sit, I moved to the small sink, letting cool water run over my fingers before splashing some on my face. The chill grounded me. As I looked up, my reflection stared back, scrutinizing. In truth, reincarnation had been a gift, perhaps more than I cared to admit. My skin was pale, unnaturally smooth¡ªflawless. The red eyes added an unsettling edge, making me seem far more intriguing than I felt. My blond hair, though, had grown wild, tumbling in disarray like a lion¡¯s mane, raining down along my face.


    I huffed, shaking my head.


    Whenever I stopped to really think about it, the idea of becoming a vampire demon and gathering a team of misfits to help me slay dragons and gods still felt like a fever dream, as if I had just died and gone to my own version of heaven, which just happened to be some shonen power fantasy. Deep down, I was still just a nameless¡ª


    A sharp, searing pain pushed through my skull.


    I staggered, catching myself on the sink as a wave of sound¡ªno, a wave of voices¡ªflooded my mind. It wasn¡¯t just one voice. It was hundreds, maybe thousands, all scraping against my consciousness like nails against glass, to the point where none of them could really be heard.


    They whispered through the veil of my thoughts, incomprehensible yet crushing. My teeth ground together, ears ringing as the weight of it pressed down, suffocating¡ª


    ????????????????????????????????????


    ??? ??? ????? ??????????????????????????????????????? ??????? ??????????????????? ???????????? ?????????????????? ???????????????? ??????????? ? ????????????????? ?????? ??? ????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????? ???????????????????? ?????????????? ???????????????????? ????? ??????????? ??? ???????????????


    And then, just as abruptly as it began, it stopped.


    The sudden silence was more deafening than the noise had been. My breaths were shallow, my pulse racing. I tasted salt on my tongue, the familiar hunger awakening somewhere deep behind my thoughts. Suppressing most of my old memories had helped reduce these incidents to a minimum, but I couldn¡¯t help but feel like I was missing something.


    Then, a detached voice rang out overhead.


    ¡°All participants, prepare for imminent teleportation.¡±


    I took a final breath before my body dissolved into a soft, blue light.


    When I rematerialized, I found myself standing in a vast, cavernous room. The sheer height of the walls made me feel insignificant, like an ant. It was a cube of cold metal and stone, glowing lines of magic were written into the corners, humming softly as they pulsed towards the hallways. It resembled the belly of some immense machine. The only marker was written on the ceiling: Sector C.


    ¡°Hey, you! Your¡­ demonship¡­ fella!¡±


    I turned toward the voice, and there, on the far side of the chamber, stood the girl from before. She was yelling across the room, her face twisted in an exaggerated snarl.


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna whoop your ass out of that fancy outfit of yours!¡±


    I glanced at her as she charged forward. She had dark skin and jagged, wolf-cut hair that was even darker framed her face, while her white button-up and black skirt¡ªtypical college attire¡ªflared out with every step. That wide grin and her direct attack told me all I needed to know: she wasn¡¯t new to violence. Using her head, though? That was another matter entirely.


    ¡°Wait,¡± I said, raising one hand. She skidded to a halt, confusion briefly flickering across her face.


    Without sparing her another glance, I walked past her, my eyes set on the exit.


    ¡°W-What are you doing?! Are you giving up?!¡±


    I didn¡¯t bother turning around. Instead, I pointed at the ceiling. ¡°If we¡¯re in Sector C, there¡¯s got to be an A and B. I¡¯m going to beat whoever wins those fights before they can take a break. You do the same.¡±


    She stood there, dumbfounded, her mouth slightly open as if she couldn¡¯t quite process what I¡¯d said. But since she didn¡¯t try to stop me, I kept walking. I could have taken a moment to appreciate the sheer scale of the underground cube-like prison, but at this point, it felt unnecessary. After all, it had Ajuka¡¯s fingerprints all over it.


    It was like living in your older brother¡¯s shadow, constantly stumbling upon his projects¡ªhis grand, intricate, genius creations. And honestly, if I¡¯d wanted to keep marveling at his work, I would¡¯ve stayed in front of a mirror.


    The path led me down a long flight of stairs, each step taking me deeper into a darker section of the complex. The faint glow of the magical lines embedded in the walls was the only source of light, casting eerie shadows as I descended. Then, faint at first but growing louder, came the sounds of battle¡ªgrunts, the clash of weapons, and the sharp crackle of magic in the air. The fight was close, just below, two combatants locked into each other, oblivious to my presence as I peered through a gap in the wall.


    ¡°Hey. Hey¡­ Fancy¡­ Yeah, you. Hey¡­¡± That same girl crept up beside me, tiptoeing with exaggerated care. Her voice was a harsh whisper. ¡°So¡­ when do we kill them?¡±


    I gave her a hard look, whispering back, ¡°Why are you here?!¡±


    ¡°You said we should kill the others first!¡± she hissed, clearly missing the point.


    ¡°I also said there are at least two other groups! Go for the others!¡±


    ¡°Well, I looked, but this place is massive, and after a while, it felt like you tricked me!¡± she whined.


    I let out a sigh and my eyes drifted back to the arena below¡ªtoo late to retreat or attack unnoticed. We¡¯d been spotted. The one good thing was that the fight had ended just in time, leaving a single opponent standing, a perfect target for us to pick off.


    ¡°Mine!¡± she yelled gleefully. In an instant, flames erupted around her, forcing me to step back. She extended her hands, the fire twisting and coiling into the shape of an infernal bow. ¡°Ehehe¡­ Fuga!¡±


    With a fiery roar, the attack shot forward like a meteor, engulfing the entire room. The Devil who had been standing there, holding a spear, was obliterated in an instant. Her Sacred Gear had made short work of him.


    ¡°Who¡­ the hell are you?¡± I asked.


    She turned slowly, a cocky grin spreading across her face. ¡°You¡¯re looking at the new champion of the Rating Games! Name¡¯s Kira. Buncha rich Devils brought me down here ¡®cause I¡¯m just that good!¡±


    We continued toward Sector A, our steps quick as we hoped to finish this test as soon as possible. But that Sacred Gear of hers lingered in my mind. It had raw power, sure, but it was clear she didn¡¯t fully control it. When she fired, the flames spread too far, scattering across the room, wasting half the attack for no reason. Worse, it was dangerous. If anyone had been standing nearby, they¡¯d have been caught in the blast. She had been lucky, as the Devil below had just finished a tough fight, being left pretty injured.


    This girl had talent, no doubt, but it seemed she was just beginning to grasp her potential. She relied on raw firepower to make up for her lack of precision and control, compensating for the skill she hadn¡¯t yet developed.


    I couldn¡¯t help but wonder how far she¡¯d go once she learned to master it¡ªor how dangerous she¡¯d become if she didn¡¯t.


    ¡°So¡­ Kira, right? Have you been a Devil for long?¡±


    She laughed with a heavy snort. ¡°Naaaah, not long. Was just another school rat until last month or so. Then this shady guy came ¡®round, scouting talent. Knew it was me the moment he looked my way. Nice to finally get noticed for what I am.¡±


    Well, someone¡¯s cocky as fuck. I would¡¯ve said something, but I didn¡¯t mind a joyful tomboy running her mouth every now and then¡ªA big girl who¡¯s a little dumb is always cute. Still, her words picked my interest even further. There was no way Devils are just taking people off the street and sponsoring their promotion tests nowadays. Even ignoring the cost of spending your Evil Pieces on them, the test price alone wasn¡¯t some pocket change you just threw around. I had my own way of making money down here¡ªsome work on the side, some favors for the servants at the manor¡ªbut her story simply didn¡¯t add up.


    There was a chance she was a big shot, one of those fast-rising prodigies, maybe even our very own Booba Dragon MC in the making. But the possibility of that was basically zero.


    My thoughts scattered as we entered Sector A, and the complete silence hit me like a wall. The room stretched out in front of us¡ªlong, rectangular, unnervingly still, like a crushed accordion. No signs of struggle or battle, just a blanket of quiet darkness. It felt... wrong. Like no one had been teleported here at all.


    Then, without warning.


    An arrow whistled through the shadows, speeding towards my face. Years of trained reflexes kicked in, and my Sacred Gear, the red scarf, reacted instinctively. It extended like a living arm, catching the projectile mid-flight before it could meet its mark.


    ¡°Oh? This one appears to be capable.¡± A sophisticated, feminine voice came from the far corner. ¡°And would you look at that, Dantalion. It seems like we weren¡¯t the only one who thought about forming a little partnership.¡±


    Two figures emerged from their little corner, both clearly pure-blood Devils, their old yet finely tailored outfits making it known without a word. One of them, a ginger-haired man with a bastard sword resting on his shoulder, stepped forward.


    ¡°I told you we should have gone looking for them,¡± he spat, eyes narrowing. ¡°I guess it doesn¡¯t matter. Any Devil who¡¯s recruiting the help of humans can¡¯t be worth much trouble.¡±


    Everybody¡¯s feeling fucking confident today, huh.


    I looked down, then at my companion. ¡°Can you take care of the archer?¡±


    Her face lit up with excitement. ¡°Leave it to me. I¡¯ve still got plenty of fire left!¡±


    Suppressing a grin, I dropped down to the lower level, meeting the ginger Devil¡ªDantalion¡ªhalfway across the room. ¡°Never fought a Pillar Devil before. Always wondered if they¡¯re all worth the fuss.¡±


    ¡°And what are you supposed to be?¡± he asked, sizing me up. ¡°Another one of these watered-down Imps trying to claim a throne they didn¡¯t help build?¡±


    I held his gaze, my expression cold. ¡°Just old blood in a new skin, taking what I¡¯m owed.¡±


    Dantalion''s lips curved slightly, as if he found some amusement in my words. Then he nodded slowly, with the weight of understanding. ¡°Then may hell judge us both.¡±


    I took a half-step back and gripped my Sacred Gear, allowing it to flow down my arm and into my hand. There, I gripped it with just the tips of my fingers, and focused on mentalizing the shape¡ªthe weapon¡ªI wanted for this fight.


    ¡°Second Hardblood Art ¡ª Split.¡±


    From the crystallized crimson essence, a massive pair of scissors materialized in my grasp. I gripped them tightly, the weight familiar, and with a sharp snap, I broke them apart into two shining swords.


    Dantalion¡¯s eyes flickered with something¡ªrecognition, perhaps even respect. He readied his stance, his hand tightening around the hilt of his bastard sword. ¡°Impressive. That¡¯s not bad at all... I know all too well how hard it is to reclaim a legacy that was always yours by birthright.¡± He paused, studying me. ¡°If I defeat you, would you consider a generous offer?¡±


    ¡°If you defeat me,¡± I replied tiredly, ¡°I¡¯ll join you without hesitation. But I¡¯ve already made my Queen wait too long¡ªI can¡¯t afford to disappoint her now.¡±


    The ambience thickened with anticipation, a final moment of silence hanging between us like the calm before a storm. And then, with a violent roar, the air above our heads erupted in flames, scorching the ceiling in a cascade of heat.


    With no more words left to say, we both pushed forward, blades gleaming as they clashed under the inferno¡¯s light.


    We traded blows, each strike cold, calculated, as two warriors trying to claim the other¡¯s life. But with every clash of our weapons, my initial excitement drained away, leaving only a cold sense of disappointment, which I tried to conceal behind a mask of focus.


    For a brief moment, I had allowed myself to forget¡ªI am already a King.


    Unlike the other pieces, the King is a raw multiplier of power, capable of enhancing your strength tenfold or even a hundredfold. Under normal circumstances, this Devil¡ªwho had lived for centuries¡ªwould have the physical advantage. I should¡¯ve been relying on my wits, skill, and strategy to overcome his strength and experience. But instead¡­ it felt like sparring with a child. There was no weight behind his strikes, no force that demanded my full attention. His efforts were genuine, but to me, they lacked substance¡ªhollow, predictable, weak, boring.


    ¡°You¡¯re more skilled than you look,¡± he said as we paused, his breath uneven.


    ¡°You¡¯re not half-bad yourself,¡± I replied, my tone polite but distant. ¡°But I¡¯ve already shown you my bloodline¡¯s technique, while you¡¯ve held back. Can we really call this a fair duel?¡±


    He smiled, a mix of pride and challenge flashing across his face. ¡°You speak truth. Then allow me to show you why even other Devils have learned to fear the seventy-two.¡±


    His stance shifted, knees bent as he leveled his sword, power gathering along the blade. I could hear the steel groaning under the pressure, threatening to snap at any moment. ¡°You¡¯ve proven yourself, so witness¡ªbehold the might of my Demonic Overload!¡±


    I could¡¯ve stopped him, probably with one hand, but there was no need to humiliate the man. Drawing unnecessary attention would only complicate matters. The politics of the Underworld were already treacherous enough. So, as he prepared to strike, I extended my blood-forged blade. His arm ran into it as he attacked, earning him a deep gash. Rolling to the side, I dodged the burst of energy from his failed attack as if my life was on the line.


    As the short battle drew to a close, my opponent remained standing, though barely. His hand, mangled and limp, hung at his side, blood trickling from the deep cut. The familiar shimmer of teleportation magic began to swirl around him. ¡°I see... so this is the power of a true demonic blade,¡± he muttered, a resigned sigh escaping his lips as his body vanished from sight.


    The moment passed, and I barely had time to reset before another arrow whistled through the air, aimed directly at my head. I was forced to dodge this time, my Sacred Gear slowly going back into its scarf form. The previous fight had done little to wear me down¡ªhis strikes hadn¡¯t even scratched my weapons, so no blood was lost. But I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of frustration it left on me.


    I let out a breath, shifting my focus. In an instant, I closed the distance between myself and the archer, the room a blur as I crossed it in a heartbeat.


    ¡°What?!¡±


    The woman, already scorched and wounded, barely had time to react. One backhanded slap sent her rolling down to the lower level, her body tumbling as she disappeared into the familiar glow of teleportation magic.


    ¡°Hey!¡± came a cry from behind me. My companion was still on her feet, but she struggled. Kira clutched her ribs, her breaths labored. ¡°That one was mine!¡±


    Despite the bravado in her voice, her body told a different story. Sweat glistened on her brow, and her entire frame trembled from overexertion. She had pushed herself too far, tapping into her magic and her Sacred Gear beyond what her untrained body could handle. There were no visible wounds, but it was clear that the strain of conjuring fireballs out of thin air had left its mark on the young girl.


    I glanced at Kira, taking in her state. ¡°Stay here,¡± I said calmly. ¡°If you push yourself any more, you¡¯ll burn out, and they¡¯ll teleport you out of here. I don¡¯t feel like fighting some defenseless girl, so let me handle the rest. You can take a breather, we¡¯ll settle this when you¡¯re ready.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t just leave me here!¡± she protested, screaming.


    As it turned out, I could, in fact, leave her there.

 Chapter 3: Round And Around

    There was another reason I decided to leave Kira behind. I was slipping.


    Pressing my tongue against the roof of my mouth no longer silenced the void gnawing at my core. It was an emptiness that started at my fangs, spreading through my gut like a creeping infection, a hunger that demanded I act. The ache was slow, insidious, ugly¡ªhaunting me. It wasn¡¯t strong enough to make me lose control, not yet, but I could feel it clawing at the edges of my mind, cutting my thoughts short at the worst moments. For the most part, I had always managed to keep my bloodthirst under control. But there were days¡ªrare and dangerous¡ªwhen I needed to feed, and today, of all days, felt like one of them.


    The short exercise, followed by the girl¡¯s panting, had really stirred my appetite. For a bloodfiend like me, an unharmed human who could no longer fight back was like steak on a silver platter. Even if she had already been reincarnated as a Devil, it hardly made any difference to my most feral instincts. I couldn¡¯t tell if it was because I was originally a human too, or a preference engraved on all vampires, but the smell of rushing, pumping human blood would simply mess with my head more than any other, unraveling me bit by bit. The only solution was distance¡ªfor both our sakes.


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    A familiar figure blocked my path as I made my way toward Sector D, which loomed higher than the others, isolated. The area was unusually well-lit, but it wasn¡¯t sunlight¡ªthe light here didn¡¯t burn or discomfort me like the real thing would. The large figure stood still, watching me as we regarded each other in silence, both waiting for the other to make the first move.


    "You don¡¯t look well, lad," the old man observed, his gravelly voice echoing through. "Am I to assume you¡¯ll be my final opponent?"


    "There¡¯s no one else behind me for you to worry about."


    "Impressive," he said, though his tone held a note of disappointment. With a casual flick of his wrist, a butcher¡¯s cleaver appeared in his hand. "I¡¯ll be mindful of my strength, then. It would be a shame to disqualify myself, after all."


    I didn¡¯t bother summoning a weapon this time. He looked strong, sure, but if my last fight was anything to go by... I had little to worry about. Chances were, this would be over very quickly.


    I leaped forward without hesitation, my demonic body spinning in the air, falling with an axe kick that could¡¯ve cleaved through an oak tree. Yet, with a single gloved hand, the old man caught it effortlessly.


    ¡°Ah¡­ I see now. You are strong. Remarkably so." His tone remained casual, unaffected, even as his fingers flexed with enough power to stop my attack. "Tell me, are you a reincarnate?¡±


    The question was unnervingly calm. His strength, however, was not. The next moment, his cleaver arced through the air, faster than I could react. I barely evaded death, but not without a cost¡ªa line of crimson streaked across my chest, blood spilling onto the floor.


    "I guess I earned that one," I muttered, gritting my teeth as I pressed a hand against the wound to coagulate it.


    The old man chuckled softly, amused. "Oh, the youngsters these days... capable of all sorts of tricks." His eyes gleamed as he flicked his arm, blood splattering off the weapon. "Now, allow me to show you something worth boasting about."


    Before I could even brace myself, he raised a palm towards me, and my body was pulled off the ground, drawn towards him as if gravity itself had been twisted.


    ¡°Second Hardblood Art ¡ª Split!¡±


    I reacted on instinct, breaking off the scissors again and fusing the two halves into a massive double-bladed polearm. With the extended reach, I slammed the weapon down on his shoulder before he could tighten his grip on me and vaulted over his head, attempting to escape.


    But the old man didn¡¯t flinch. He ignored the blow entirely, his fingers seizing the weapon mid-swing, and slammed me into the wall with bone-crushing force, sending a shockwave through my body before I even hit the ground. He followed up with a punch, which I managed to parry by deflecting his arm with my polearm, but he didn¡¯t care. His knuckles slammed straight into my face, crunching against my nose.


    This man was a fucking monster.


    Staggering back, I gasped for breath, tasting blood. "How...?! Who the hell are you?!"


    "Me?" His smile was almost kind, which made it worse. "Just a simple old Devil, lad. Don¡¯t be too hard on yourself. How old are you?"


    "Nineteen," I spat.


    "Nineteen?" He laughed. "Oh my. In another nineteen years, I¡¯ll be over six thousand."


    "Six thousand years¡­ and you''re applying for a peerage?!"


    "Well¡­" He shrugged casually. "At my age, you hardly pay attention to such things. I never imagined these silly games of fighting would become quite so important, but they¡¯ve gotten quite popular, haven¡¯t they? So I thought, why not join in the fun?"


    So this is how it feels to get casually bodied, huh.


    I stood back up and gripped my weapon more tightly.


    Split had always been my go-to form for tough opponents¡ªa versatile, reliable weapon, perfect for a duel. It was fun, too, allowing me to switch things up mid-fight and catch my enemies off guard by changing forms. But here it wouldn¡¯t be enough. Not against him.


    I exhaled slowly, emptying my mind as I focused on my own designs, summoning every ounce of strength I could muster. The familiar weight of my Sacred Gear responded to my call, the weapon vibrating in my grip. But this time, I pushed further, channeling my energy. The air around me grew dense, tinged with the metallic scent of blood as it coiled and hardened. Bit by bit, the weapon shifted, weaving itself, its jagged edges spiraling outward, forming into the intricate shape of a massive spear. A curling mass of razor-sharp blood, hardened to the point of no return.


    This was my most powerful weapon, but it came with a price. Each time I summoned it, the blood solidified to a degree that could never revert to liquid form. It was a one-time weapon, requiring me to sacrifice a significant portion of my reserves. I had to make it count.


    ¡°Secret Hardblood Art ¡ª La Sangre.¡±


    The old man¡¯s eyes filled with curiosity. "Ah¡­ finally getting serious, are we?" he joked, taking a single step forward. "Good. I do not enjoy beating children.¡±


    I didn¡¯t respond. There was no time for banter. This attack had to hit its mark or I wouldn¡¯t have a second chance. I threw myself forward just as the spear started spinning, ready to turn everything in our path to blood and flesh. I was eager, greedy, excited, I wanted to know what this Devil¡¯s blood would taste like.


    My opponent remained steady, putting one of his palms out again, but this time I found myself pushed back. It was as if the distance in between us grew greater and greater the closer I got, like trying to cross an invisible sea just to reach him, a dense mass that pressed me down the moment I gave an inch. Screaming to the top of my lungs, blood running down my nose, I managed to overcome the pressure and push through. La Sangre finally came into contact with his hand, and it took a merciless bite¡ªshe had always been a gluttonous one.


    He tried to punch me again, but this time he couldn¡¯t just ignore my parry and push through. With the spear spinning by itself like a wall of broken teeth, all I had to do was hold strong and let him take the worst of the trade. Serious now, the man slammed his cleaver down, untangling herself from the messy trade and stepping away.


    ¡°Child, would you tell me your name?¡± He shook his arm, blood splattering away.


    ¡°Nyx. Nyx Cervantis.¡±


    ¡°Cervantis?¡± He paused. ¡°That does ring a bell¡­ No wonder that old man Dracula was always complaining about your people. Nineteen and already stirring up trouble. As a show of respect, I will end this quickly.¡±


    I braced for his next move, but before I could do anything, my body dropped to one knee. It felt like the world itself was crushing me, the pressure immense, suffocating. My bones groaned under the strain, and breathing became a painful task. My legs refused to move, pinned beneath the crushing force of his magic.


    ¡°You¡¯ve shown me a respectable effort. Now, succumb, under the hand of Marbas.¡±


    I wanted to scream, to fight back, but the weight was too much. I could barely move, my vision darkening as I slipped towards unconsciousness. The numbness was all-consuming, until¡ª


    Boom!


    A wave of searing heat crashed into me, snapping me back to my senses. Flames erupted, the explosion slamming into the old Devil with a force that rocked the ground. My clothes were licked by the fire, but I didn¡¯t care. The moment his concentration broke, I rushed forward, driving La Sangre straight through his body, impaling him from side to side. For a moment, he gripped the spear, and I feared he might still fight¡ªbut then, slowly, he began to fade, his form dissipating like smoke.


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    I let out a ragged breath, finally turning around to see Kira standing there, her grin wide and wicked.


    ¡°You know what they say,¡± she quipped. ¡°Send a man to fight a Devil and be ready to pull him out¡­ No, that wasn¡¯t it¡­ A man who pulls out¡­ won¡¯t beat the Devil. Eh, somethin¡¯ like that.¡±


    Oh, god. She¡¯s fucking retarded¡­ I want her.


    Exhausted, I gave her a nod of gratitude, managing a weak smile. ¡°Not bad for a human.¡±


    ¡°Anytime,¡± she replied with an exhausted wink.


    And then, having spent all of her magical energy, she vanished too.


    ?


    ¡°Kneel and be reborn under the grace of Satan.¡±


    The ceremony had required careful preparation, making us wait for quite a bit despite it being held in the same bureaucratic building we had been stuck in all day. This time, we were on the uppermost floor, standing within an ornate chapel that depicted the Underworld''s history in vivid stained glass panels. Heavy clouds of brimstone filled the air, signaling the beginning of the rite. The crowd, if it could be called that, consisted mostly of minor, discardable familiars sent by those hoping to catch a glimpse of the next generation while keeping their own agendas hidden. Only a few families, those with no other choice at hand, had sent actual representatives. So, we stood surrounded by a sparse gathering of young reincarnates and ancient imps


    One by one, the three of us¡ªthe old man, Kira, and I¡ªwere summoned to the private sanctum, each returning to a brief moment of reverence and polite applause after receiving our Evil Pieces.


    The sanctum itself was an excessive display of wealth, an opulent space with enough cushions and fur-covered seats to accommodate a small court. Yet, in this lavish setting, there were only two people: the woman who had guided us before and me.


    I sank into one of the fur-lined seats, deliberately casual, disrespectful. If I was going to pretend to be the successful heir of an ancient house, I needed to act the part every now and then. She, however, remained unshaken, her impeccable composure intact. Without acknowledging my provocation, she gracefully reached for the teapot on the center table and poured, the motion smooth and practiced.


    ¡°A number of esteemed houses have expressed interest in your future,¡± she announced with poise. ¡°Shall we discuss such information, or would you prefer to first acquire your own Evil Pieces?¡±


    Unlike earlier in the morning, her tone had shifted completely, now acknowledging me with an air of reverence and implied submission, as if the demonic hierarchy had simply overridden all personal opinion.


    ¡°I would prefer to see what fate has in store for me. It would be unwise to engage in negotiations without full knowledge of the matter at hand.¡±


    ¡°As you wish,¡± she responded smoothly.


    With a graceful motion, she reached beneath the table and retrieved a lockbox, similar in form to the one Beelzebub had shown me. It was a sleek, metallic briefcase, though this one appeared almost impenetrable, like a single slab of steel forged to be untouched by curious hands.


    ¡°Upon imprinting your blood seal on the surface, the box will bond to you as an inanimate familiar. You will henceforth be able to access its contents at your own discretion. However, do understand that we, as an organization, hold no means of divining what lies within. Whatever fortune or misfortune you may encounter is yours alone to bear, and we must beg that you withhold the blame.¡±


    I inclined my head in acknowledgment, biting my thumb and letting the blood seep onto the cool metal. With a swift stroke, I inscribed my signature into its surface. True to her word, the box gave a soft click, and its two halves parted, revealing its contents.


    The Evil Pieces awaited within, black and smooth¡ªperfect, save for one. The Queen stood out, jagged and fractured, much like my own piece had been so long ago. It felt appropriate, in a way; after all, Evil Pieces were said to reflect the will of their kings and owners. My choice of Queen would define everything. It was my one obsession, the one thing in which I couldn¡¯t fail.


    And now, my opportunity had come.


    "Congratulations," the woman said, her tone polite but distant. "I would say you were lucky. But then again, your performance spoke for itself¡ªeven if it did require... unfortunate circumstances."


    ¡°Which means?¡±


    ¡°Well, while your use of a lesser Devil may have been strategically sound, it seems some families were... unsettled by the display. Speaking of which, shall I begin listing the propositions in any particular order?¡±


    I considered her offer for a moment. ¡°Start with the most relevant.¡±


    ¡°In that case, you¡¯ll be pleased to hear that Lord Sirzechs Lucifer has expressed his desire for a private audience. He commends the resurgence of the House of Cervantis and wishes to reestablish the bonds his family once shared with your forebears.¡±


    And just like that, I was back into panic mode.


    ?


    There¡¯s not much to say when a Satan sends word requesting an audience. It¡¯s not as if you¡¯re explicitly required to attend, but you are required to attend. Especially when you''ve built an identity from the ground up with just lies and now find yourself thrown into a delicate web of political power plays.


    None of the ancient records about the Cervantis family I had unearthed mentioned any clear ties between them and Gremory, but I wasn¡¯t about to send a reply to Lucifer questioning his interpretation of history. Regardless of the other requests I¡¯d received¡ªfrom Sairaorg Bael, Ravel Phenex, and others¡ªany business involving a Satan took precedence. That was the unspoken law of the Underworld.


    And so, it was clear what I had to do.


    One might assume that managing a single city-state would be enough to occupy any ruler, but Sirzechs Lucifer was no common man. As both a Gremory and a Satan, his dominion stretched far beyond a mere city. His combined territory and wealth were vast¡ªso vast that it could rival some nations, all without the need for the kind of industrial revolution my creator had pursued.


    Our meeting took place less than an hour after my promotion to High Class. The letter Sirzechs had left with the servitor included a teleportation crest, and upon my arrival, I was greeted by his wife¡ªGrayfia Lucifuge¡ªdressed in a traditional French maid uniform, a sight that absolutely had to be some kind of open fetish between them.


    To be honest, if I hadn¡¯t had the foresight of a reincarnate, I might have said something extremely stupid when meeting her. Especially since I was still trying to sell the notion that I was a mysterious European vampire. Grayfia, as Queens went, was the epitome of discretion and grace. No doubt that played a large part in why a Satan like Sirzechs had chosen her. Still, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that his decision hadn¡¯t been purely political. It was impossible to ignore Grayfia¡¯s figure¡ªan almost sinful, erotic hourglass that moved with effortless elegance. Watching her glide across the halls in that modest maid¡¯s apron, it wasn¡¯t hard to see how Sirzechs and Issei had bonded so easily and so quickly. She certainly had nothing to envy from Rias Gremory. The woman had more than enough "cake" to ensure her master never went hungry while managing his millions of subjects.


    Unfortunately for me, polygamy among noblewomen in the Underworld was a rarity. The harems were reserved for men, which meant the chances of me ever indulging in the pleasures of Grayfia¡¯s "cooking" stood barely above zero. I pushed that thought aside and forced myself to look away as she led me through the mansion''s grand halls to her master¡¯s office. Then, without a word, she excused herself.


    The sound of the door closing behind me reverberated through the room, and I instinctively took a deep breath. Under different circumstances, such a display might have been considered improper, crude¡ªan insult, even¡ªbut Satans understood better than anyone the overwhelming effect their presence could have on mere demons.


    "Lord Lucifer," I bowed deeply, offering the respect one should always extend when meeting an unholy god. "I am¡ª"


    The man standing by the fireplace turned with a grin that was both warm and mischievous. "You''re Ajuka''s kid, right? I never imagined we''d meet like this! Come, sit down. We should be celebrating your big day!"


    For a moment, my brain stuttered, struggling to catch up with the casual familiarity in his tone. "You¡­ knew?"


    "Of course, I knew," Sirzechs chuckled. "As much as I despise politics, even I have to keep an eye on the major players at the table. Though¡­" He paused, his gaze sweeping over me with mild curiosity. "I¡¯ll admit, I thought you¡¯d be younger¡ªmaybe closer to my own son¡¯s age. Imagine my surprise when you decided to suddenly abandon the shadows."


    I hesitated before asking, "Then may I ask why you have summoned me?"


    "Ah, straight to business, I see." He shook his head, though the playfulness remained in his eyes. "For the important part. I wanted to meet my best friend¡¯s¡­ family? Son?"


    "More like a¡­ bloody little brother," I muttered under my breath, still trying to make sense of his relaxed demeanor.


    Sirzechs only laughed. "Since you''re eager to get to the point, I won¡¯t waste your time." His tone shifted as his expression turned more serious. "Nyx¡­ Nyx Beelzebub. Would you consider joining my sister¡¯s peerage?"


    My brow furrowed instinctively, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth despite myself.


    "She¡¯s still looking for most of her pieces," he went on. "Rias might not be on my level, but make no mistake¡ªshe is a Gremory, and you¡¯d be lucky to find a better King.¡±


    Walking over to the intricately adorned desk, I planted my hands on its polished surface and locked eyes with him. "How much do you really know about me?"


    "Hardly anything, to be honest," Sirzechs admitted, shrugging slightly. "You two did a remarkable job keeping your existence under wraps. Ajuka barely mentioned you, even after I joked about it, letting him know I was aware of you."


    That sounded just like Ajuka Beelzebub. He was always a man who played his cards close to the chest. It left me with a few options¡ªdecisions on how much to reveal and how much to keep for myself. After all, when dealing with a Devil, it¡¯s best to hold something valuable in hand and something even more valuable in reserve, should they ever start to doubt your worth.


    "And what about my¡­ precognition?" I asked, testing the waters.


    "Precognition?" His eyes narrowed, intrigued. "Like divination?"


    I nodded, a bit more confident. "I possess¡­ knowledge of certain events that will take place over the next few years."


    Sirzechs leaned back, pressing a thoughtful fist to his chin. "So, you¡¯ve already planned your actions in advance. A long game¡­" He sighed, looking tired. "I should¡¯ve expected no less from Ajuka''s prot¨¦g¨¦. Alright then, give me an example. What do you plan to do?"


    I hesitated for only a moment before playing another card.


    "Just one," I said, voice steady. "I intend to become the next wielder of the Welsh Dragon."


    For a split second, Sirzechs scrutinized me, as if trying to see if I was being serious. Then, he laughed again¡ªa deep, almost delighted sound. "Interesting¡­ You¡¯ve certainly piqued my curiosity now." With a snap of his fingers, a small flame flickered into existence, from which a white Rook appeared, floating in midair. "This is my last Evil Piece. I¡¯ve been saving it for someone special. If you''re not keen on joining my sister¡¯s peerage, maybe you''d consider joining mine?"


    I shook my head with a quiet huff. "There is something you can do for me, though. If you want me to owe you a favor. I am planning to attend Kuoh Academy this coming year. I wouldn¡¯t mind if Rias were to¡­ become aware of my existence. On her own terms. Maybe even curious enough to reach out to me."


    Sirzechs arched an eyebrow. "So, you refuse both my sister¡¯s peerage and mine¡­ yet you still want Rias to try and recruit you?"


    I met his gaze with a knowing smile. "Everything I¡¯ve planned would go smoother with Rias Gremory by my side. I¡¯m no pawn, but when the time comes, I¡¯ll protect her. Is that the answer you were hoping for?"


    For a fleeting moment, I caught something in his eyes¡ªa flicker of concern hidden behind his friendly demeanor. "Am I to assume," he began carefully, "that these events you¡¯ve foreseen will involve Rias in some way?"


    "Many," I confirmed. "She¡¯ll be in danger... more than she should be. I¡¯m not saying she wouldn¡¯t survive on her own, but it¡¯ll be easier with my help. I¡¯ll do my best, at least."


    Sirzechs considered this as if weighing unseen options. "And all I have to do is write you a letter of recommendation?"


    I grinned, a playful edge in my voice. "Well... and run the risk that I might end up making her my first wife. Unless my future Queen takes a sudden liking to me, in which case Rias will have to settle for being the second."


    The little joke seemed to break the tension, Sirzechs letting out a tired but genuine sound of relief. He sat up straighter, a bit of the previous weight lifting from the room. "I may need to remind Ajuka of his place if all his creations start hitting on my sister. But for now... that does sound like a reasonable deal."


    He extended his hand across the desk, and I clasped it firmly. The handshake sealed our silent understanding before I turned to leave, teleporting back to the Beelzebub estate for what would likely be my final visit for quite some time.


    Of course, no sooner had I arrived, the master of the manor was already there, waiting for me¡ªundoubtedly aware of everything that had just transpired.


    ¡°Change of plans?¡± he asked, his voice as neutral as ever.


    ¡°No, but there¡¯s something I need to ask.¡±


    ¡°Wait.¡± Before I could turn away towards my room, he reached into his coat and tossed me a familiar, cold package. A bag of blood. ¡°You did well. I¡¯d hoped you wouldn¡¯t have to reveal as much to pass the test, but it wasn¡¯t anything our little narrative can¡¯t smooth over. Good job.¡±


    Catching the bag in midair, I could already smell the faint, metallic tang of human blood, even before opening it. Where does someone even acquire bags of human blood in the Underworld at a reasonable price? Then again, that''s exactly the kind of question you don¡¯t ask out loud. And considering half of my scarf had turned a sickly, pale hue, like a drained body, and I could feel the faint beginnings of dizziness clawing at my mind, now wasn¡¯t the time to get moralistic.


    ¡°That girl who passed the exam with me.¡± I tore off the tip of the bag with my teeth. I didn¡¯t need to drink it, but it always felt more satisfying this way.


    ¡°Kira Manchester?¡± Ajuka raised an eyebrow, his face a mixture of surprise, mild disappointment, and... was that disinterest? Concern? ¡°What about her?¡±


    ¡°Any idea who¡¯s grabbing girls off the street and turning them into High-Class Devils?¡±


    The slight twitch in his expression was enough to tell me I¡¯d just crossed into one of those questions.


    ¡°There¡¯s been... an increase in certain practices," he replied carefully. "All pure-blooded, High Devils are entitled to a set of Evil Pieces, but not all of them are interested in building a peerage.¡±


    The realization struck me like a punch to the gut. ¡°So they sell their spots, give the humans a test ride, and sell off the ones that pass at a premium?¡±


    Ajuka¡¯s gaze darkened, his lips thinning. ¡°I¡¯ve... been reflecting on how I feel about it myself. But yes, that¡¯s the general idea. A lot of Devils would pay a fortune for a worthy pawn.¡±


    I swallowed a mouthful of blood, feeling the familiar warmth spread through my body, temporarily quieting the gnawing hunger. The silence between us stretched, heavy and unsettling.


    ¡°They¡¯re being treated like livestock,¡± I muttered, half to myself. ¡°Sometimes I still forget we¡¯re just doing slavery with extra steps. Any idea who¡¯s buying that idiot?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re leaving for the human world tomorrow. I was hoping you¡¯d be either too clever or too ignorant to get yourself involved.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s the problem with making people, they don¡¯t always do what you want. Better to remind you of that before I leave, wouldn¡¯t want you to get lonely and start working on another one.¡±


    ¡°Careful, Nyx. You keep toying with that one chance at life.¡±


    ¡°Are you going to tell me who¡¯s buying her or not?¡± My patience was wearing thin, and the fact that he hadn''t answered right away told me everything I needed to know.


    ¡°There¡¯ll be an auction later tonight. Girls like her don¡¯t come with a fixed price. But if I had to make a guess... the most enthusiastic and, unfortunately, wealthiest bidder would be Diodora Astaroth. He¡¯s become quite known for¡­ acquiring any promising young woman, for a while at least.¡±


    I took a deep breath before throwing the half-drained blood bag out the window, the glass shattering as it disappeared into the night.


    ¡°Looks like I¡¯m drinking straight from the tap tonight.¡±

 Chapter 4: Hell For Two

    "The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep."


    Diodora Astaroth was the type of man who earned the Underworld its reputation as Hell. There was no worse King one could be bound to¡ªan unhinged lunatic obsessed with capturing religious women, breaking them both physically and mentally, and turning them into mindless sex dolls for his twisted peerage. Then, the girls would be reincarnated as Devils and forced to slavishly pledge their loyalty to him.


    Kira didn¡¯t seem like the kind of girl who¡¯d fit his usual preferences, but apparently, she¡¯d been snatched from some prestigious Catholic school. Would that be enough for her to meet his sick standards? I didn¡¯t particularly care. Anyone who bought people for their peerage was a weirdo in my book, and I wasn¡¯t about to wait around to find out how far Diodora would draw the line or exactly where she would end up.


    Unfortunately, whether I liked it or not, half of Devil society now knew who I was and what I was capable of. I was the chitchat of the town tonight, I couldn¡¯t just waltz through the front door and hope they¡¯d forget my face when all was said and done. No, I¡¯d have to resort to more... traditional methods of killing.


    I wiped down my sword and slung it across my back. The blade was a massive two-handed longsword¡ªnothing ornate, just a raw piece of metal I¡¯d stolen years ago because I knew it would come in handy eventually. It didn¡¯t need to be beautiful. It only needed to overpower anyone foolish enough to stand in my way without their own King piece.


    ¡°Nyx,¡± Ajuka¡¯s voice cut through the silence. His usual composure was absent.. ¡°Are you planning on making this girl your bishop?¡±


    I paused, glancing over at him. It was rare to see him like this¡ªunsettled.


    ¡°Not particularly, no.¡±


    ¡°Then why?¡± His brow furrowed slightly. ¡°Why are you so fixated on this? I never took you for the heroic type.¡±


    I finished fastening the last strap of my light armor, feeling the familiar weight settle on my shoulders as the small plates of steel came into place. ¡°If I said it just sounded fun, would you punch me in the face?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    I shrugged, turning to face him fully. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I just feel like if I don¡¯t do something, I¡¯ll regret it later. It¡¯d be a shame if we crossed paths again and she was... broken. A puppet with nothing left inside. I¡¯d feel like I missed my shot at making a difference. Didn¡¯t take many risks in my last life¡­ might as well start now, since you¡¯re not going to kill me.¡±


    Ajuka stared at me like I had just gifted him a migraine. ¡°I¡¯ll chalk it up to suicidal hyperfixation,¡± he muttered, shaking his head. ¡°But for your own sake, keep it discreet. You know I¡¯ll back you where I can, but don¡¯t come back crying to me if you scrape your knees. I can¡¯t afford to throw my weight around right now.¡±


    ¡°Is that your way of telling me not to scream your name if I accidentally kill one of your family members?¡±


    I said it with a smirk, half-joking, but there was a bitter edge to it. On one hand, it felt good to say it aloud and not get my head smashed in for it. On the other hand, I had to remember that Ajuka still didn¡¯t know his own family was part of the conspiracy to overthrow the new government¡ªand possibly kill him¡ªby shoving magical snakes up their asses. So I was being a bit of an asshole, which wasn¡¯t exactly out of character, but I really needed to pull myself together, even if I wanted nothing more than to turn Diodora into nutritional paste for the homunculi.


    ¡°Look, for what it¡¯s worth, I promise I¡¯ll try not to kill your family.¡±


    Ajuka groaned, rubbing his temples, and turned toward the door. ¡°Please, just don¡¯t get captured. If things go sideways, find a place to send me a message and I¡¯ll try to teleport you out.¡±


    ¡°Yes, mother.¡±


    ?


    The auction building looked more like an embassy than a den of illegal dealings¡ªsmall, palace-like in a modern sense. It wasn¡¯t as grand or archaic as the medieval estates of the pure-blooded lords, but it had the same air of entitlement, a place designed to host lavish meetings and extravagant parties without a shred of humility. I¡¯d expected a house of slavery to be more... hidden. Maybe some underground hole or a secluded facility at the limits of the Underworld, where masked figures exchanged whispers in the dark, far from the eyes of the Satans.


    But tonight was different. It was a night of prideful celebration. They weren¡¯t trying to hide anything¡ªin fact, they were boasting about it. Lights and music bled from the building, announcing the festivities to anyone who passed by. The whole thing was on display, as if they wanted the world to know what was happening behind those doors.


    I had to remind myself that my understanding of this world had been colored by the few decent Kings I knew. Of course, in a society where power dictated your worth, humans were little more than commodities, traded and sold like livestock the moment they swore their lives to the wrong Devil.


    Their arrogance, however, did offer one advantage. If an organization this large had taken their security seriously, I¡¯d never have been able to sneak in unnoticed. But the more you invest in magical protections, the higher the risk of accidentally harming a clumsy guests who¡¯d wandered off into the garden. And in the Underworld, taking too many precautions was as disgraceful as taking none. A desperate businessman might cover his back, but not so much that he appeared fearful or weak.


    Judging by the weak charms I found while jumping the fence and crossing the back garden, whoever was running tonight¡¯s little affair was betting his soul that nothing would go wrong. No, it felt more as if they just needed this night to work out smoothly, no matter what. That was probably why they¡¯d moved their little party to just hours after we were promoted, they couldn¡¯t afford to waste the free publicity for even a moment.


    Upon reaching the building, the only thing standing between me and the entrance to the basement was a bulky guard, built like a gorilla on steroids. He was blocking the way, but I didn¡¯t bother thinking twice. I leaned into my vampiric physiology, blending effortlessly into the cold shadows around me. By the time he noticed me, it was too late¡ªhis eyes barely had time to widen before my heavy blade severed his head in one clean swing.


    I dealt with the remains, making sure they vanished before they even touched the ground. Bones always left a disgusting aftertaste, like biting into chalk, but when you¡¯re a bloodfiend, some things are just part of the job. The advantages always outweighed the inconveniences, so I couldn¡¯t complain too much.


    As I moved into the building, I was surprised by how empty it felt. Given my understanding, I¡¯d expected Kira alone to be worth a small fortune. Surely, they would¡¯ve stationed at least a dozen guards to safeguard their precious "goods." Yet, there was only silence. It was unsettling, like the air had been sucked out of the place, leaving nothing but hollow silence.


    I continued down the basement corridors, opening door after door. Crates, boxes, and sacks lined the walls, packed with various weapons, trinkets, and other items, both magical and mundane. But no people. Not a single human soul.


    It wasn¡¯t until I reached the deepest part of the hideout that I finally encountered a bit more resistance. A lone figure sat at the end of a narrow corridor, stationed right in front of a small, white door. The moment I stepped into his line of sight, our eyes locked in the dark. Neither of us moved at first. Then, he made his move, raising a hand toward his ear, clearly reaching to trigger some sort of communication spell.


    I couldn¡¯t afford to take any chances.


    Channeling the blood I''d just consumed, I unleashed a stream of crimson pressure. It shot from my fingertips like a bullet, slicing through his skull and tearing a hole through the door behind him. His body slumped forward before he could force out a word.


    Growing impatient and even more angry, I kicked the corpse to the side and pushed through the door. Inside, the room was almost empty, save for a single stone chest at the center of the floor. Not what I had been looking for¡ªbut at this point, curiosity pulled at me. I had to know what in hell could be so valuable. I pushed the heavy lid open, and a wave of disgust immediately washed over me.


    Inside was a sword¡ªa holy blade. Not just any sword, but a fragment of Excalibur. Its presence alone felt like a toxic weight released into the air, radiating with the kind of power that could kill most Devils in a single strike.


    This was exactly what I had been searching for. With a weapon like this as a catalyst, I could summon a Queen strong enough to carve my path forward, even if my attempts to claim Ddraig ultimately failed.


    But if I took it, I probably wouldn¡¯t have enough time to find where they were keeping the girl before someone noticed its absence.


    My gaze lingered on the chest itself, where I could feel a teleportation crest engraved into the stone¡ªsimilar to the one on the card I¡¯d received from Lucifer. They were likely planning to teleport these items onto the auction stage once the bidding began. Using magic instead of muscle was always a good way of showing your standing.


    A fragment of Excalibur... that had to be saved for the grand finale, right? Maybe pair it up with the girl to try and make someone believe she¡¯s holy?


    Standing there, I felt like a greedy child in a candy store. Sneaking into a human trafficking den was reckless enough, but trying to walk out with both Kira and a fragment of Excalibur? It was beyond suicidal. There was no way this could end well. The sword was basically a beacon of dread for Devils, other people would be able to tell I had it even if I were to shove it up my ass.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    But even knowing that, I couldn¡¯t just leave it there. I couldn¡¯t close the lid and leave it behind. I tried¡ªI really tried to walk away, to be reasonable¡ªbut it didn¡¯t work. Instead, I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and forced myself to think.


    What was my next move?


    ?


    Sirzechs placed his cards down, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips. ¡°Watch them and weep, old friend.¡±


    Ajuka had lost the last four rounds in a row, and it was beginning to show. His patience thinned as he stared at the cards in his hand. ¡°You¡¯re cheating, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    That earned a deep, genuine laugh from Sirzechs. ¡°Come on now! You¡¯re not exactly playing with your best poker face tonight.¡± He leaned back, casually folding his arms behind his head. ¡°What¡¯s really eating at you? Are you that worried about him?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m more concerned about what he¡¯s going to do. Maybe I pushed him too far,¡± Ajuka muttered. ¡°Maybe I should¡¯ve waited another decade.¡±


    Sirzechs waved a dismissive hand. ¡°The kid won¡¯t do anything to get you in trouble. In fact, he told me you¡¯re like a big brother to him.¡±


    Ajuka raised an eyebrow, unamused. ¡°You¡¯re bluffing too much tonight.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Sirzechs admitted. ¡°But that¡¯s the feeling I got. Besides, worst case, you can always just buy the girl for him. What¡¯s the damage? Ten million?¡±


    Ajuka groaned, shaking his head in exasperation. ¡°That¡¯s exactly the issue! He doesn¡¯t want me to step in. If Nyx had his way, I wouldn¡¯t even know what he¡¯s doing until it was all over, no matter what it is. Would it kill him to ask for help for once?¡±


    ¡°Well, yeah,¡± Sirzechs said with a nonchalant shrug. ¡°Where¡¯s the fun if someone else is always cleaning up after you? Rias is the same way. She wouldn¡¯t call me for help unless the sky was literally falling apart. And even then, she¡¯d probably have to think about it.¡±


    Ajuka emptied his glass in a single gulp, the sound of it hitting the table a little harder than intended. ¡°And the worst part? He thinks I¡¯m some sort of imbecile. I ask him about this girl, whether he¡¯s interested on her, and he just denies it! Says he¡¯s just doing it for the thrill of it, like he¡¯s suddenly just an idiot looking for justice.¡±


    Sirzechs burst into laughter again, wiping at his eyes as he tried to regain his composure. ¡°And that¡¯s what¡¯s bothering you? That he won¡¯t open up about his feelings? You wanted him to introduce you to his first sweetheart?¡±


    ¡°Of course it bothers me! He¡¯s deluding himself. How can someone so brilliant, capable of manipulating the highest levels of magic, be so utterly clueless about his own emotions? He really believes the bullshit he tells me!¡±


    Sirzechs shook his head, still chuckling softly as he shuffled the cards. ¡°Yeah¡­ imagine that. A genius, completely blind to the most obvious things.¡±


    Ajuka crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair.


    ¡°Relax,¡± Sirzechs said, his tone softening. ¡°Nyx will ask for your help when he¡¯s ready. He¡¯s still just a kid after all, trying to earn out his place at the big table. And I know a thing or two about trying to compete with someone like you. So, let me go ahead and just say it¡ªhe¡¯ll never be happy until he earns your respect.¡±


    ¡°He has my respect! He always had my respect!¡±


    ¡°Are you even listening to me, old man?! You can¡¯t just hand it to him!¡±


    ¡°Then what am I¡ª¡±


    Before the conversation could escalate further, the air around them rippled. A sharp pulse of magic filled the room as a powerful presence teleported in¡ªsomething that should have been impossible in the home of a Satan, much less into the very same room where two were sitting in.


    Both Devils turned, their gazes drawn to Ajuka''s desk where a heavy metallic object had landed with a thud, clattering briefly before coming to a rest on the floor. A holy sword, broad and menacing, its blade lined with spikes and a diamond-shaped gap running through it¡ªExcalibur Rapidly.


    Sirzechs blinked in disbelief. "Did... Did the kid just steal a fragment of Excalibur?"


    Ignoring his friend¡¯s words entirely, Ajuka approached the desk, crouching down to examine the blade. His eyes narrowed as he noticed an inscription¡ªwritten in blood along the length of the sword.


    ¡°Please send me a replica of this item. Thanks.¡±


    Sirzechs leaned forward, curiosity written across his face. ¡°What does it say?¡±


    Ajuka¡¯s jaw tightened as he read the message again. He exhaled sharply. "That he thinks I¡¯m a printer."


    ?


    Thankfully, Ajuka had been at home. My request didn¡¯t take more than a few minutes to fulfill, and soon enough, the replica was back in my hands. Its aura was a pale imitation of the original¡ªmuch weaker, barely even noticeable. But in every other aspect, it was a near perfect copy. I ran my fingers along the blade, feeling its cold, lifeless steel before placing it inside the chest. With a quiet click, I sealed it shut. If all went as planned, no one would ever know the difference until it was too late. It wasn¡¯t like many Devils had ever laid eyes on a fragment of Excalibur, after all.


    Next came the cleanup. The second guard needed to be dealt with, and leaving a mess behind wasn¡¯t an option. I knelt beside the body, forcing most of his spilled blood back into his skin¡ªan unpleasant but necessary task. My hunger still gnawed at me, but after tearing apart the first guard, I found myself sickened, stomach churning with something close to... indigestion.


    Maybe it was the taste. Or maybe they were smokers. That always ruined the meat.


    I patched the wound on his head with fresh skin, propping him back up in his seat, making sure everything looked as normal as possible.


    Now it was time for me to blend in. But I needed a new look¡ªsomething more¡­ elegant for the occasion.


    I discarded the oversized sword and ditched the dark attire. Stepping out from the basement, and slipped back into the party through the inner entrance. The shift was clear¡ªdirty, silent corridors gave way to the lively hum of chatter and music. I kept my head down, sticking to myself, eyes scanning for someone useful.


    It didn¡¯t take long to spot a hurried servant weaving through the crowd. I intercepted the


    man and casually asked about the bathrooms. Once there, like a spider lying in wait, I positioned myself just behind the door, my senses waiting to the next isolated victim.


    Moments later, my opportunity arrived¡ªa short, plump Devil, finely dressed and clearly out of place. Before he could make a sound, I seized him by the throat, forcefully turning his gaze toward the corner, making sure he saw nothing of me.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± I whispered, my voice low and threatening. ¡°Don¡¯t struggle. I¡¯m not here to kill you. I just want answers.¡±


    He trembled, barely coherent. ¡°M-M-My¡­ I-I a¡­¡±


    ¡°Your name. Your house. Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°Emir Grosken, sir!¡± he stammered. ¡°I¡¯m here for the auction, by order of Lord Astaroth!¡±


    ¡°Astaroth?¡± I repeated. ¡°Why would he send a pig to run his errands?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a¡­ there¡¯s a number of us!¡± Emir babbled in fear. ¡°We place bids on anything he wants to intimidate the competition. Sometimes we get his leftovers!¡±


    ¡°Leftovers?¡± I echoed, tightening my grip until he whined.


    ¡°The ones he doesn¡¯t want! The girls he doesn¡¯t like!¡± Emir gasped, his panic rising. ¡°I¡¯m just the messenger, please! I¡¯m just a friend of the auctioneer, I don¡¯t wanna be here!¡±


    I had to let out a heavy sigh. ¡°I was really hoping to let you live, man. Shame.¡±


    With a sharp twist, his neck snapped, and Emir¡¯s body slumped¡ªnothing more than a lifeless sack of flesh, ready for me to mold. I ran most of it down the drain, only keeping enough for the magic I needed. After making sure the door was securely locked, I moved to the mirror, painting strokes of red across my face before reshaping it bit by bit. My reflection slowly morphed into that of a short, balding noble. Not the most flattering look, but it would do.


    The things I do for others.


    I stepped back into the grand hall, uncomfortably stuffed into my new skin. Nobles ran around, some taller, others shorter, varying degrees of smugness painted on their faces. They all looked the same to me¡ªpretentious assholes, faking smiles as they laughed at absolutely nothing. Still, I had to blend in.


    After a minute of wandering, the crowd began to shift toward the auditorium, and I spotted my target. A man waved me over, flashing a too-wide smile and motioning to the seat beside him. It was obvious¡ªthis had to be one of Emir¡¯s contacts. I took my place in the front row, half a row of the eyes watching me. Probably all Astaroth¡¯s bidders.


    The first Devil to speak was tall and pale, his beard reaching down to his waist. He smirked as he leaned over. ¡°By hell, Grosken! We were starting to think you¡¯d fled. Take another trip like that and by the time you¡¯re back Simon might actually find himself a wife!¡±


    ¡°My apologies, gentlemen,¡± I muttered, slumping into my seat. I pulled out a handkerchief, swiping at my forehead. ¡°I simple have no interest in parlay. You all know why I¡¯m here tonight.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, we¡¯ve heard it a thousand times. You like the brown one,¡± another noble growled, looking impossibly bored. ¡°Lord Astaroth isn¡¯t going to let you put your filthy paws anywhere near his High Class meat. We should just bid on everything else and let you chase your fantasies. With any luck, he¡¯ll be too distracted with the girl to remember where we spent his money.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be so sure,¡± the first man continued, his voice thick with mockery. ¡°The auctioneer might claim the girl¡¯s from the church to boost her price, but no one really buys that. I bet he¡¯ll take one look at her face and toss her aside. Wouldn¡¯t be the first time.¡±


    Across from them, an older woman with silver hair, clad in a pristine white Victorian dress, smirked. ¡°Oh, that swine and his obsession with the holy. Though I can¡¯t say I blame him¡­ There¡¯s something so satisfying about taking the little sheep from the flock and fattening them with sin until they¡¯re ripe and juicy.¡±


    Every time I think the things I do are disgusting, there¡¯s always some Devil around to make me feel like a fucking superhero.


    The bidding began sluggishly, relics from forgotten civilizations paraded across the stage. A few might hold traces of magic, but unless you were desperate or deranged, they were nothing more than trinkets for collectors with more money than sense. Meanwhile, the nobles around me stuffed their faces, rambling on about the quality of their chimeras'' fur or name-dropping whoever would get them a moment of interest.


    The only useful thing I managed to learn was that Diodora had been reducing his public appearances more and more over the past few months, to the point where seeing his face had become quite rare. Everyone there had their own theories as to why, a series of short, little fanfictions about their master finally finding love on the arms of some curvy nun.


    It was getting unbearable. I needed to do something¡ªanything. I¡¯d rather try my luck killing them all than spend the entire night around those animals.


    ¡°Do¡­ any of you think we could get a preview of the goods?¡± I said, barely managing to sound casual. ¡°Everyone already knows the girl is coming with us one way or another. A quick glance wouldn¡¯t hurt too much.¡±


    ¡°Oh my¡­ Someone¡¯s feeling bold tonight,¡± the woman, Liria, purred with a chuckle that sent a shiver down my spine. ¡°But I wouldn¡¯t get my hopes up, darling. Good humans are a rare treat, and everyone knows your pockets are a bit¡­ shallow this year. Be a good boy and wait your turn. If you¡¯re lucky, I¡¯ll even step aside and let you have the first lick.¡±


    I had to suppress the urge to gag, every word that left her lips more revolting than the last. Fortunately, my comment seemed to spark something, and soon enough, the energy shifted, just as the function was starting to pick up.


    The bearded man next to me leaned closer, whispering under his breath. ¡°I¡¯m getting bored. Follow my lead.¡±


    He rose to his feet, stretching dramatically and blocking the view of everyone seated behind us. ¡°Maybe Emir had the right idea. If the whole catalogue¡¯s going to be this dull, I might as well get through it drunk. What do you say, friend? Surely we can find you a maid worth your while.¡±


    I groaned, struggling to stand in the disgusting disguise. ¡°Might as well. The best of the night¡¯s already gone.¡±


    Liria rolled her eyes, her patience clearly wearing thin. ¡°Please, do not stick your dicks on anything you can¡¯t pay for. Diodora may be rich, but he isn¡¯t fucking stupid, he already knows we¡¯re taking a cut and he won¡¯t be away forever.¡±


    Her words fell on deaf ears as we ignored her complaints and stretched our legs, moving through the room. I had no idea what my newfound "friend" was up to, but in the worst case, I could always take care of him and keep going alone. Still, I followed for now. Wherever he was heading, it didn¡¯t seem like the kitchen, and I was running short on good ideas anyway.


    He finally spoke as we walked up the spiraling staircase. ¡°Do you remember last winter, old friend? When you helped me smuggle that bottle of Mesopotamian wine inside my trousers?¡±


    I hadn¡¯t the slightest clue what he was talking about, but bluffing felt safer than asking.


    ¡°I still wish I could forget, but you¡¯ll never let me, will you?¡± I grunted.


    He barked a laugh. ¡°Ha! Cheer up. I¡¯m about to repay that little favor.¡±


    We reached the center of the circular upper floor, where a set of ornate double doors loomed ahead¡ªelegant and imposing, the kind you¡¯d expect to lead to a presidential suite or the personal office of someone far too important. Without breaking stride, he pulled a heavy, metallic key from his coat, flashing a sly grin.


    ¡°Agravos gave me this,¡± he murmured, conspiratorial. ¡°I wasn¡¯t supposed to share, but I doubt anyone¡¯s as eager as you are tonight. I¡¯m sure the auctioneer won¡¯t mind.¡± He slid the key into the lock, and the soft click of a magical seal being undone echoed through the hall. ¡°Just remember¡ªabove the waist. And nothing that can¡¯t be healed, we don¡¯t want them to find out.¡±


    My mouth stayed shut as I took a deep breath. No sense in speaking now. The door swung open, revealing a room that dripped opulence and unsettling calm. It was exactly as I imagined¡ªpristine, elegant. At the center of the room, a massive bed rested on an intricately woven carpet, its posts framing a canopy of pure-white silk, embroidered with delicate patterns like something from a twisted fairytale.


    But the air turned colder. My gut twisted as my eyes fell on the figures in the bed. Kira¡¯s scent hit me first¡ªfamiliar and sickening in this setting. But that was the only thing I could recognize.


    Right as we stepped inside, a large, round man rose from the bed half-naked. He wiped his knuckles with a rag, smearing the blood as it dripped onto the floor.


    ¡°Agravos, you old rat!¡± he boomed, a smug grin spreading across his face. ¡°Hiding up here instead of running your own event?¡±


    ¡°Ahhh¡­ just working up a good sweat!¡±


    The auctioneer and my companion greeted each other with the ease of old friends, their arms locking in a tight hug as my vision narrowed. Their voices became distant echoes as I walked past them, drawn towards the bed.


    The dress that clung to her body was layered and extravagant, something fit for a bride or a high noblewoman¡ªnot for her. Chains stretched from the bedposts to her limbs, biting into the wood as if they''d been there far too long, and pulled far too tight.


    And then, I saw the face¡ªor what was left of it. Her features were gone, obliterated into a grotesque mask of swollen, bruised flesh, a pounded mass of coagulated blood where a face should have been.


    ¡°Emir? Emir¡­ Emir!¡± A voice sliced through the haze, muffled, distant, as if I were standing deep underwater. ¡°By the flames of hell, are you just going to stand there? Well, don¡¯t mind if I¡ª¡±


    I don¡¯t remember exactly how he died. I wasn¡¯t really paying attention. All I know is that the moment his knee touched the bed, something snapped. His body twisted violently, inside-out. He fell to the floor, rolling like a featherless chicken, his skin and organs a grotesque tangle.


    After that¡­ someone started the fire.


    So much fire.


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    ????????????????????????????????????

 Chapter 5: To You I Swear

    Ajuka sensed Nyx¡¯s presence the moment he stepped foot into the manor. And he also could tell that the boy wasn¡¯t alone. The weight of another minor aura clung to the air, though Ajuka didn¡¯t need to guess who it was¡ªthat much was obvious. Fortunately, Sirzechs had already left for the night, though it hardly mattered. The Underworld¡¯s magical network, not unlike the human internet, was a cesspool for open whispers and inflammatory scandal. News had a way of propelling themselves¡ªspreading like wildfire, feeding on the insatiable hunger for some passing embers of change. Soon, the events of the night would reach every Devil with an ear open to them.


    For a moment, Ajuka remained still, lost in thought, allowing himself to be heavy. Then, with quiet resolve, he rose from his chair and decided to walk the length of the dimly lit corridors. He could have easily teleported to them with a single thought, but walking offered something teleportation could not¡ªtime. Time to think, to consider. It gave the approaching events space to unfold naturally, allowing his mind to sift through the chaotic storm of possibilities and his body to join them at a specific moment.


    As he walked, his thoughts circled around the inevitable. He had considered this night from every angle, tapped every potential outcome. And yet, as each option unfurled in his mind, the answers felt hollow, painfully limiting. No matter how many solutions he envisioned, they all led back to the same uncomfortable truth.


    This wasn¡¯t a problem logic alone could solve.


    There was no clever key, no hidden path that would unlock a clean, flawless resolution. Ajuka Beelzebub knew better than most that the events unfolding that night were the consequence of flawed solutions, built atop a foundation of deeper, unresolved issues. This wasn¡¯t the first time, and it certainly wouldn¡¯t be the last. Tonight would merely be another imperfect answer in a long line of compromises he had learned to consider acceptable.


    He wasn¡¯t searching for the perfect solution anymore. Instead, he sought the best one. The path that would leave the fewest scars, even if it wasn¡¯t the one he preferred. The challenge, of course, was determining which of the imperfect outcomes would be the right one in the long run¡ªlike trying to pick the most palatable poison to drown on.


    Swift with purpose, Ajuka reached Nyx''s room. This moment was critical. Outcomes 42 through 93 were easily manageable, but they all depended on one crucial detail: Nyx still being inside.


    He wasn¡¯t.


    Ajuka''s breath stopped for the briefest second as he opened the door. The room was completely still, save for the girl lying on Nyx¡¯s bed, her body resting against the sheets like a rotten log, barely breathing. The state of her injuries pushed the situation into territory he¡¯d hoped to avoid¡ªscenario 115 and above. But the fact that her clothes remained untouched brought some relief. It wouldn¡¯t escalate to 164¡ªwhere violence became inevitable. A small mercy, but it meant he had to act quickly now, before it was too late.


    The fragment of Excalibur had changed everything. While holding it should still have granted him the upper hand, the sheer complexity of new possibilities it brought had left even the Satan less prepared than he would have liked.


    Ajuka¡¯s next destination was his own laboratory. On any normal day, Nyx would never dare breach one of his most secure and sacred spaces without good reason. But today wasn¡¯t a normal day. Today, they had given him a reason. It was this sharp instinct that allowed Ajuka to arrive precisely when he did¡ªjust as the magical circle lay half-finished on the ground.


    Nyx had made disturbing progress in such a short time. The intricate sigils glowed faintly, humming with latent power. If Ajuka had hesitated or chosen to look anywhere else first, the situation could have escalated into something far worse. But now, cornered and exposed, Nyx could only turn, his breath heavy and erratic. His hollow eyes gleamed with the desperate, crazed energy of a trapped animal.


    ¡°Give me the sword,¡± Nyx growled, the words barely human.


    Ajuka remained composed, steady. ¡°I do not have the sword,¡± he said with a calm certainty. ¡°It is not here, and it won¡¯t be anywhere until you explain what you¡¯re trying to accomplish.¡±


    Nyx¡¯s lips curled in frustration, blood seeping from where his teeth had bitten too hard. ¡°You know what I¡¯m trying to do!¡± he spat, his voice raw, teetering on the edge of madness. His demonic body strained against the instability of his mind. ¡°Those¡­ ravenous savages! Primitives, these beasts!


    Ajuka¡¯s eyes narrowed. Nyx had always been malleable, almost too much so¡ªin the most physical sense. He was a vessel of pure potential¡ªan embodiment of demonic magic in its rawest form. Satanic magic, by nature, was a manifestation of imagination, and Nyx was its living extension. A miracle, yes, but one prone to erratic instability. The boy¡¯s very existence was as unstable as the power that flowed through him, and it was clear that de-escalation needed to be the priority. At this moment, Nyx barely resembled a person¡ªthe jagged edges of his figure twisted under the shadows, struggling to maintain a coherent shape.


    ¡°I think I have an idea of what you¡¯re trying to do,¡± Ajuka said firmly. ¡°But if you¡¯re going to take this into your own hands, I need to make sure you fully understand it too.¡±


    Nyx growled low in his throat, the sound reverberating with barely-contained rage. He knew, even in his maddened state, that a direct confrontation would be useless. It shamed him, this inability to impose his will upon the world. As long as he lacked the power to reshape society, his every thought, every conviction, it was all nothing but a whisper in the void. There was no point in hoping for change without the strength to command it. Prayers wouldn¡¯t save the,


    Ajuka let out a long sigh as he waved his hand through the air. A soft glow emanated from his fingertips, forming a floating orb of light that shimmered with an image¡ªthe flaming wreckage of the auction house, which was still burning.


    ¡°Why?¡± Ajuka asked coldly.


    Nyx¡¯s chest filled with fury. ¡°Because they needed to burn, and they needed to believe she did it!¡± he shouted, his words raw. ¡°The only way to stop those animals from buying humans is to make them afraid. Make them think it¡¯s dangerous. Someone had to take the blame, and it had to be her!¡±


    ¡°And what about her King?¡±


    Nyx¡¯s lips twisted into a grim half-smile. ¡°His head¡¯s on her bed. I killed him before she was sold. He won¡¯t be bothering us.¡±


    ¡°And the girl?¡± Ajuka¡¯s voice was a thread of steel. ¡°What about her?¡±


    Nyx faltered, only for a moment. ¡°What about her?¡±


    ¡°Is she safe? Conscious? Did you heal her?¡± Ajuka pressed, unrelenting.


    ¡°I¡ª¡± Nyx¡¯s voice caught in his throat, frustration boiling over as he clenched his fists. ¡°I couldn¡¯t¡ª¡±


    Ajuka cut him off, his tone sharper now, slicing through the excuses. ¡°You may not be a healer, but you could¡¯ve done something. You could¡¯ve found someone who could help her. Did it ever cross your mind what might happen when she wakes up¡ªalone, terrified, in a room she doesn¡¯t know? As far as she is aware, she was about to be sold like an object. Can you imagine what that feels like, Nyx? Do you have any concept of what it¡¯s like to be abandoned, alone?¡±


    The words struck like fire. The boy lashed back, unable to contain the anger. ¡°And what was I supposed to do?! Sit there and wait for her to wake up? Hold her hand while she cried? I failed, but I will not fail again. Now give me the sword!¡±


    The Satan¡¯s expression darkened, disappointment etched into every line of his face. He shook his head slowly. ¡°Yes, you did fail tonight. You failed the moment you decided that staying to make sure she was safe wasn¡¯t worth your time. You failed when you convinced yourself that your ego was what needed saving.¡±


    The words hung in the air between them, heavy and cold, like a snowflake caught mid-fall, refusing to touch the ground.


    Ajuka stepped closer. ¡°I really hoped to find you by her side, Nyx. I hoped you would choose differently, and I¡¯m disappointed on you. I am disappointed because I know you¡¯re better than this. You¡¯re better than the choices you made tonight, you¡¯re better than this¡­ pitiful tantrum. I just hope you will remember that¡ªsooner rather than later.¡±


    With that he reached out, pushing his hand into a pocket of nothingness, and pulled out the fragment of Excalibur. Without another word, the man turned and walked away, leaving Nyx standing in the room¡ªstill, silent. A storm raged in his mind, his chest hollow as though something had been taken from him.


    He stared at the blade, tempted to end the shame. But there was a real chance the Satan would bring him back, just to nail his point.


    ?


    It didn¡¯t take long to settle down and take care of everything. I hadn¡¯t been lying when I said I couldn¡¯t heal her injuries¡ªI was a butcher, not a surgeon. The only flesh I could mold was flesh I was willing to break. But the maids of the manor were more than capable in almost every way. Initially, the idea of waking someone in the dead of night to help with a stray I¡¯d just dragged in wasn¡¯t exactly my favorite plan. But to my surprise, they were eager, almost relieved to assist.


    Mithrila, one of the younger head-maids, greeted me with a warm smile, her presence calming as she followed me to the room without asking any questions. She attended to the girl with warm care while I lingered in the corner, doing what I did best¡ªbrooding in silence, trying not to get in her way. After about an hour, Mithrila was finished. She handed me a warm towel, then asked me to watch over Kira through the night. I swallowed my exhaustion and nodded, too ashamed to even try to argue.


    Magic truly was a thing. As I twisted the towel dry and placed it gently on her face, I couldn¡¯t help but stare at the transformation. Just an hour earlier, she had barely looked human¡ªbroken, fragile, teetering on the uglier edge of life. Now, though still vulnerable, there was a calmness in her features, as if the girl were truly asleep. But despite the healing, the weight of the night still clung to her like a shadow. There were marks¡ªsmall, like the faintest scars. Marks no one else would notice, but I saw them. And I couldn¡¯t unsee them.


    I wanted to disappear, to escape, to vanish into the night. Anything would have been better than sitting there, staring down at a face that reminded me of how I could have been there sooner, but just¡­ didn¡¯t.


    By the time the sun finally crept over the horizon, I felt like I¡¯d been run through the wringer. Sleeping wouldn¡¯t have been an option even if I tried. The girl stirred every five minutes, as though haunted by ghosts in her dreams. The worst part? She looked like she was having fun, twisting and turning like she was caught up in some whimsical nightmare. And my condolences were for anyone who ever tried to keep up with her¡ªI wasn¡¯t even on the bed, and she still managed to kick me three times. All I could do was pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to remember that this was my doing¡ªI was the one who brought us both into this, and now I had to find a way out.


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    But eventually, there was a knock on the door.


    ¡°I better see a whole lot of clothes in there,¡± came a voice from the other side.


    Before I could even respond, the door swung open, revealing Rosanova, the eldest maid of the manor. Despite only looking to be in her early forties, Rosanova carried herself with all the poise and patience of a rolling boulder¡ªloud, commanding, and impossible to ignore. The only person she appeared to ever show respect to was Ajuka himself, although the fact that her¡­ large size also applied to her curves managed to make the giant woman look somewhat maternal¡ªunapologetically feminine, confident, attractive.


    ¡°Well, would you look at that!¡± she exclaimed, a playful glint in her eyes. ¡°So you really do know where to find girls. And she¡¯s even pretty! Imagine my surprise when the girls told me you¡¯d brought home a stray. Must have been quite the night for our little High Lord!¡±


    I groaned, rubbing my temples. ¡°Are you just going to stand there and make fun of me?¡±


    ¡°Unless you¡¯ve got a better offer,¡± she quipped, pulling an apple from the pocket of her apron and snapping it in half with ease. ¡°So¡­ is it true? Was it you out there, raising hell on the streets?¡±


    I sighed. ¡°Does¡­ everyone just know?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t last long around here if you can¡¯t put two and two together. But don¡¯t worry¡ªthe girls know better than to go around running their mouths. So, what made her so special? With the way you stare at my chest every time I lean forward, I never thought you¡¯d finally move your ass for a bare-bones chicken.¡±


    In my defense, those things just jiggled around half the time. Like right now. And the fact that she moved back and forth every time she spoke wasn¡¯t helping. I couldn¡¯t tell if she was trying to test me or cheer me up.


    ¡°Or maybe I was just trying to do the right thing? Help someone?¡±


    Rosanova gave me a tired look, biting into her apple with deliberate slowness. ¡°Listen, kid¡ªI taught you how to walk. If you wanted to do charity, you¡¯d have opened a blood bank. So, don¡¯t treat me like I¡¯m an idiot.¡±


    ¡°I guess she was kind of¡­ funny. But I really wasn¡¯t thinking of keeping her around. It was more of a¡­ catch and release thing¡ªno compromise.¡±


    ¡°Huh,¡± she hummed, tapping her chin. ¡°Now I see why he got so pissed at you. Tell me, kid, what do you think would¡¯ve happened to you if we caught and released your sorry ass?¡±


    I blinked. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°It sounds like you¡¯re thinking that saving her life is enough. You¡¯ve done your part, right? You¡¯re the hero. You¡¯ll keep her around until she can walk, then let her figure it out herself. Maybe a one-night-stand, if you¡¯re lucky.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ am I wrong?¡±


    Rosanova shrugged, her words casual but cutting. ¡°No, not really. But it¡¯s not what he did for you, and it¡¯s not what he expects from you. Nyx, being a King isn¡¯t just about collecting maniacs who can help you reach your goals. They¡¯re people. You¡¯ve gotta care about them¡ªsometimes forever. Saving someone¡¯s life is just the first step.¡±


    ¡°And what if I don¡¯t want it to be? What if I just want her to live a normal life, go back to being a normal girl?¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± Rosanova let out a snort. ¡°You really are something, kid. You know humans better than any of us. Do you honestly think there¡¯s a chance she can just¡­ go back? Pretend like none of this happen, despite being a Devil?¡±


    I pushed myself to my feet, clenching my fists. ¡°I can think of one way.¡±


    ?


    "I want you to erase Kira''s memories."


    Ajuka stood in his private chamber, bathed in the glow of a digital sphere suspended in the air. It was a mass of shifting data, a swirling shadow of constantly evolving parameters and information. The cognitive spell wasn¡¯t anything new, he typically relied on it to better predict the consequences of events on a world-wide scale. And yet, his gaze remained fixed on the sphere, his hand hovering over it as though manipulating a delicate instrument. Without looking at Nyx, he expanded the vision with a subtle gesture, the energy of the room humming in response as the projection overtook the entire space.


    ¡°Tell me, Nyx¡­¡± His voice was a low murmur, the question nearly casual. ¡°What are you¡ªa person or a weapon?¡±


    Nyx hesitated before taking another step. ¡°Both.¡±


    Ajuka nodded slightly, as if the response were expected. ¡°That makes sense,¡± he said quietly, his tone devoid of judgment. "I suppose that¡¯s my failure, then. I sent you out into the world, hoping you''d find people to care for. But a weapon... it doesn¡¯t need companionship. Only ammunition.¡±


    "I can do better!" The words came out sharper than Nyx intended, and he quickly recomposed himself, not without a moment of shame.


    "I know you can, and I''m giving you the chance." He glanced at Nyx, gesturing for him to approach. "I''ve been thinking about what you said last night. Frankly, I never cared much about humanity. Introducing the Evil Pieces was about consolidating power, placing it in the hands of the remaining Devils. Changes needed to be made, and my people had to be eager for them. It was a matter of survival, after all.¡±


    Nyx raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with sarcasm. "And now you''re telling me you had a change of heart? Overnight?"


    Ajuka let out a short, humorless huff, but then his expression grew serious as he met Nyx''s eyes. "At my age, you learn to accept that most people are rotten. You start to believe there¡¯s little you can do to change that. But maybe¡­" He trailed off. "Maybe I¡¯ve been doing too little. It sounds like you have a plan to improve the situation for humans within Devil society. I want to hear about it."


    Nyx took a moment, choosing his words carefully. "That¡­ could be a bit complicated.¡±


    Ajuka frowned, confused. "In what sense?¡±


    Nyx shifted uneasily. "Because my first step is killing Diodora Astaroth."


    For a moment, neither said a word. Ajuka''s eyes darkened, his face unreadable. Nyx continued, almost apologetic. "I didn''t want it to come to this, but it¡¯s the only way. If the trafficking network is a chessboard, Diodora is the King. And I can''t afford to be playing around."


    Ajuka sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead. "Nyx, when I say that killing the next head of the Astaroth family is a terrible idea, I¡¯m not doing it out of some hidden affection for him. You don¡¯t have the strength to face his peerage, let alone my entire family. Infiltrating their estate is far more dangerous than slipping yourself into an auction house." His tone hardened. "And even if you completely succeeded¡ªwhich you won¡¯t. The investigation would be relentless. You¡¯d have a target painted on your back for at least some decades. Devils do not forget, nor forgive."


    "I know. Unless..." Nyx paused, gauging Ajuka¡¯s reaction before pressing on. "Unless I knew the exact night when Diodora would leave his home. No guards. No witnesses. Just him, taking a walk in the human realm, alone, where no one would see me make a move."


    Ajuka raised an eyebrow. "Yes... that would be quite the invaluable piece of information for you to have right now.¡± He sighed once more, his features softening with resignation. "I''m not going to ask how you know that. Let¡¯s just go along with it."


    With a flick of his wrist, Ajuka returned his attention to the digital sphere, adjusting the calculations as the equations shifted and pulsed with the new input.


    ¡°It won¡¯t be that easy, though,¡± Nyx continued. ¡°I might have to deal with some Fallen Angels in the process, so I could use a little help.¡±


    ¡°What kind of help?¡±


    ¡°Propaganda, mostly. I need rumors circulating about the Fallen Angels planning to steal some Sacred Gears, just enough to create some fear. That way, if I ask for help, it won¡¯t sound like I¡¯m about to start another war. It¡¯ll seem like the right thing to do, a risk worth taking.¡±


    Ajuka nodded thoughtfully, the gears in his mind clearly turning. ¡°There¡¯s a chance they¡¯ll pull back once the rumors start spreading.¡±


    Nyx shook his head slightly. ¡°As long as it¡¯s subtle, it won¡¯t matter. I don¡¯t need it to reach the entire Underworld. Just enough whispers to hit the big ears around Kuoh Academy, especially keeping it out of Azazel¡¯s range. The last thing we need is him catching wind of this¡ªand he may or may not be lurking around in the human world.¡±


    Ajuka''s fingers flexed over the sphere. ¡°Targeted misinformation...¡± The spell shimmered as the data streams adjusted to the changes. ¡°That should be easy enough. What¡¯s next?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll also need to keep the rumors about Kira alive. Not enough to implicate her directly in Diodora¡¯s death, but enough to make people wonder if she had something to do with it once he disappears.¡±


    ¡°Report sightings of a mutated Devil near any big fires¡­ That¡¯s not a bad angle. With Diodora gone, human trafficking will definitely take a hit, but¡­¡± The Satan paused, turning to face Nyx fully now, his expression calculating. ¡°Devil society may be relatively small, but we¡¯re still talking about hundreds of millions. A single incident, even with the death of a major heir, won¡¯t be enough. By the end of the year, the pressure will be gone.¡±


    Nyx sighed, nodding in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± His voice grew measured as he prepared for the next part of his plan. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m planning on asking Michael for help. If he demands better human rights in the Underworld as a condition for maintaining the truce between Angels and Devils¡ªwith human trafficking being at an all-time low because of the rumors around Diodora¡¯s death¡ªthere won¡¯t be much protest, not in time at least. We could frame it as reluctantly accepting these reforms. That way, you won¡¯t lose support from the more traditional Devil factions, but it¡¯ll also give you the freedom to make a heavy change.¡±


    Ajuka remained silent, a rare moment of pause. He took a deep breath, walked to the far end of the dimly lit room, and poured himself a full glass, the faint clink of the bottle breaking the tension.


    ¡°Are you¡­ mad?¡± Nyx asked, his lips twitching into a small grin.


    Ajuka turned, glass in hand. "Well¡­ I''d be lying if I said I wasn¡¯t at least a little offended that you managed to include my reputation into your plans to secretly reform the Underworld." He took a long sip, exhaling sharply. "Mostly because now I have to admit Sirzechs was right."


    "Sirzechs?"


    The Satan waved it off. "Let''s not think about that¡­ or how you''re planning to get an audience with Michael of all Angels." He downed the rest of his drink and returned to the glowing sphere, making the final adjustments to the cognitive spell. "If you pull this off, creating a future where humans have rights within Devil society¡­ it¡¯s more than possible. Just tell me, when did you have time to plan all this?"


    Nyx chuckled softly, almost to himself. "It''s been a long night. My original plan was¡­ well, let¡¯s just say it involved a few terror attacks instead of asking for help. I was angry, really angry."


    Ajuka raised an eyebrow, but let the comment slide. "One more thing," he said. "You realize all of this would be easier if Kira were on your side."


    Nyx¡¯s grin faded. "I know."


    "And you still want me to erase her memories?"


    "I do. I¡¯ll take care of her, but she shouldn¡¯t have to live with this. She deserves better."


    Ajuka studied the boy for a long moment, then agreed. "Then there''s just one thing left before you go."


    "And what¡¯s that?"


    The Satan smiled, heading for the door. "Let¡¯s see what you can do with that Excalibur you brought home."


    ?


    At first, I had planned to delay the summoning ceremony for at least a couple of weeks, mostly because of the night before. There were still too many things I needed to consider¡ªnot to even mention the gravity of pulling someone from death and binding them to me forever. It wasn¡¯t something you could take lightly. But with Ajuka by my side, I couldn¡¯t pass up the opportunity. His help was always invaluable.


    Though my knowledge of this particular ritual far exceeded his, Ajuka was simply better at magic than me. His precision in manipulating spells was unmatched, which was particularly impressive coming from a Devil. Together, we made a number of adjustments, both small and monumental, ensuring that the Dimensional Gap wouldn¡¯t collapse the moment we attempted to seize a soul of such power and drag it into this world.


    Everything had to be perfect. From the timing to the offerings, no detail could be left to chance. In this case, we were using a blank homunculus as the vessel for her rebirth, a decision that still bothered me. It felt insufficient¡ªan unworthy host for a being of her stature. But crafting a more fitting body would have required resources I couldn¡¯t afford. The blood of my Queen, or someone related to her, would¡¯ve been the ideal catalyst, but that would have probably started a war. And I wasn¡¯t ready for that... not yet.


    And as for her¡­ there was so much to say. She was a shadow from the past, a phantom in an endless hall of mirrors, none of which showed her true self. At my reach were a million versions of her, each reflecting a different path she could have taken, each one with its own proper end.


    I could have summoned the proud knight¡ªthe one who stood tall, blade raised high, leading her warriors into battle to forge that great kingdom. Or perhaps the Lion King¡ªthe one who clutched the spear at the edge of the world and outlived that betrayal drawn in red. But no. For this ritual to succeed, I needed the broken version of her. The one who stood at the edge of death, worn down and defeated, humbled by a shameful defeat.


    Only then would she listen.


    Her conviction had to be shattered, her past life left behind, or she would never accept the chains of this new life. If I had tried to resurrect her as the proud wielder of the holy spear, she would have fought against me¡ªfought against everything to make her way back to that impossible dream she called home. No, I needed the version of her that had known defeat. Only then would she be willing to let go, to be reborn, to move forward.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± Ajuka asked, bringing me back to the real world.


    ¡°Not at all,¡± I laughed. ¡°You should probably go, just in case something goes wrong. One of us should survive.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you some space,¡± he replied before abandoning the laboratory.


    As the summoner, my role was clear: anchor her spirit to this world and give her the strength to maintain physical form. I placed the blade in the center of the magic circle, its presence still radiating with quiet power. Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself for the final step. The last offering was simple, but it would serve to narrow the search. I withdrew something I had prepared a long time before¡ªa worn, old gun¡ªa 1967 Thompson Contender. Of all her infinite lives, only one was tied to this relic, a connection that would call to her in a primal way, probably out of raw anger and hate. I prayed it would be enough.


    I took one last glance at the summoning circle. Despite its deceptively small size, it was optimized to perfection. Intricate layers of runes and symbols twisted around each other, forming a complex web designed to warp reality and probability in ways that defied the very laws of magic. It shouldn¡¯t have worked¡ªbut that was the point.


    At last, I began to chant.


    ¡°Heed my words¡±


    The reaction was immediate. The air around me crackled with violent energy, a palpable shift as if the world itself braced for what was to come. My focus narrowed, and I drew upon my Crimson Oath, feeling the warmth of blood coursing down my arms in thick, deliberate streams. It splashed onto the cold stone floor, pooling within the grooves of the circle, feeding the spell like fuel to a fire.


    ¡°My will creates your body, and your sword creates my destiny. If you heed this call and obey my will and reason¡­ then answer me!¡±


    A shudder rippled through the room, as if the fabric of reality trembled beneath the weight of the summoning. For a moment, I stood outside of it all, beyond the constraints of space and time. The Dimensional Gap twisted and distorted before me, a vast, yawning chasm that threatened to swallow everything. From deep within, I heard the roar¡ªa sound ancient and immeasurable, like the voice of something older than time itself.


    ¡°I hereby swear! That I shall be all the good in the world. That I shall defeat all the evil in the world!¡±


    Her presence was overwhelming. It wasn¡¯t just one soul¡ªit was as if I had reached into the sky to steal a star, only to find myself surrounded by countless others, all shining brightly, pulling at me, demanding to be chosen. But none of them were her. Not the one I needed. Only one could answer my call. I pushed forward, deeper, through the endless whirl of passing souls, each one brushing against me like the whispers of forgotten dreams.


    ¡°Thou Seventh Heaven, clad in the three great words of power, come forth from the circle of binding, Guardian of the Scales!¡±


    A blinding light exploded from the circle, its brilliance cutting through the air with the force of a giant thunder. I staggered, barely able to stay on my feet as a torrent of raw magic washed into the world. The windows rattled, cracking under the pressure, and the cool, silvery moonlight spilled inside, dripping across the blood-stained floor.


    And there, in the center of it all, she stood.


    A figure in ornate, elegant dress and armor, battered and bloodied, her once-regal form marked by burns and bruises. Her golden mane flowed freely behind her like a spark in the midst of the cloudy sky. She moved with lethal grace, her entire body flowing forward in a blur of motion. Before I could react, the cold edge of her sword pressed against my neck.


    I froze. Face to face with her, I could see the agony etched into her eyes¡ªthose deep, emerald eyes that held a thousand unspoken regrets. Tears slid down her face, silent and full of pain even as she clenched her teeth.


    ¡°I ask you...¡± Artoria groaned, exhausted. ¡°Are you my master?¡±

 Chapter 6: Second Chances

    We arrived in Kuoh City late in the morning.


    The car slid seamlessly from the realm of Beelzebub into the human world, as if the act of crossing between dimensions was nothing more than taking another step. One moment, the magical weight of the demonic plane pressed against us; the next, we were coasting through the outskirts of Kuoh City, the landscape mundane yet strangely refreshing. The Underworld had a build-in circle of night and day, since it was the only way of preventing reincarnates from going insane. But it wasn¡¯t ever really night or day¡ªthere was no sun, it was not real light, and you could tell. No matter how long you stood outside, you skin would never grow warm. And no matter how much the sky changed colors, the temperature wouldn¡¯t go up or down at any particular hours¡ªseasons never came and never went. The Underworld was¡­ stale, lifeless, on a perpetual state of ¡°comfortable¡± peace.


    I hadn¡¯t realized just how much I hated it until I took my first breath in the human world again. Deep down, in spite of everything, I was still human.


    A new life awaited us here, one we all needed time to process. Kira¡¯s memories were still too raw, fragile like glass on the verge of shattering. For now, playing it safe was not just the smart choice¡ªit was the only choice. Any trigger could send her spiraling into a mental episode, and I wasn¡¯t going to let that happen. Fortunately, the dark-tinted windows and steady hum of the car offered enough of an illusion to soothe her mind for now. We were just going from one city to another¡ªsimple enough.


    The car eased to a stop before the outer walls of our new home. Behind the walls, the garden stretched before us, wild and overgrown, blades of deep-green grass swaying in the breeze. It hadn¡¯t seen a caretaker in months, maybe years. The house itself loomed large, too much for my taste, its front a relic of the past century. But appearances had to be kept up. If I was going to play the part of a Devil of importance, certain things were non-negotiable. At the very least, it had enough space to set up defensive wards¡ªand an underground chamber where I could continue my experiments without prying eyes. Both necessary precautions and expected luxuries, only well-off families would ever move into the human realm.


    ¡°C¡¯mon, slowpoke! You¡¯re the man¡ªcarry the bags or something! I¡¯m gonna go check my room.¡±


    Kira¡¯s voice was already fading as she dashed towards the house. I watched her disappear inside, a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. At least she was settling in quickly. Fortunately, most of our belongings had been teleported here ahead of us. Super strength had its advantages, but I couldn¡¯t just throw a freezer over my shoulder in the middle of the street.


    ¡°Master, should I assist with the bags?¡±


    Artoria¡¯s voice came by softly, cool and distant. She stood beside the car, her expression as unreadable as her tone. To say she hadn¡¯t warmed up to me was an understatement. For now, she had accepted her second chance at life, but there was a wariness about her, a reluctance to engage beyond what was necessary. Like a wounded cat, quietly observing, pretending to have the energy to run away.


    I hadn¡¯t expected her to trust me, not yet. But that didn¡¯t make the tension between us any less real.


    ¡°No need. Just take care of the car, then take a break,¡± I said, waving her off. ¡°Are you hungry, Saber?¡±


    ¡°This body does not require non-magical sustenance,¡± she replied, precise and formal.


    I sighed. ¡°Well¡­ let¡¯s go to the market anyway. There¡¯s a difference between not needing food and not needing to eat.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Kuoh City is surprisingly large for a random fantasy town thrown away in the middle of bumfuck Japan. At least technology¡¯s advanced enough that I don¡¯t have to wander around like a tourist until we just find a shop, and convincing Kira to toss her bags onto the bed and join me for a shopping trip was easy enough.


    Now, here I am, pushing a cart down the aisles, tossing random things into it and wondering¡­ what the hell am I doing? Cooking? Really? I¡¯d never bothered to learn. But how hard could it be? Alchemy with food. And at least when you mess up cooking, the results won¡¯t try to kill you. Probably.


    ¡°Nyx, Nyx! Can we have chocolate milk?!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Kira¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yeeeeeeeeey.¡± She appeared, dumped the carton in the cart, and went away just as quickly.


    I stared at the half-crushed milk carton and sighed.


    We probably need eggs too. And chicken. Maybe I should just get a chicken. A chicken¡¯s basically a meat machine that converts plants into tiny dinosaur seeds. How many chickens would I need to bring back the dinosaurs? A lot, probably. But how hard can it be?


    ¡°Nyx, Nyx! Can we have Trix, Trix?¡±


    ¡°Only if Saber wants them,¡± I called back.


    ¡°Of course she does!¡± she yelled, tossing the box into the cart.


    After glancing down at the colorful cereal box now added to the growing pile of questionable groceries, I grabbed a cooking book from the nearest shelf and began flipping through the pages, pushing the cart, forcing the old wheels to squeak forward.


    Who did kill the dinosaurs, anyway? God? And why? What was God trying to hide?


    ¡°Master.¡±


    Saber appeared beside me, head down, hood on. I glanced at her, amused. She was trying hard to blend in, but¡­ it¡¯s not like anyone¡¯s going to recognize King Arthur reincarnated as a girl in a supermarket. People would probably freak out more from watching someone materialize out of thin air than from spotting a lolita-knight shopping for groceries¡ªespecially in Japan.


    I smiled to myself, closing the cooking book. ¡°Well, Saber, any requests?¡±


    ¡°I shall refrain from unnecessary matters, Master. I merely observed that you seemed¡­ inappropriately distracted. We do not know what kind of mages lurk in this city. It would be wise to stay alert¡ªwe cannot take decency for granted.¡±


    Ah, so that¡¯s what hanging out with Kiritsugu does to someone, huh? Well, at least she¡¯s worried for me, not about me.


    ¡°I know you had it rough, but you should try to relax a bit. I¡¯m not saying we¡¯re completely safe here, but it¡¯s nothing we can¡¯t handle. For now, let¡¯s just enjoy ourselves. We start school tomorrow, and I might need your help to go through the politics.¡±


    ¡°Do you intend to negotiate our standing with the local lords?¡±


    I chuckled. ¡°In a weird way, yeah. But, things here are¡­ a little different than Camelot.¡±


    Back at the house, I gathered all the ingredients and set out to cook. After a quick search, I had found a cookbook that actually had full instructions¡ªno mysterious little bit or pinch nonsense. It was just about following clear steps. Simple enough, right?


    "Two and a half hours at 275 degrees¡­"


    I¡¯ll admit, I wasn¡¯t prepared to spend half the afternoon waiting for a meal. There¡¯s definitely something wrong with human ovens. How does anyone live like this? Most of the time was spent watching the damn thing bake, waiting for any excuse to do something other than sit around while making sure it wouldn¡¯t suddenly burn everything to a crisp. I got so bored I ended up whipping up my own BBQ sauce, cleaned the entire first floor, and even fortified our magical defenses, all before the oven¡¯s alarm finally went off.


    Mental note: Make better oven¡ªbut that was a problem for another day.


    At least the kitchen had been remodeled, making it easier to move around. If I had to use a stove, dinner would have been white rice. But soon enough, the heavy, savory aroma of roasting meat filled the house, thick and satisfying. And the broom came in handy¡ªnot just for cleaning, but for swatting Kira away from the kitchen every time she tried sneaking in.


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    As the sun dipped and the night¡¯s cold stepped in, I began setting the table. The dining room had this enormous, dark wood table that looked like it belonged in a medieval hall¡ªlarge enough for a dozen knights, and far too empty for just us. After a moment of contemplation, I decided to move dinner to a smaller room off to the side. It seemed like an old playroom for children, scattered with puffs and futons, centered around a cozy, heated kotatsu table.


    By now, the brown tomboy was practically breathing down my neck. It was a small miracle I managed to set the plates down twice without losing a finger.


    "Saber? You there?" I called out.


    She preferred remaining in her spirit form, avoiding the physical drain of staying manifested for too long. It made sense¡ªless visible, less waste of magical energy. But still, it did make the house feel even emptier and her presence all the more distant.


    After a moment, she materialized again, respectfully standing at the other side of the table.


    "Seibaaaaaah! Down, down! Give him what he wants, or he won¡¯t let me eat!" Kira whined, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet.


    Saber closed her eyes, a quiet sigh escaping her lips as she gracefully sat down. "If those are my orders."


    I gestured to the food on the table. "I just made some ribs and potato salad. Don¡¯t expect anything worthy of a king, but the math worked out, so it shouldn''t be too bad."


    In truth, I was pretty happy with my own work. The ribs were tender, the salad decent enough. Sure, compared to the elaborate dishes they served back at the manor, it was pretty much dogshit, but considering Ajuka only hired chefs with at least two centuries of experience, I figured I wasn¡¯t doing too badly.


    "Oi! These are¡­ like, good good! When did my little brother learn to cook?" Kira exclaimed between bites, her eyes lighting up with genuine surprise.


    Ah, yes. That part of the story. Ajuka''s idea, of course. Since we were going to be living together and I clearly wasn¡¯t particularly interested in Kira, he figured the easiest solution was to make her my "stepsister." In Kira¡¯s mind, we had moved to Japan after she''d received an offer to join Kuoh Academy¡¯s sports program. It still felt weird hearing her call me brother, but given that we couldn¡¯t locate any of her family and even Saber hadn¡¯t objected to the mindwipe¡ªprobably because of her own experience with ¡°bed abuse¡±¡ªI¡¯d learned to live with it. It wasn¡¯t like I was getting the worst of it.


    ¡°Sai-bah,¡± Kira mumbled through a mouthful of food. ¡°Ho-isit?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve¡­ never cared much for food,¡± Saber admitted, eyes narrowing slightly. After a brief pause, she sighed and gave in, albeit reluctantly.


    She reached for a rib, handling it delicately at first, then tore into it, stripping the meat from the bone as if taking of a silk glove. A slight cough escaped her afterward, but her expression remained cold. Moments passed in silence before she moved on to the next rib, cleaning it just as thoroughly, facing down as it to hide her shameful enthusiasm.


    I wasn¡¯t really hungry myself, and truth be told, the food wasn¡¯t anything special. But watching them enjoy it stirred something warm inside me.


    ¡°Nyx! Mwar!¡±


    ¡°Going, going¡­¡±


    Eventually, I was done with my meal and began gathering up the empty plates. As I moved behind Saber, I noticed she wasn¡¯t quite ready to part with her portion yet, still nibbling quietly on a bone that had long been stripped bare, making sure it was thoroughly defeated. Without thinking, I smiled and reached out, giving her a soft pat on the head.


    Her reaction was sharp, almost violent. She jerked back and pulled, gasping, eyes wide as she looked up at me, startled.


    ¡°Excuse me, Master.¡±


    Without another word, she disappeared, retreating once again.


    ?


    Retreating for the night, I decided to make myself busy.


    There wasn¡¯t enough time to resume my experiments on soul summoning. And even if the idea of digging deeper into Saber¡¯s spirit origin tugged at the back of my mind, tonight didn¡¯t seem like the right moment. Her stability was something I couldn¡¯t afford to ignore forever, as she still hadn¡¯t accepted to be reincarnated as my Queen, so we had no way to know how long she could exist in this world with a Servant¡¯s body. But some tasks demanded patience, and this was one of them. I couldn¡¯t just order her to open up to me.


    And besides, there were always other things I could occupy myself with. There was always something to be done.


    This time, I decided to take a page from Ajuka¡¯s handbook and craft my own cognitive spell. Essentially, it was an imaginary engine designed to mirror my reasoning¡ªand eventually think for me. It would absorb ideas, following the trail of conclusions I fed it, until it could form reasonings on its own. In the short run, it wouldn¡¯t be all that useful; right now, it was nothing more than an empty mind with shallow access to my immediate thoughts. But at the very least, I could use it as a second layer to check my logic. I¡¯d need all the help I could get for my first day at Kuoh Academy, especially when it came to dealing with new people. First impressions were always important.


    Being a Devil meant I was naturally more productive at night. Skipping sleep was hardly unusual. But even so, my human brain still required rest from time to time. Eventually, I conceded and lay down, giving in to the inevitable need to recharge before the day ahead.


    But it was never that simple to really relax in a foreign bed. That sense of being out of place lingered¡ªlike when you spend a single night in a cheap roadside hotel before quickly moving on. The room was nice enough, but despite its cleanliness, the furniture seemed deliberately chosen to invoke an air of antiquity, as if someone wanted me to play the part of the classic, pompous bloodsucker. Heavy wood, dark tones and clothes embroider with flowers¡ªeverything screamed of a forced, outdated elegance.


    I didn¡¯t mind being a vampirid, but that didn¡¯t mean I needed to embody the tired clich¨¦. There were already enough Tepes wannabes in the world.


    As I shifted beneath the covers, rolling over in search of comfort, a knock interrupted my thoughts.


    ¡°Master, may I come in?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Saber. Come in.¡±


    The door creaked open, and the knight stepped into the room. I sat up, surprised but curious. ¡°Is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°I believe I might have insulted you,¡± she said as she knelt before me. ¡°I must therefore apologize. My previous master did not care much for my presence outside of combat, and even before that, I was never... handled in such a way during my previous life.¡±


    ¡°I see...¡± I exhaled softly. ¡°What was your previous life like, Saber?¡±


    For a fleeting moment, surprise passed through her eyes before she composed herself once more. ¡°I believe I lived a good life,¡± she began, her tone thoughtful. ¡°Though recently, I¡¯ve found myself questioning those beliefs.¡±


    ¡°Do you think you failed?¡±


    She seemed to contemplate my question, her fingers brushing against the hilt of her sword. Slowly, she unsheathed it. ¡°Ever since I obtained Caliburn... and later, Excalibur, my body ceased to age. I could rest with others, but sleep became unnecessary. I could share in feasts, but hunger was foreign to me. At the time, I didn¡¯t think much of it. But now, I ask myself¡ªdid I ever truly manage to connect with those around me?¡±


    ¡°Do you?¡± I asked quietly.


    Saber tilted her head, confusion on her face. ¡°Master?¡±


    ¡°We can never fully understand each other,¡± I explained, ¡°but when you trust someone, you need to believe they can see who you truly are, even if only for a moment at a time. No one can connect with another person every day, but to say you never did¡­¡±


    She lowered her head further, her jaw tightening as she wrestled with my words.


    ¡°We could find him,¡± I suggested.


    ¡°Him?¡±


    ¡°Lancelot. If you want another chance to speak with him, to hear how he truly feels, we can search for him. Arondight must be somewhere in this world. We only need to find it.¡±


    That seemed to strike something within her, but it still wasn¡¯t enough to dispel her uncertainty.


    ¡°I still need to decide if I will remain in this world,¡± she said firmly.


    I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Is death really a better option than putting up with me?¡±


    She flinched, her composure momentarily cracking. ¡°T-That¡¯s not what I said!¡±


    ¡°I know, I know... and I don¡¯t blame you. Your wounds are still fresh. And I get it, I''m a Devil. Charity isn¡¯t exactly my strong suit. But I still hope we can make a deal that serves us both before your time runs out.¡±


    Her fingers clenched onto her skirt, knuckles turning white. ¡°How long do I¡­?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got no idea, to be completely honest. A month at most. Even less if you fight. Maybe I could find a way to sustain you with magical energy, but that wouldn¡¯t make sense if you don¡¯t plan on sticking around me anyway.¡±


    She hesitated before speaking again, her voice quieter. ¡°May I ask, Master... why did you choose me as your most important piece? I understand my name and my blade carry weight, but if you¡¯re aware of my failure... then¡ª¡±


    ¡°The multiverse, as I see it, is infinite,¡± I interrupted. ¡°Your life would¡¯ve ended if I hadn¡¯t intervened. You would have been summoned into more Holy Grail Wars, but that Saber wouldn¡¯t really be you. This instance of Saber¡ªyou¡ªwould cease to exist the moment you return to the Throne of Heroes.¡±


    Her eyes widened and her brow furrowed in frustration. ¡°Then why me?! Why the one who failed?!¡±


    ¡°Because,¡± I began, stepping away and opening one of my suitcases, pulling out the fragment of Excalibur, ¡°I can only summon people who are initially weaker than me. But I need someone who can grow stronger once I do, because I will. And I know you can too.¡± I held Excalibur Rapidly in front of her, letting its soft glow reflect in her eyes. ¡°Summoned souls are... malleable, and I plan to use that to my advantage as much as I can.¡±


    I could see the conflict in her eyes, but I pressed on. ¡°If I¡¯m right, I can use this fragment to unlock your abilities as a Rider Servant. That¡¯s why I needed you as my Queen. It¡¯s the only piece that embodies the aspects of all others.¡±


    She stayed silent, her gaze locked on the blade, her expression torn between doubt and understanding. I knew the very fact that I had plans for her unsettled the knight.


    ¡°I can¡¯t offer this second chance for free,¡± I said. ¡°I don¡¯t have the luxury to give without expecting something in return, I can¡¯t afford it. If you¡¯re going to walk by my side, I need to know you¡¯re willing to rise to the challenge. You¡¯ll need to grow¡ªto match the size of my enemies, which, I promise you, will be many.¡±


    ¡°What will we fight for?¡± she asked sharply.


    ¡°For the same thing you did in life. To rule.¡±


    She frowned. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because someone has to,¡± I replied, without hesitation. ¡°And trust me, I¡¯ve seen the other options. They¡¯re not better than us. I refuse to be ruled, so I have to rule¡ªthere¡¯s no other choice.¡±


    Saber¡¯s gaze flickered with a trace of bitterness as she sheathed her sword, rising to her feet with a grace that belied the weight of her words. ¡°I was born to rule, and I failed miserably. I will give you my answer once you prove you can do better.¡±


    She turned to leave, but I stopped her with a single word. ¡°Wait.¡±


    Saber froze, tension rippling through her frame as she turned back to face me, her eyes wary.


    ¡°There¡¯s one more thing,¡± I said, my voice dropping. ¡°You haven¡¯t received your punishment yet.¡±


    Her eyes widened, panic flickering across her face. ¡°Punishment?¡± she echoed.


    I allowed a small smirk to form. ¡°Well, you did admit you insulted me before, didn¡¯t you? You know what I want¡ªon your knees.¡±


    For a brief moment, she hesitated, her pride warring with the command. But then, begrudgingly, she sank to her knees once again, biting back a grunt as she settled into the humiliating position. ¡°Is this truly necessary?¡± she asked, her voice tainted with a mix of defiance and resignation.


    ¡°Of course it is,¡± I replied. ¡°You¡¯re my Servant, and I will make use of you as I please.¡±


    She looked away, unwilling to meet my gaze as I moved to sit on the bed directly in front of her. Her refusal to look at me hardly mattered; I knew well enough that beneath her stoic exterior, a part of her awaited for this, whether she admitted it or not. Without hesitation, I leaned forward, placing my hand firmly atop her head, and began to scratch gently through her hair.


    ¡°Do you like that?¡± I teased, testing the waters.


    A blush crept across her face, staining her cheeks a light pink. ¡°M-Master, this is incredibly inappropriate, and I must ask that you stop such shameless behavior!¡± she stammered, her words a blunt contrast to the way her body remained obediently still under my touch.


    I chuckled softly. ¡°Oh? But isn¡¯t this what you wanted when you came to my room so late at night? Kira¡¯s not here... no one will know if you enjoy it.¡±


    Her lips pressed into a thin line, her silence betraying her anger. She didn¡¯t pull away, didn¡¯t resist. So, I continued. My fingers traced softly through her golden hair, weaving through the strands with delicate touches, each stroke deeper than the last as I unraveled her delicate appearance. Slowly, her rigid posture melted, her breath coming in soft, heated sighs that clouded the cool night air.


    By the time I finished, she was leaning into my hand, her body pliant and relaxed, her proud exterior melting before me like warm clay. Her breath now escaped her lips in soft, shallow puffs, the tension in her shoulders giving way to something softer, something surrendered. And as I looked into her eyes, those clouded, vitric eyes¡ªI knew that sight was for me, and only for me.


    I cupped her face gently in my hand, my thumb tracing slow, deliberate circles over her cheek, giving her a moment of rest. ¡°Did you enjoy that, Artoria?¡±


    She shifted with a mixture of embarrassment and reluctant acceptance. ¡°N-Never in my life have I felt so humiliated,¡± she whispered.


    I tilted my head, my smirk growing. ¡°And you loved every second of it.¡±


    There was no answer. Instead, she leaned forward just slightly, pressing the lightest of kisses against my hand, a silent acknowledgment. Then, she rose to her feet, bowed once more, and left the room without another word.


    As for me¡­ now I really was hungry.

 Chapter 7: Deal With The Devil

    "The Angel that presided ''oer my birth said, "Little creature, form''d of Joy and Mirth, "Go love without the help of any Thing on Earth.¡±"


    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll be down the hall, but I don¡¯t want you running over to me every time there¡¯s a break, got it? Try to be cool, make some friends, and look alive!¡±


    Having an older sister wasn¡¯t exactly something I had on my agenda, but at this point, I could only force a tight-lipped smile and nod. As Kira left, I turned to face the classroom, took a steadying breath, and walked in.


    Being in second year meant I recognized a few faces right away: Yuuto Kiba, Momo Hanakai, Genshirou Saji, and even Issei Hyoudou¡ªeveryone was already there. I made my way toward the back of the room, hoping to slide in unnoticed. But before I could sit, a girl with gold-colored eyes and lightly tousled brunette hair, tied into loose braids on each side, blocked my path¡ªAika Kiryuu.


    "Where do you think you''re going, fresh meat?" she asked, leaning forward with one hand on her hip. She adjusted her glasses with a quick push, her other finger jabbing lightly at my chest. ¡°Hmmm¡­ That¡¯s odd. Five foot¡­ one. A hundred and ninety pounds¡­¡± She pushed me again. ¡°But you don¡¯t look heavy. Can you walk a bit more? I need to check something.¡±


    ¡°Aika! What are you doing?!¡±


    The voice belonged to another girl, who came rushing towards us with urgency. This one I didn¡¯t recognize¡ªtaller, with light-brown hair pulled into long pigtails.


    ¡°Oh, Murayama! I was just taking the new guy¡¯s measurements. His body¡¯s... strange. I can¡¯t tell if he¡¯s sucking in his gut or shredded under that uniform!¡± Aika said with a big grin. ¡°But I know one way to find out.¡±


    ¡°Can¡­ we talk for a second?¡±


    The girl¡ª Murayama, gave me an apologetic smile before forcefully dragging Aika away by the arm. Luckily, being a Devil had its perks¡ªgood hearing, for one. I caught every word of their whispered conversation.


    ¡°Listen to me,¡± Murayama hissed. ¡°I want some chance of living out a normal college romance, so I¡¯m not about to let you ruin this for everyone by sexually harassing every new guy that walks in. The last thing we need is to end up stuck with the Perverted Trio again. It¡¯s a miracle Kiba puts up with you.¡±


    Aika waved her off with a smirk. ¡°Relax, relax. I¡¯ll be quick about it, I swear. It¡¯s just... taking me a bit longer than usual. Let¡¯s just say he¡¯s got a lot to take in.¡± She flashed a smug grin, clearly too pleased with herself.


    Murayama shot her a disgusted look before releasing her arm, turning back to me with a wide, friendly, innocent smile. ¡°Hiiiii! I¡¯m sooo sorry about that! My name¡¯s Ame Murayama. When they told us we were getting a new classmate, I didn¡¯t expect him to be a foreigner. I really like your eyes! Are you from Europe?¡±


    I tried not to laugh. How do you even fumble being in this class?


    I never really thought about it from the girl¡¯s perspective, but now I understood why they always gathered around Kiba. These girls were THIRSTY. I guess the lack of men in the school was something that played both ways as long as you weren¡¯t literally insufferable.


    But before Murayama finished talking for me to give an answer, another figure approached.


    ¡°You must be Nyx, right?¡±


    And speaking of the Devil... there he was. Kiba Yuuto himself, smiling politely as he extended a hand. I gladly took the opportunity to escape the infinite question and accepted his handshake.


    ¡°Were you waiting for me?¡± I asked, arching an eyebrow.


    Kiba scratched his head, chuckling. ¡°I was asked to keep an eye on you. Thought I should step in before things got... out of hand.¡± He smiled reassuringly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they mean well. You¡¯ll get used to it soon enough. It happens to every guy who transfers here.¡±


    ¡°Every guy?¡± I joked, knowing that wasn¡¯t exactly true.


    He gave me a sympathetic shrug. ¡°Well... let¡¯s just say you¡¯d have to make a real effort to get them to lose interest. Expectations are¡­ pretty low.¡±


    Before long, the teacher entered, and the morning class began without further incident. Sitting back in a classroom felt... nice. I really didn¡¯t have many memories of my past life, but something about being here felt natural, like slipping back into an old routine. It had been years since I¡¯d been surrounded by humans, and though there were whispers flying around after I¡¯d spoken to Kiba, most of the students didn¡¯t seem too concerned with me.


    Devils were typically sharp, calculating, always playing some cruel game. Here, though, it was different. These people were only focused on surviving the semester, and it was refreshing to be in a space where that was the biggest concern, with everyone on the same page. I found myself relaxing as the lesson continued, letting the familiar sounds of the classroom wash over me. I didn¡¯t need a refresher on basic math or chemistry, so I could afford to coast through the class without taking too many notes, resting my eyes every once in a while. For the first time in a long while, I could just... exist around people.


    It was fun.


    But once the shift came to an end, it was business hour.


    I stepped out of the classroom, scanning the hallway until my eyes landed on the person I had planned to meet today. But just as I¡¯d hoped for, my short walk was interrupted just after two steps.


    A gentle hand rested on my shoulder, and I turned to see the vibrant red hair of Rias Gremory. Despite knowing she would be there¡ªplanning for it, I couldn¡¯t hold back some surprise. Rias was tall, curvy, elegant and unique all in a single package, making it seem as if the academy¡¯s uniform was designed just to cling to her body.


    Her confident grin faltered slightly, revealing a flicker of curiosity that she tried to mask. With a graceful motion, Rias pressed a hand to her soft chest.


    ¡°Greetings,¡± she began. ¡°I am Rias Gremory, as you likely know¡ªthe current heir of the Gremory clan. May I ask for a moment of your time?¡±


    ¡°Rias, what¡¯s the meaning of this?¡±


    Sona¡¯s sharp tone came from behind me, her small stature overshadowed by the authority in her gaze. Her glasses caught the light, giving her an even more commanding presence. The heir of the house of Sitri looked far from amused, but even that wasn¡¯t enough to completely erase her looks. She was adorable, like a kid playing pretend on her mother¡¯s shoes.


    Rias blinked, momentarily taken aback. ¡°Oh, Sona¡­¡± She offered a sheepish smile. ¡°I was merely hoping to extend a warm welcome to our new student. After all, Kuoh City is still Gremory¡¯s territory, and I should be in charge of welcoming our fellow¡­ outsiders.¡±


    Sona¡¯s eyes narrowed, her posture rigid as she spoke with icy precision. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to decline your invitation,¡± she said, her voice edged with haste. ¡°This student has already arranged an audience with the Student Council right after class¡ªas all new arrivals should. Therefore, as anything concerning Kuoh Academy falls under my jurisdiction, I¡¯ll handle things from here.¡±


    Rias made her absolutely best effort to remain amicable, but I could see a vein on her forehead about to pop. ¡°That is unfortunate indeed. I¡¯ll leave you two to it then, but please¡­¡± She gave me a small piece of paper before stepping back. ¡°I would be most pleased if you could find a moment to reach back to us. I feel like we have much to discuss.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± I replied, bowing slightly. ¡°Apologies for any trouble my presence has caused. I did not know you¡¯d be waiting for me.¡±


    Rias inclined her head, her eyes lingering on mine a moment longer, as if seeking something unspoken. Then, without a word, she turned and walked away, leaving behind a palpable tension, like the ripple of a stone dropped into still waters. I¡¯d given her more to think about, and not a single answer.


    I straightened up and turned to Sona, who merely nodded and began walking, expecting me to follow. Without a word, she led me through the building, up to the second floor. As we entered the private Student Council room, the quiet hum of activity was replaced by the stillness of a formal meeting. Kuoh Academy thrived on an image of pristine order, and this room was no exception, everything meticulously arranged, as if chaos had never dared touch its floors.


    At the far end of the room, Tsubaki Shinra, Sona¡¯s Queen, sat silently on a sleek black couch, her eyes closed in calm detachment. Her presence was a sentinel¡¯s¡ªquiet but vigilant. We paid her no mind as we took our seats, though her silent watchfulness was a reminder: this was a private conversation, but I was still an outsider. Some precautions were inevitable. They did not trust me, and I was okay with that.


    Sona¡¯s voice, broke the silence. ¡°First of all, allow me to formally welcome you to our institution. Have you found it to your liking?¡±


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°I have,¡± I admitted. ¡°I never expected the human world to suit me so well.¡±


    She nodded, her expression unchanged as she opened a thick tome resting on the table between us. It was old, its worn pages edged with dust. ¡°Cervantis¡­ A name not spoken in over two hundred years. From Transylvania to the Underworld¡­ To our door.¡±


    Of course, I hadn¡¯t expected the sister of Leviathan to come unprepared.


    ¡°A name no one has needed of for two centuries,¡± I replied calmly. ¡°But that¡¯s something I intend to change.¡±


    Her brows lifted, though her interest remained low, almost clinical. ¡°And am I to believe you¡¯ve come offering something worth our interest?¡±


    ¡°On the contrary,¡± I said with a faint smile. ¡°Since I¡¯ll be living in the area, my intention was simply to knock on your door and ask for a cup of sugar.¡± With a very slow motion, I extended my arm, manifesting a swirling torrent of solid blood. Both Sona and her Queen tensed for a fraction of a second, then relaxed again, their eyes fixed on the display. ¡°My gifts are painfully obvious,¡± I continued, nonchalant. ¡°I have some talent with them, but there¡¯s something I¡¯ve yet to master, something I believe you could help me with.¡±


    ¡°And what would that be?¡±


    ¡°Water.¡± I flexed my fingers, turning the blood into a sluggish stream that drifted along my hand. ¡°I can manipulate blood as a weapon, but I can¡¯t make it flow the way water does.¡± The stream twisted around my fingers, but it was thick, slow, and clumsy, lacking the fluid grace of a true current. ¡°Blood, like water, needs to flow freely. If it stagnates, it rots. My family has suffered enough from that kind of stagnation, and it¡¯s a mistake I don¡¯t plan on repeating.¡±


    ¡°And you expect the heir to the house of Sitri to simply drop her responsibilities and come to your aid, because¡­?¡±


    All or nothing.


    ¡°Because both strays and Fallen Angels roam the human world as they please, and if half the rumors I¡¯ve heard in the Underworld are true, they might drain your little human farm dry before you complete your peerage.¡±


    For a heartbeat, the room was silent, the words hanging in the air. Then, outrage swelled.


    Sona shot to her feet, her face flushed with anger. ¡°You forget your place if you think we require your help!¡±


    ¡°Do I?¡± I leaned back in my chair, smiling slightly. ¡°Can you promise me that not a single one of your students will be butchered for their Sacred Gears before the year ends?¡±


    Her teeth clenched, and she looked away, refusing to respond.


    ¡°I¡¯m not mocking you,¡± I said, my tone softening. ¡°But if Azazel¡¯s out there hunting for new toys¡ª¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no proof of that,¡± she cut in, her voice a little calmer now as she sat back down, adjusting her glasses. ¡°And I can¡¯t base an alliance on your word alone.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps not. But we both know your enemies are real, and you¡¯re too proud to call Leviathan for help if things go south. So why don¡¯t we take a chance on each other now, instead of waiting for the time to come?¡±


    Sona closed her eyes, weighing the offer in silence, thinking. ¡°That little stunt outside the classroom¡ªwas it just a coincidence?¡±


    ¡°That would be Satan Lucifer¡¯s doing.¡±


    Her eyes snapped open, surprised. ¡°Lord Sirzechs? What does he have to do with this?¡±


    ¡°He asked for an audience right after I received my Evil Pieces. He spoke of restoring the bond between our families and, when he learned of my plans to attend Kuoh Academy, he suggested¡­¡± I hesitated, letting the weight of my next words sink in. ¡°He suggested I might be a good match for Rias Gremory, better than Riser Phenex at least. I assume that¡¯s why she was looking for me.¡±


    For the first time, I could tell I had both girl¡¯s full attention. Tsubaki pretended not to pay any mind, but her elegant body had moved to the edge of her seat. Meanwhile, Sona¡¯s eyes had grown deep and troubled.


    ¡°And what do you think of that offer?¡± she asked carefully. ¡°Needless to say, you''d make some powerful enemies.¡±


    ¡°I gave him the same answer I¡¯ll give you¡ªI won¡¯t marry someone I don¡¯t know. But if a chance for me to get to know Rias Gremory presents itself¡­ I won¡¯t reject it. And, I¡¯ll admit, she is very pretty.¡±


    Sona tilted her chin, scrutinizing me in silence, her thoughts seemingly turning over my words. After a moment, her lips pressed together. ¡°So, I take it your goal is to gather favor with the Four Satans?¡±


    ¡°With two of them, I¡¯ve already spoken. I had hoped your sister would be the third.¡±


    Finally, she let out a deep sigh. ¡°Very well. You¡¯ve given me enough to trace back your intentions. If it¡¯s knowledge you seek, you¡¯ve come to the right place. However,¡± her voice hardened, ¡°I cannot afford to waste my time on those who show no potential. Tsubaki will oversee your training. Prove your worth, and we may speak again.¡±


    I looked over at the silent Queen and smiled. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ve managed to pique her interest?¡±


    ¡°I will fulfill my duties to the best of my ability,¡± Tsubaki said, calm, formal. ¡°It is up to you whether that will be enough to bring about progress.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t exactly high praise, but it was a victory nonetheless. I had gained what I came for, and I felt a subtle wave of satisfaction rise within me. Just as I was about to take a much-needed breath of relief, a sharp knock interrupted the moment. Sona and I exchanged puzzled looks before the door creaked open on its own.


    A figure stepped in. Saber¡ªclad in one of her new formal dresses, though it was clear from her expression that playing the role of maid didn¡¯t suit her in the slightest. She stood with her usual grace, yet there was a tension in her posture, a reluctance to be here.


    ¡°Master, my apologies for the intrusion, but there are matters that may require your immediate attention,¡± the Servant said, bowing slightly.


    I turned to my hosts, offering a small nod. "I must apologize for this," I said, gesturing toward Saber. "She¡¯s the only maid I brought with me, though her current role is more of a bodyguard. I recall instructing her to simply observe from a distance¡­ apparently, that didn¡¯t go as planned."


    Saber, clearly apologetic, dipped her head. "Miss¡­ your sister has joined the kendo club¡¯s practice today, Master." She hesitated, glancing between us before continuing. "And, well¡­ how to put this delicately¡­ it seems some of your classmates are quite interested in, and I quote, admiring the sweet, hot cocoa buns she brought to school."


    For a moment, nobody dared to share a thought. Sona¡¯s face turned a deep shade of red, and she buried it in her hands, her expression one of pure, mortified pain. Even Tsubaki, ever composed, looked away, her jaw tightening slightly in clear shame.


    ¡°There have been¡­ incidents,¡± Sona admitted quietly. "Some of our students have remained difficult to manage."


    I resisted the urge to react, but a sharp stab of irritation shot through me. It was like a hot needle being hammered right into my skull. "I¡¯ll handle this," I said, already getting up. "Saber, lead the way."


    ¡°Wait!¡± Tsubaki¡¯s voice rang out, her arm snapping out as though to stop me. ¡°Academic matters are to be handled by the Student Council¡ª¡±


    I didn¡¯t break my stride, nor did I bother to look back. ¡°Negotiations are over,¡± I answered, final. ¡°As a gesture of goodwill, I promise not to cause any permanent damage. But please, learn to control your humans. If you can¡¯t manage that, what¡¯s even the point?¡±


    With that, I followed Saber out of the room, the door closing loudly behind us.


    ?


    My plan was simple¡ªavoid Issei Hyoudou. Forever. Or at least until the day he died. It was the best way to ensure everything unfolded the way it needed to. There was no logic in meddling with the timeline by stepping in to tweak minor events.


    That being said, I was currently considering how to avoid cracking his skull open by accident.


    It wasn¡¯t that I held a grudge against the guy... well, aside from the fact that he was a borderline sex offender who got away with it because he had a dragon in his gut. That, and he was a bit short in the brains department from time to time. But overall, he didn¡¯t particularly bother me. If anything, I had to begrudgingly admire just how lucky one guy could get in a single lifetime.


    But reading about someone peeking on naked girls and actually having to deal with it in real life were two very different things. Specially when trying to take care of someone who really shouldn¡¯t be exposed to any more sexual harassment during this lifetime.


    ¡°Saber, are you sure this is the room?¡±


    From behind the door, I heard Issei¡¯s unmistakable voice, faint but clear enough. ¡°Hey! That¡¯s not fair! Do you know how long it took me to turn that crack into a hole worth using?!¡±


    Saber nodded, visibly uncomfortable. ¡°Yes, it seems they¡¯re making use of a concealed spot behind a poster of Beetch Vollebrrrr.¡±


    How she managed to say that with a straight face, I will never know. But I wasn¡¯t about to correct her. If I was lucky enough, she might say it again in front of other people.


    I was about to walk in on the three stooges when the door to the girls¡¯ bathroom beside me swung open. Out stepped Murayama, the same girl I¡¯d seen before. Her chestnut hair was tied into a high ponytail this time, giving her a more serious look. And, speaking of chest¡­ well, the kimono she wore certainly did her figure justice, as she filled it up to the brim.


    ¡°Murayama, heading to practice?¡± I asked casually.


    She turned, startled. ¡°Y-Yes! The girls and I are just getting ready. Do you want to come take a look?¡±


    "I was hoping you could lend me your wooden sword for a moment. I think I heard some rats inside."


    Murayama looked confused at first, but as I pointed toward the door, she moved closer, and it became clear. Issei and his friends weren¡¯t half as sneaky as they thought.


    ¡°M-Move aside! I want to see the new girl too!¡±


    The girl let out a tired sigh, clearly exasperated. She unhooked the practice sword from her waist and handed it to me with a small smile. "If anyone asks, I never saw anything."


    Good girl.


    With the fake weapon in hand, I opened the door and stepped into the dark, dusty supply room. It was basically just a janitors closet, probably build right beside the bathroom to store all the cleaning products nearby.


    All three of them froze in place, turning slowly to face me, caught in the act. Issei, predictably, was the first to speak, taking a step ahead.


    "Ah, the new guy! Another blonde asshole here to steal all the girls just because he''s new, handsome, smart, or works hard, huh?" He pointed a thumb toward the wall with pride. "Well, let me tell you something! I had to dig this wall with a spoon for three whole weeks to make that crack! So if you want to take a peek, you better pay up."


    Matsuda and Motohama grew in confidence as they stood behind him, crossing their arms and nodding along.


    I had almost forgotten that being genuinely disgusting wasn¡¯t just something for Devils.


    ?


    Kira spun around playfully, making her kimono flare with the movement. Kendo wasn¡¯t exactly her kind of thing, but why not? When in Rome¡­ Besides, the other girls had been surprisingly welcoming. Even as she adjusted the outfit and glanced at herself in the mirror inside the locker room, she could hear whispers behind her. They made her feel slightly self-conscious, but in a good way. Everyone was paying attention¡ªnot out of malice, just curiosity. She was new, different, and allowed to enjoy it.


    Then it happened.


    First came muffled screams, followed by a loud crash as something slammed into the wall behind her. Before she could fully register what was happening, the thin partition collapsed, and a boy came tumbling into the room. He was bald, a bit ugly, and clearly dazed. Kira instinctively stepped forward to see if he was okay, but the girls around her erupted into panic and shrieks.


    ¡°Again?! This is the last time. Girls, get him!¡±


    Five of her new classmates descended on the boy without hesitation, kicking him and stepping on him while he remained on the floor. Meanwhile, the rest of the girls rushed toward the hallway, where the commotion seemed to have spilled over. Kira followed, her eyes widening as she stepped into the corridor and spotted Nyx standing with his back to her. In front of him, on the ground, lay another boy¡ªthis one with messy brown hair, groaning in pain.


    For a split second, Kira considered stepping in to break up the fight, but then she realized the crowd wasn¡¯t discouraging it. On the contrary, everyone around was cheering. Even Katase, who had struck her as the gentler type, was shouting with enthusiasm.


    ¡°Beat him up! Beat him up! Beat him up!¡±


    Nyx tossed a wooden kendo sword at the boy on the ground. ¡°Pick it up.¡±


    Issei groaned, clutching the sword and using it to push himself to his feet. He staggered back, barely managing to assume a defensive stance. ¡°Ha... You really are one cocky bastard¡ª¡±


    Nyx moved first, throwing a punch. Issei tried to parry with the sword, but it didn¡¯t matter. Nyx¡¯s knuckles connected hard with Issei¡¯s face, the impact sending a sickening crunch through the air as his nose took the brunt of the blow.


    ¡°If you think this is enough to stop my hunger for the sight of bouncing, soft brea¡ª¡±


    Another punch cut him off.


    ¡°Tits are my... religion... and I¡¯m going to¡ª¡±


    And again. And again.


    ¡°Yo¡¯, what the fuck are you doing?!¡± Kira finally yelled, pushing through the crowd to intervene.


    Nyx turned towards her, his expression impassive as he calmly wiped the blood off his white gloves. ¡°These guys were¡­¡± He stopped himself. ¡°They were up to no good, that¡¯s for sure.¡±


    ¡°So you decided to beat the shit out of them?! It¡¯s our first day of school, Nyx! I can take care of myself! Why do you have to get yourself in trouble and act like it¡¯s for me?!¡±


    Her words came out in a rush, frustration and irritation lacing her tone. As her voice echoed in the now-silent hallway, Kira realized that all eyes had turned to her. Flustered, she turned around and hurried back into the changing room, sinking down onto one of the benches, her face burning with embarrassment.


    But the attention followed her inside. A moment later, Katase slid in beside her, a mischievous grin on her lips.


    ¡°So¡­¡± she purred, pressing closer. ¡°New girl, new guy... why didn¡¯t you tell me? I think he¡¯s really cute! A bit creepy¡­ I¡¯m into that.¡±


    Kira groaned, burying her face in her hands.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be mad at him,¡± another girl added. ¡°Those guys deserved it. I wouldn¡¯t complain if it happened more often.¡±


    ¡°I thought he was a little scary at first, but honestly? Nothing¡¯s worse than the creeps we already have. If they don¡¯t do anything about it I might switch schools.¡±


    In an instant, the atmosphere shifted. Kira, who had felt the attention before with a sense of pride, now wanted the ground to swallow her whole. The whispers returned, but this time, they stung a bit.


    ¡°Girls, calm down. He¡¯s my fucking brother!¡±


    Katase gave her a deeply confused look, clearly not sure what to make of it, but said nothing.


    ¡°Half-brother¡­¡± Kira added quietly, as if that would make any difference.


    It didn¡¯t. In fact, it was like pouring gasoline on an open flame. The murmurs only grew louder, and as the changing room began to clear out, Kira knew this was one rumor that wasn¡¯t going away anytime soon.


    ¡°Well, if your brother ever wants to join us for practice, I¡¯ll make sure to help him polish his sword before we fight,¡± Katase said, almost purring.


    ¡°Katase!¡± Kira snapped, mortified.


    ¡°What? It¡¯s important to take care of the family sword. Can¡¯t let it get rusty¡­ I¡¯m just saying!¡± the girl replied with an exaggerated innocence that only made it worse.


    ¡°Katase, shut the fuck up!¡±


    ¡°Stop trying to protect me in front of my friends, step bro! Oh, gosh, it¡¯s not like I like it when you fight for me or anything!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna beat your ass!¡±

 Chapter 8: Man Made Monster

    ¡°Do you think I took things too far, Saber?¡±


    ¡°Back in my day, the punishment for voyeurism and repeated assault would range from public humiliation to execution, depending on the total number of offenses.¡±


    ¡°Never mind.¡±


    The sun was starting to go down and we had taken a little break outside the school to have a little snack. At this point, I was starting to theorize that Saber¡¯s body had the ability to turn food into magical energy, because there¡¯s no other explanation for someone consuming a dozen chocolate buns without suffering any kind of change in shape or mass. So she was either a self-propelling engine or just immune to the laws of thermodynamics, and I wasn¡¯t going to ask¡ªI know better than to get myself eaten.


    After that, it was time for the main event. I had left Rias waiting for long enough.


    ?


    ¡°Rias, I would recommend that you approach this situation with a bit more patience.¡±


    Akeno sat calmly on the Occult Research Club¡¯s room, legs crossed on one of the fancy couch¡¯s, sipping tea with a calm and charming smile. Meanwhile, for the first time in quite some years, her King proceeded to freak out, making a mess of the entire room.


    ¡°What did my brother mean I should probably keep an eye on him?! And why¡¯s Sona already ahead of me again?!¡±


    To say that communication between the Gremory heir and her brother wasn¡¯t the best was not an exaggeration, but that was the norm for all Satans. What was rare was for the Red Satan to give instructions to his sister, of any kind. Rias was still a very young Devil, after all, so even if her peerage was still very far from complete, it wasn¡¯t something unusual enough to worry about. And yet, this was the first time her older brother had intervened in the matter ever since he decided to trade Koneko with her¡ªand the nekomata was the only member of her group with the potential to eventually become a Super Devil.


    Needless to say, things had gotten complicated for the young heir.


    ¡°Although it is strange.¡± Kiba through out loud. ¡°He didn¡¯t seem surprised when he saw me, which means he¡¯s probably aware of us. And if he talked with the President¡¯s brother before coming here¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, I suppose it is hardly a surprise.¡± Akeno continued to not pay mind, casually dodging as a heavy book flew her way. ¡°We did choose a rather aggressive approach, which assumed he would immediately show us the same interest we did him.¡±


    ¡°You think we made a mistake?¡± Rias asked, looking worried.


    ¡°Hmmm¡­ No, I wouldn¡¯t say that much. But we were a bit impatient, which may have made out President look a little desperate.¡±


    Thing is¡ªRias was desperate. As much as she personally didn¡¯t mind her current state, it was exactly because of her peerage¡¯s lack of strength that her family had felt the need to try and solidify their dominance by offering her hand to the Phenex family. Or in other words, there was a ticking clock chasing behind her heels, counting down on her chances of finding a way out of the arranged marriage.


    It was at that moment that the small catgirl came back.


    ¡°Koneko!¡± Rias momentarily stopped her rampage, turning around with a wide smile. ¡°Give me some good news!¡±


    ¡°There was a fight on the hallway,¡± the small girl said before sitting down. ¡°It was really fun.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it?!¡±


    ¡°All three perverts got beaten. I like the new guy. I hope he stays.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Akeno covered her mouth playfully. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell us he was the type to jump to the rescue. I love a pure, untainted heart.¡±


    Kiba sighed tiredly. ¡°We should really do something about those three. I know we can¡¯t just expel the few guys we have, but¡­¡±


    ¡°I agree,¡± Koneko nodded. ¡°Everybody talks bad about the school. Girls don¡¯t want to come here.¡±


    ¡°Can we focus for a minute?!¡± Rias snapped. ¡°Do we even know where he is right now?¡±


    ¡°Oh, he should be coming now.¡±


    ¡°What?! Why didn¡¯t you tell me before?¡±


    Koneko stretched lazily. ¡°You didn¡¯t ask me before, President.¡±


    ?


    I pulled out the piece of paper Rias had given me.


    Invitations, when it came to Devils, were more than just formalities. They were, in essence, keys to their specific teleportation circle, but they also needed to be able to turn off the magical defenses surrounding the place, allowing the guest to enter without triggering every single alarm on the building. Funnily enough, most Devils tended to forget about that little detail. And I just couldn¡¯t resist the temptation to tease Rias a little, wondering if she¡¯d be one of them.


    Holding the printed spell in my hand, I infused it with just enough magical energy, carefully activating the precise part of the incantation I needed. The invisible barrier encasing the old schoolhouse shimmered for a moment, then flickered and dimmed. It weakened just enough for me to slip through as though it had never been there at all.


    As I passed through, a strange sensation stayed on my tongue¡ªa faint, metallic, numbing taste that hinted at the nature of the magic. It didn¡¯t take much thinking to recognize Akeno¡¯s touch. The spell had an unfamiliar quality to it, a subtle layer of something foreign and alien. Most likely, traces of her Fallen Angel nature seeped through the delicate weave. It was subtle, but impossible to deny.


    I guess none of us can outrun what we are, no matter how hard we try.


    The Occult Research Club¡¯s base was a surprising sight, more beautiful than I¡¯d expected. Its exterior had been overtaken by creeping vines, small tendrils of vegetation crawling up the walls as though nature was laying claim to the structure. But this wasn¡¯t the work of neglect. It was clearly deliberate, a design choice that gave the old building a timeless, forgotten charm¡ªas if it stood frozen here, beyond the human eye. The windows, dark and barricaded, added a layer of mystery, helping you assume nobody had set foot inside for ages. And yet, beneath the weathered stone, dirt and wild growth, the structure was in pristine condition, not a hole to be seen.


    It felt like something out of a fairy tale, calling out for me to go and explore it.


    The interior, however, was more a bit more boring and predictable¡ªa good reflection of the Gremory clan¡¯s taste. Red carpets lined the hallways, burning candles flickered from their perches, casting dancing shadows along the corridors. Everything was covered in a thin layer of dust, as though the building had been waiting for a breeze to sweep through and disturb its slumber for years now, only to be left wanting.


    I knew better than to wander around without direction. Instead, I made my way to the second floor, pausing briefly before knocking on the door to the main chamber. From inside, I could hear faint sounds¡ªthe soft clatter of nervous footsteps. Then, the door creaked open.


    "Oh, my... You must be our guest for today." Akeno greeted me with a gentle bow, her voice smooth and sweet, the kind that could lure you into a sense of ease. The simple movement was enough to make her massive chest bounce slightly. "Pleased to meet you. I¡¯m the club¡¯s vice President, Himejima Akeno. It is an honor to make your acquaintance."


    "I see. Apologies for arriving unannounced, but your master seemed quite eager to meet me. Would she be available?"


    "Indeed, she is. Though you may have to wait a moment... In the meantime, please, come inside."


    Her tone carried an innocent lilt, but there was something beneath the surface¡ªa knowing, teasing quality in the way she spoke. Her words felt carefully chosen.


    Akeno was, without a doubt, an otherworldly beauty. She stood tall, her figure voluptuous even by this world¡¯s standards, let alone for a Japanese girl. It was as if every inch of her appearance had been meticulously crafted, not a single detail left to chance. The clothes she wore, likely the same size as Rias¡¯, stretched a bit too much over her curves, the fabric strained just enough to let her full nipples press visibly through the material. It was the kind of wardrobe malfunction that seemed too perfect to be accidental, making you wonder if you should say something about it or not.


    Her hair¡ªpure, midnight black¡ªcascaded down her back in a long, sleek ponytail, nearly brushing the floor. The contrast between her delicate features and her body¡¯s shameless presence said it all. She had made herself the image of a respectful, pure maiden, unfortunately trapped in a body designed to tempt and provoke.


    And Akeno knew exactly what she was doing. Every glance, every movement was calculated to try and get you to fold or make a fool of yourself. And she was painfully good at it.


    With that in mind, I made sure not to give her a single look, pretending as if she wasn¡¯t there at all. It wasn¡¯t easy.


    ¡°Ah, so you¡¯ve finally made it.¡±


    The room had two couches flanking a small coffee table. On one, Kiba sat with a worried smile, greeting me as I walked in. Beside him, Koneko sat silently, her focus entirely on whatever snack she was munching on.


    ¡°Kiba. Koneko,¡± I greeted.


    At the sound of her name, Koneko glanced up. ¡°We... haven¡¯t met yet.¡±


    I shrugged as I took Akeno¡¯s invitation to sit across from them. ¡°Well, all of you already know who I am, so I guess that makes us even.¡±


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    As I settled in, I finally noticed why Kiba looked so nervous. Toward the back of the room, a thin, shower-like curtain concealed the far wall behind him. Light filtered through, and behind it, the outline of a woman was clearly visible¡ªRias, framed perfectly by the light as she washed herself under the soft splatter of water. It wasn¡¯t exactly like she was putting on a public show, but given that I could follow every slow movement of her hands across her long thighs and curvy chest, it was about as close as you could get to suggestive without crossing the line into soft porn. And she was enjoying herself in there, pushing her hips, bending her back and letting my imagination fill in the gaps.


    Then, out of nowhere, warm breath tickled my ear. ¡°Is something the matter, Nyx?¡± Akeno¡¯s voice was a soft, honey chuckle as she leaned in closer.


    I almost laughed at how hard they were trying, but somehow managed to keep it together. ¡°Just wondering if that shower¡¯s reserved for the President¡¯s use.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± She purred. ¡°Were you thinking of joining her?¡±


    I glanced down for a deliberate moment, letting my eyes trace the curve of Akeno¡¯s chest as she stretched out on the couch, like a cat basking in my attention. Then I met her gaze again. ¡°I was just thinking that if I¡¯d come at a different time, I might have caught a more interesting show. Maybe I should try again every now and then.¡±


    For a brief moment, the entire room stood still, the only sound being the faint drizzle of water. Akeno smiled, and I could almost hear Rias groaning behind the curtain, as the show had immediately stopped.


    ¡°Akeno! J-Just bring me my clothes!¡±


    ¡°Yes, President~¡± Akeno replied with a playful lilt, clasping her own cheek.


    A minute later, Rias emerged, fully dressed but clearly flustered. The tension in the room eased as everyone settled into place. While the rest of us remained seated, she stood by her desk, her posture firm as she looked down at us.


    ¡°Nyx Cervantis,¡± she began, resolute. ¡°I¡¯ll make this simple for the both of us. Join my peerage, and I promise you the full support of the Gremory clan. Whatever your goals are, I¡¯m confident they can be achieved with my help. My family, as always, stands atop the Underworld, and I would be glad to have you stand with us.¡±


    I had to hand it to her¡ªRias cared deeply for her family and knew how to present that without coming off like an arrogant asshole. I mean¡ªshe wasn¡¯t wrong.


    So I let the silence stretch for a moment, pretending to mull over her offer. Then, finally spoke. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯ll have to decline.¡±


    Her eyes widened, not expecting that response at all.


    ¡°W-What do you mean decline?!¡± She paused, regaining her composure. ¡°Is this because of the Student Council? If so, I¡¯m more than willing to negotiate. I¡¯m sure we can come to some kind of agreement, in spite of what they might have offered.¡±


    I shook my head slightly. ¡°I¡¯ve decided to take a few lessons on magic from them, yes, but it¡¯s not like I¡¯m joining their peerage either. Honestly, I don¡¯t feel comfortable binding myself to a group of strangers. Right now, I¡¯m more interested in forming my own peerage¡ªgetting to know some interesting people around Kuoh City, maybe even trying to see if some second heirs would be interested. I don¡¯t have many connections through the Underworld, but I¡¯m hoping that will change soon enough.¡±


    That seemed to catch her attention. Her posture softened. ¡°Then, what if we took the time to get to know each other? Like you said, you could come back here occasionally, maybe take a few weeks to think about it.¡±


    I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. ¡°What I really want to know¡­ is what your brother told you about me. I don¡¯t mind that you¡¯re trying to recruit me, but this feels a little¡­ rushed.¡±


    Rias expression shifted, and she took a step back, perching herself on the desk behind her. Her demeanor grew more serious. ¡°He didn¡¯t tell me much¡ªonly that I probably wouldn¡¯t get a better chance to spend eight pawns on a single ally. Or in other words, that if I were to recruit you it would be the same as acquiring another Queen.¡±


    I studied her for a moment, letting her words settle, preparing my next card. ¡°I¡¯m looking for fragments of Excalibur. I have reason to believe a few of them will be coming to this city within the year. They¡¯re not exactly crucial for me, but my Queen¡ªshe¡¯ll only join my peerage if I promise to retrieve them for her. It¡¯s the only leverage I have.¡±


    The room¡¯s atmosphere changed. This time, it wasn¡¯t Rias who was at a loss for words. Kiba¡¯s reaction was clear¡ªhis jaw clenched, tension rising to his face. Everybody else noticed immediately, but no one said anything.


    ¡°Why are you looking for fragments of Excalibur?¡± Kiba asked, his voice tight as he struggled to keep his temper in check.


    ¡°My Queen is a bit of a special case,¡± I replied, leaning back slightly. ¡°She isn¡¯t particularly adept at magic, but she was born with an almost perfect compatibility with Excalibur. My plan is to reforge it and give it to her. Right now, we have one fragment, but I promised her I¡¯d do everything in my power to collect the others¡ªeven if that means taking them from the Church.¡±


    And just like that, I had earned his full attention.


    Rias hummed thoughtfully, crossing her arms. ¡°That won¡¯t be easy. It could take years to gather all the fragments in one place, and the Church won¡¯t exactly welcome a Devil reforging a Holy Sword.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I¡¯m not interested in joining any organization right now,¡± I said. ¡°I understand the risks for myself and anyone who chooses to follow me. But¡­ if you would still insist on having me, we could work together for a while. Treat me as you would any other member of your peerage, and I¡¯ll handle the Excalibur business on my own. That way, if we ever realize this isn¡¯t working, we can part ways without any hard feelings. I am not looking to drag all of you into this.¡±


    Akeno chuckled softly, the teasing edge to her voice still present. ¡°So, you¡¯d join us as a probationary member? Would it be our job to sink our claws in and make sure you never want to leave?¡±


    Rias stayed silent, contemplating, then turned to the others. ¡°What do you all think?¡±


    ¡°We could just throw him at the next group of perverts we see,¡± Koneko muttered, entirely uninterested, opening another chocolate bar. ¡°Like having a lawnmower for weirdos.¡±


    Kiba took a moment, his eyes still locked on me. ¡°President, if what he¡¯s saying is true, and you believe we can trust him, I see no harm in giving him a chance.¡±


    Rias nodded slowly. ¡°I agree. But as for whether we can trust him¡­¡± Her gaze shifted back to me, a sly smile tugging at her lips. ¡°Nyx, would you mind if we conducted a little test? Just to ensure we can count on you.¡±


    ¡°A test?¡± I repeated.


    Her smile widened, mischievous, almost predatory. ¡°Well¡­ I am curious to see what my dear brother saw in you. And there¡¯s no best way to get to know each other than to fight together.¡±


    ?


    It was late. The world was blanketed in darkness. Wading through a field of


    tall grass, we approached the site of the attacks. The abandoned building slowly


    took shape in the distance.


    ¡°How long have you known there¡¯s a stray living here?¡± I asked, breaking the silence.


    Kiba glanced at me, then shrugged slightly. ¡°Sometimes they¡¯re given a grace period. A chance to find their way back to their master. We try not to exterminate them without mercy.¡±


    I nodded. That made sense. Still, it was hard to believe that stray Devils were as rare as they claimed. All it took to create one was an abusive master or a servant too frightened to obey. How could anyone expect a reincarnated human¡ªsomeone who had barely spent a few decades on this world¡ªto fully grasp the weight of reincarnation, or to embrace a life-long pact with open arms? No matter how much you drilled it into them, old habits and survival instincts didn¡¯t just fade away.


    In reality, it was almost inevitable that some peerage members would inch closer to outright rebellion, given the right circumstances. That stray Devils were still considered a rarity said more about the demonic world¡¯s control over information and its influence on powerful figures than most were willing to admit.


    And once those same runaway humans got a taste of demonic magic¡ªusing it recklessly, out of desperation or sheer fascination with the unknown¡ªit wasn¡¯t hard to imagine the chaos they could unleash. That was the real reason stray Devils were so dangerous. If they were ever allowed to organize, to form factions of their own within the human world, it wouldn¡¯t take long before the entire playing field was flipped over. Years, maybe even less.


    Hell, it wasn¡¯t like humans weren¡¯t already plotting their own revolution, so it wasn¡¯t entirely wrong for Devils to be wary. But still, the fact that all three major factions had agreed on a shoot-on-sight policy for strays? That felt like overkill.


    My demonic eyes had no trouble cutting through the shadows, revealing the structure ahead. But even then, it was hard to put into words what we were looking at. A tower? Something old, abandoned beyond the forest''s edge? Maybe a manor left to decay by some long-forgotten noble? I couldn¡¯t be sure. It loomed like a memory of something important.


    As we approached the towering building, the whispers grew louder and worried.


    ¡°I smell blood,¡± Koneko murmured as she pressed her sleeve against her nose.


    ¡°Not blood,¡± I corrected, taking a deep breath. ¡°Just stains. Whoever died here¡­ it¡¯s been a long time. There¡¯s not even blood left.¡±


    The door creaked open with a single push, and an unsettling silence descended upon us, thick as tar. It was the kind of silence that felt alive, like the eerie hum of insects at dusk, except it wasn''t soothing¡ªit was violent, hungry, eager. The weight of it settled on our shoulders, making every breath feel like an invitation for battle. It wasn¡¯t enough to make us turn back¡ªmostly because we were all together. Alone, even a Devil would¡¯ve been tempted to retreat. The air was heavy with the unmistakable residue of death, as though the souls of the fallen clung to the walls, their resentment lingering long after their bodies were gone, now feeding their predator¡¯s malice.


    It was¡­ strangely similar to the catacombs where I grew.


    Rias stepped forward, hands resting casually on her hips. ¡°Nyx, I¡¯m guessing you¡¯ve never had the chance to participate in a Rating Game.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±


    ¡°Hmmm.¡± Her gaze flickered over the room, then settled back on me. ¡°Then, since we¡¯re both inexperienced, let me explain this as best I can. My intention tonight is to try and learn exactly what kind of Evil Piece you might be. My brother says you¡¯re worth eight pawns, but that¡¯s not enough for me. I need to understand how you use your abilities¡ªhow I could make use of them once the time comes¡ªwhich role you may play on an open battlefield.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re asking how I¡¯d handle a Promotion if I had one,¡± I said, meeting her gaze. ¡°What Evil Piece I would choose to turn into as a Pawn.¡±


    She nodded, her expression thoughtful. ¡°Exactly. I want you to choose one of my followers¡ªthe one you feel most comfortable working with. The two of you will go into the building, and I¡¯ll observe. I need a reference, something to compare your skills against.¡±


    The one I feel most comfortable with, huh?


    If we were talking literally, it¡¯d have to be Akeno. She had that easygoing vibe, the type of person who would just follow my lead, probably teasing me about my choice the whole time, but always serious enough to have my back when it counted. Especially when it came to long-range attacks, of which I didn¡¯t have that many. Besides, there was something about her company I liked.


    And she knew it.


    As I glanced over at the group, Akeno caught my eye, tilting her chin slightly with a knowing smile, her lashes fluttering playfully. Her eagerness was palpable, like she was more than ready to hunt down whatever unfortunate creature crossed our path and torture it just for the fun of it.


    But I had a different move in mind.


    ¡°Kiba, will you come with me?¡±


    The blonde swordsman blinked in genuine surprise. ¡°Me? I... wasn¡¯t expecting that choice.¡±


    ¡°Well, magic¡¯s not exactly my strong suit,¡± I admitted. ¡°If I wasn¡¯t a King, I¡¯d probably be a Knight. So, I figured it made sense to team up with you if the President wants to assess my skills. Let¡¯s give the girls something to look at.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡± Kiba¡¯s surprise melted away as he pushed whatever thoughts he had to the back of his mind. ¡°Let¡¯s go, then.¡±


    Just as we turned to leave, Rias¡¯ voice pulled us back. ¡°Kiba,¡± she called. ¡°Remember, this may not be an official Rating Game, but the goal remains the same. I¡¯m watching to see how my peerage would fare against the strength of others. Do your best.¡±


    Kiba bowed deeply. ¡°I won¡¯t disappoint you, President.¡±


    With that, we left the others behind and ventured into the heart of the tower. Our opponent still hadn¡¯t revealed itself, but a spiraling staircase appeared to lead the way, curling along the circular stone walls as we ascended to the second floor.


    That¡¯s where the debauchery began.


    The base floor hadn¡¯t been much more than an abandoned medieval shrine, worn down by both time and looters. But as we climbed higher, the scent of death thickened, suffocating the air with its presence. By the time we reached the second floor, it hit like a wall. The first set of human bones greeted us behind a heavy wooden door, laid out like a grotesque exhibit. They were clean, polished even¡ªwhoever had done this had taken their time, ensuring not a shred of flesh remained. It felt almost like¡­ art. Twisted, morbid art.


    Without hesitation, I summoned my weapon.


    ¡°First Hardblood Art ¡ª Split!¡±


    A giant, elongated whip with multiple tails of deep, blood-red energy materialized in my hand, each tendril jagged and lined with vicious spikes. It was a brutal creation, designed to make my enemies bleed, to tear them apart if necessary. This was the first weapon I¡¯d forged using my Crimson Oath. Back when I was more focused on taking my enemies apart piece by piece, taking bites until they crumbled, making sure they¡¯d bleed through the fight.


    ¡°Kiba.¡±


    ¡°I can sense it.¡±


    Heavy footsteps echoed ominously through the darkness as a gargantuan creature advanced. It wasn¡¯t a Devil anymore¡ªand yet, whatever it had once been, this abomination belonged in hell. One glance told me that much.


    From the waist up, the creature still retained the form of a beautiful, voluptuous woman, but her lower half was a grotesque nightmare. Where legs should have been, a monstrous, fur-covered body twisted into existence, sprouting an additional pair of massive, muscular arms that gripped a rough, emerald lance. Two pairs of dog-like legs made her some sort of nightmarish centaur, but the horror didn¡¯t stop there. A gaping second mouth stretched grotesquely across her midsection, and from behind, a snake-like tail thrashed violently, completely out of sync with the rest of her body.


    ¡°Kee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee¡­¡± An ominous, raspy laugh echoed around us. ¡°What is this stench? Gimme a taste! Sweet? Bitter? I wonder¡­ Oh, I wonder¡­¡±


    Kiba and I didn¡¯t hesitate. We moved as one, leaping from the ground and splitting in opposite directions. His sword shimmered in the dim light as he mirrored my movements with perfect precision.


    ¡°Stray demon Byser! We¡¯ve come to extinguish your life!¡± Declared the Knight.


    The beast responded with a frenzied flurry of lance strikes, swinging the massive weapon like it was swatting at flies. But for all its size and strength, it had only one set of eyes¡ªand they clearly couldn¡¯t even follow us.


    I felt no fear. Instead, a strange sense of exhilaration surged through me. Confident I wasn¡¯t in any immediate danger, I took a deep breath and dove in, relishing the moment. The sharp crack of my whip resounded as it sliced through the air, and then¡ªimpact. Flesh tore apart with a scream of pure agony, and a cascade of blood rained down like crimson rose petals. My whip had torn through her shoulder, branding both flesh and bone with searing force.


    The beast''s emerald lance fell to the ground with a heavy thud, and Kiba landed gracefully beside me. His first strike had been perfect¡ªhe had poured his heart into it, and managed to match me in cutting off the abomination¡¯s arms.


    Now, the creature raged. Blood continued to pour freely from her wounds, splattering the floor in heavy, wet beats as she howled in fury. But despite her thrashing, she was already falling apart.


    ¡°I have a question for you,¡± Kiba said suddenly, his tone cold as he swung his sword in a sharp arc, flinging the blood from its blade. ¡°You said you''re planning to reforge Excalibur.¡±


    ¡°I am.¡±


    Before he could respond, the monster''s immense jaws snapped open, and a magical circle shimmered into existence. We both stepped aside, dodging a blast of raw, uncontrolled magic that tore through the air, obliterating part of the tower¡¯s stone wall in a deafening explosion.


    ¡°What makes you think Excalibur should be yours to wield?!¡± Kiba''s voice was edged with fury, his eyes burning with an old resentment.


    ¡°Should?¡± I chuckled, keeping my eyes on the beast as it writhed in pain. ¡°Should we leave it in the hands of the Church, then? Excalibur is a weapon. Weapons will always be used. The only thing we can do is choose who gets to wield them.¡±


    Kiba stood firm, his blade flashing as he deflected a brutal strike from the creature¡¯s lashing tail. ¡°We could end it!¡± he grunted. ¡°Shatter it into a million pieces and make sure no one suffers because of that sword again. We could stop the bloodshed¡ªfor good!¡±


    By this point the creature had begun to retreat, limping back the way it had come. I snapped my whip forward, lacing it around one of its legs. The spikes dug deep into its flesh, and with a sharp pull, I yanked it back, dragging it toward us.


    ¡°That decision isn¡¯t yours to make,¡± I said, my voice lowering as I grew serious. ¡°I know who you are, Kiba. I know what you''ve lost. But Excalibur doesn¡¯t belong to you, just like it doesn¡¯t belong to the Church. It has a rightful owner, and I intend to see it returned to her.¡±


    The Knight¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°My Queen¡ªor rather, the woman I hope to call my Queen¡ªshe carries the blood of Arthur Pendragon in her veins. The Church has butchered her legacy for long enough, but I won¡¯t let you destroy Excalibur and take away her chance to set things right. She deserves the chance to write her own story.¡±


    Kiba grunted, his features hardening. He didn¡¯t agree, that much was obvious. His anger simmered beneath the surface, but he remained silent, unwilling to continue the argument.


    ¡°Save that anger,¡± I said, releasing my whip with a sharp flick. The beast¡¯s severed leg slid across the floor, left behind. ¡°You¡¯ll need it for the real monsters.¡±

 Chapter 9: Cold Front

    ¡°My broken wings dream of the sky,


    but they¡¯ll never know how to fly,


    If we refuse to show trust


    In this love.¡±


    Kiba and I pressed on, continuing our search to the third floor, where our prey had just fled.


    The darkness here was absolute¡ªpitch black, suffocating. Without the vision of a Devil, it would have been impossible to see even a foot ahead. Fortunately, our eyes were well-adjusted for such space, and we followed the trail of muddy red blood snaking between decaying bookshelves and rotting tables. We didn¡¯t need to hunt it down; it was as though we were humoring the tantrum of a lost child, knowing it couldn¡¯t go far. After all, there¡¯s only so much blood one can lose while still clinging to life.


    The stench grew thicker the higher we climbed. And at the top of the tower, more bodies greeted us¡ªcountless, flayed down to the bone. A dozen? Likely more. The macabre display suggested a disturbingly obsessive appetite. I knew that kind of hunger all too well.


    At last, we found the stray, still dragging itself across the filthy stone, refusing to surrender. But before we could grant it the mercy of a swift death, something shot from the shadows, aiming straight for my head like a missile.


    I barely managed to sidestep, deflecting it with my arm. Its long, obsidian beak grazed my shoulder, leaving a deep, stinging cut.


    And it wasn¡¯t alone.


    The creature¡¯s screech summoned an entire flock. Within seconds, we were surrounded. Small, manic things swarmed us, their black feathers barely visible in the gloom. They weren¡¯t fully formed¡ªsome kind of sick, hybrid familiars, fur-covered and rabid, with humanoid limbs and the beady eyes of crows. They shrieked and howled in a chaotic chorus, their frenzied excitement building, eager for blood.


    ¡°What the hell are these things¡­?¡± I muttered.


    It didn¡¯t matter. Kiba and I exchanged a single nod. The next time one of the creatures jumped forward, its body hit the ground before it even had a chance to scream. Another tried, and it fell in two pieces, cut in half by my whip.


    ¡°Noooooo!¡± the abomination wailed behind us, its voice cracking in despair. ¡°My c-children! I can have children now! T-they¡¯re mine! I MADE THEM! I made them. WITH LOVE!¡±


    The madness in its voice spurred the creatures into a frenzy, and they charged together. They weren¡¯t dangerous to me¡­ at all¡ªI could regenerate any damage they might cause by just consuming them. But Kiba didn¡¯t have that kind of insurance, so I decided to just put an end to it.


    I exhaled, letting the chaos around me fade as I closed my eyes, focusing on the rhythm of their heartbeats. Each frantic pulse gave them away.


    ¡°Eight Hardblood Art ¡ª Gae Bolg.¡±


    My blood twisted and stretched into a thin spear, sharp as death itself. It shot forward in a crimson streak, impaling one creature after another in a deadly dance of precision. It steered itself through the crying swarm with sharp turns, the difference in size making it easy to spare Kiba from the onslaught. Still, it took a bit of restrain to stop the heart-seeking attack before it reached him. I could feel my focus wavering. It had been a long day, and my sanity was starting to drip away.


    As the fight came to an end, Kiba had taken a few minor blows from the barrage of beaks and claws, but nothing serious. We were almost done here. What was one more life to take? Hopefully, it¡¯d be the last death this miserable place ever saw.


    I raised my thin spear, preparing to end the abomination once and for all.


    ¡°Hold on, Nyx.¡± A voice cut through the moment, halting my movement. ¡°If you¡¯re going to stay with us, you¡¯ll need to learn to behave.¡±


    The rest of the group stepped into the room, led by Rias. They quickly encircled the wounded stray, leaving it nowhere to run. ¡°You might enjoy the chase, but the kill is mine,¡± she said sweetly, her eyes never leaving the struggling creature.


    In a final act of desperation, the abomination tried to lash out, but Rias didn¡¯t give it a chance. Crimson sparks erupted from her fingertips, disintegrating the monster before it could even cry out.


    ¡°So, Yuuto,¡± Rias said, turning toward Kiba, a faint smile on her lips as she held a crystal ball in one hand. ¡°What do you think of our new friend? I must admit, I am quite pleased with this performance.¡±


    Kiba hesitated, his gaze shifting between me and Rias. ¡°You¡­ are bored, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Bored?¡± I echoed.


    In the next instant, Kiba¡¯s sword was in motion, cutting through the air as it arced toward my throat. I reacted on instinct, bending my knees and sliding forward, then answering back with a spear slam onto his chess.


    ¡°Yuuto?! What is the meaning of this?!¡± Rias shouted with shock.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, President,¡± Kiba said, his eyes locked onto mine. ¡°But I don¡¯t think the Rating Game¡¯s over until we really know which of us is stronger, is it?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t allow¡ª¡± Rias began.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, President,¡± Akeno interjected with a devilish smile. ¡°It has been a while since we¡¯ve seen Yuuto this fired up. Besides, isn¡¯t this closer to what a real Rating Game is supposed to be? As long as both parties are willing, of course~¡±


    I gave a sour glance. ¡°If we fight¡­ I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll even be close, and trust me, that¡¯s not me bragging. I just don¡¯t want it to happen.¡±


    But honesty, as it turns out, wasn¡¯t the best policy. Kiba¡¯s expression hardened, and any hope of avoiding the fight disappeared with the weight of inevitability.


    Kiba summoned a sword, its blade bathed in orange flames, and pointed the tip at me. ¡°If I win, you¡¯ll stop searching for the Excalibur fragments. You¡¯ll give me the one you already have, and I will find a way to destroy it¡ªthat way, no one will ever be able to bring back that sword.¡±


    ¡°I knew having two guys around would turn into this¡­¡± Koneko muttered, far less invested than the others. She wandered over to a seat, sitting down with a bored expression.


    ¡°Oh-ho-ho~,¡± Akeno laughed, pulling her friend away. ¡°Come on, President. Let¡¯s enjoy the show.¡±


    Rias sighed in frustration, knowing things had spiraled out of control. ¡°Fine. But try to keep the injuries to a minimum. We¡¯re not using a magical field, so don¡¯t expect to fade into light if something goes wrong.¡±


    And so, it came down to the two of us. But the thing was¡­ I didn¡¯t even want anything from Kiba. This didn¡¯t exactly go against my plans, I just didn¡¯t expect him to be this reckless. Sure, I knew he was a hothead, but I hadn¡¯t expected him to challenge me to a duel just twelve hours after meeting. Guess he was serious about letting no one stand in his way when it came to the Church.


    Then again, with his history of getting his ass handed to him, maybe I should¡¯ve seen it coming. I¡¯d just assumed he would do anything crazy until we started messing with Fallen Angels. Looks like he wasn¡¯t really one for friendly rivalries.


    ¡°And if I win, you¡¯ll have to do my homework for the rest of the semester.¡±


    Of course, that didn¡¯t even seem to faze him. He kept the same cold, focused gaze. ¡°Very well. But don¡¯t expect me to go easy on you just because I have nothing to lose.¡±


    The next second neither of us moved. The tension in the air coiled tighter, waiting to snap.


    And then we attacked.


    Kiba charged forward, his sword aimed directly between my ribs, his speed nothing short of impressive. But instead of dodging, I leaned into it. The force drove the blade deep, the hilt pressing against my stomach before he could even comprehend what was happening. His eyes widened in horror.


    ¡°Nyx!¡±


    Panicked gasps filled the room as Rias¡¯ voice cracked through the tension. I barely registered it. Without hesitation, I swung my open hand across Kiba¡¯s face, hard enough to make his neck crack.


    We stepped back from each other, and I reached down, gripping the hilt of the fabricated sword still lodged in my gut. Blood trickled down, but it wasn¡¯t my first time being mortally wounded. The real issue was that it was a flame sword¡ªparts of the wound had already cauterized, fixing the metal onto my skin.


    ¡°Akeno!¡± Rias shouted, her panic escalating. ¡°If we don¡¯t stop them, they¡¯ll kill each other!¡±


    Akeno just laughed, casually wrapping her arms around Rias to hold her back. ¡°Will they? I was under the impression this is how men grew closer.¡±


    Gritting my teeth, I wrenched the sword from my body, feeling the dull throb of the cauterized flesh. I crouched down, pressing my fingers into one of the many puddles of blood left by the chimera we¡¯d slain just a moment earlier. The battle had left more than enough blood to fuel me¡ªenough to bring me back from death¡¯s doors ten times over, if necessary.


    ¡°I really tried to warn you,¡± I chuckled, my voice rasping, feeling my mouth dry. My tongue brushed against my teeth, and I could feel it¡ªmy fangs, sharper, more unnatural than before. I had to end this, and soon.


    But Kiba wasn¡¯t slowing down.


    Sword Birth: Freezing Sword!


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Now convinced there was no need to hold back with me, Yuuto¡¯s movements shifted. His attacks had purpose, calculated and aimed to kill. I could see the plan forming behind his eyes. If he could freeze me entirely, it might be his win.


    Not today.


    ¡°Second Hardblood Art ¡ª Split.¡±


    Our blades clashed, shadows swirling around us. Kiba was fast¡ªalmost fast enough to match me¡ªbut speed was all he had. Every time I struck his guard, his body wavered, faltering under the impact.


    With a final, forceful blow, I knocked his weapon aside, pushing him back. But then¡ª


    He stepped forward.


    Kiba drove his foot down and pushed towards me, taking one determined step into my blade. I could see the strain on his face, the way his legs were instantly failing him. But still, he swung. His sword caught the side of my face, ice spreading instantly, freezing the left half of my features.


    ¡°Tell me something¡­¡± he grunted through labored breaths, barely able to stand. ¡°That woman¡ªyour Queen¡­ is she as strong as you?¡±


    I couldn¡¯t help but laugh through the ice. Kiba was one stubborn bastard. ¡°Right now? I¡¯d say she¡¯s stronger than me. And if she¡¯s wielding a Holy Sword? I don¡¯t really stand a chance.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡± His body finally gave out, nearly going limp. ¡°Then I guess¡­ I have nothing to worry about.¡±


    ¡°At this point you¡¯re just being dramatic.¡±


    With a sigh, I released one half of my weapon. The crimson metal lost its shape, melting away and dripping heavily to the floor. But the other part¡ªthe part embedded in Kiba¡¯s chest¡ªremained, still solid. Carefully, I focused on repairing the damage as I eased him onto the ground.


    Not a moment later, the girls swarmed around us, their faces filled with worry¡ªmaking sure I hadn¡¯t actually killed him.


    ¡°There. He¡¯s not bleeding anymore,¡± I said, stepping back, ¡°but you might want to get him to a real healer. I¡¯m not exactly an expert at fixing other people¡¯s organs.¡±


    ¡°Kiba, are you okay?!¡± Rias knelt beside him, gripping his shoulders.


    ¡°Yes, President. I¡¯m¡ª¡±


    Her hand cracked across his face in a sharp slap, making mine seem gentle in comparison. Then she turned to me.


    ¡°I¡ª¡±


    I didn¡¯t bother trying to move, I probably deserved mine too.


    Then, she pulled both of us into a hug, which was about as good an outcome as you could hope for when making contracts with a Devil.


    Eh, worth it.


    ?


    I came home late that night, and what surprised me more than not finding the place in flames was the absolute silence. The air felt thick, almost suffocating, drenched in a bad aura I didn¡¯t need demonic senses to notice. Something was off.


    ¡°Nyx! Come, come!¡±


    Kira''s voice came from the small dining room, and I followed it. Inside, I found her and Saber already seated at the table. Kira, as usual, looked bright and cheerful, her energy filling the room. But Saber¡­ she was different. Tense, her posture stiff like a coiled spring, as if trying to meditate away the wave of painful tension crashing down on her.


    ¡°Sit down!¡± Kira grinned. ¡°You were taking so long playing with your little friends, I went ahead and took care of dinner!¡±


    I eyed her suspiciously but sat down, intrigued despite myself. ¡°So? What are we having?¡±


    ¡°I made chocolate pickles.¡±


    ¡°Chocolate what?¡±


    That was exactly what it was.


    An open jar of pickles sat in the middle of the table, next to a steaming cup of hot chocolate she served for me. If I hadn¡¯t seen Kira grab a pickle, dip it into the chocolate, and eat it right in front of us, I would have thought I finally got stabbed one too many times to stay sane.


    Did¡­ did I break her brain? Is this mind break? Is this karma¡ªthe weight of my past sins crawling on my back?


    ¡°So¡­¡± Kira chewed loudly, slurping her bizarre concoction with a delight that made Saber¡¯s jaw visibly clench. ¡°Watchu¡¯ doing out there? Finally found something more interesting than me?¡±


    I sighed. ¡°I¡­ joined the Occult Research Club, or something like that.¡±


    Watching Kira swallow was like seeing a duck downing a fish whole.


    ¡°Ugh¡­ Occult Research? That sounds like it¡¯s full of crazy astrology bitches. What are you doing there?¡±


    ¡°Hanging out with your classmates, I guess. Rias invited me. Akeno¡¯s cool. I¡¯m not sure Koneko likes me though.¡±


    I wasn¡¯t going to talk about Kiba.


    ¡°Ahhhhh¡­ I see now. You chasin¡¯ skirts, huh? I¡¯ve gotta admit, these Japanese girls are built like wasps¡ªbig-tiddy wasps. Just make sure I don¡¯t have to deal with them at school and here, alright?¡±


    Before I could respond, Saber, who had been silently enduring Kira¡¯s banter, finally spoke. Her tone was cold, her fists tightening on the table. ¡°Master. May I remind you that I am bound to you as your Servant, and as such, it is your responsibility to care for me until the end of this life?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that¡­ Shouldn¡¯t that be the other way around?¡± I asked, raising an eyebrow.


    But she wasn¡¯t listening. ¡°As long as this mistreatment continues, I will grant myself the privilege of selecting which tasks I deem worthy of performing. Please remember that the next time your life is in peril, Master.¡±


    She¡­ I can¡¯t tell if she¡¯s serious¡­ No, that¡¯s the worst part. I know she¡¯s serious.


    Kira snickered from across the table. ¡°Geez, just get a room already. You join weird clubs only to come home and flirt with Saber? That¡¯s gross. At least give the girl some preference or something.¡± She stood up, carrying her plate. ¡°And don¡¯t let the pickles get soggy. I made enough for tomorrow.¡±


    As soon as she was out of sight, I slumped in my chair, rubbing my temples. ¡°Did that sound like a threat? Or was it just me?¡±


    Saber remained composed, her posture rigid. ¡°I fear we may have entered a new era of chemical warfare, Master. And without the proper understanding of modern cooking techniques, I have no choice but to place my trust in your mercy.¡±


    I blinked at her. ¡°Don¡¯t you have, like, knowledge of pretty much everything? You can fly a plane¡­ How hard could using an oven¡ª¡±


    Her gaze was unwavering, unamused. ¡°As I have not been provided with an appropriate method of sustenance, I shall remain in my spirit form until such circumstances are corrected. Please refrain from calling upon my assistance unless it is a matter of life or death.¡±


    Before I could respond, she vanished.


    I sat there, staring at the empty space where she had stood moments ago, letting out a heavy sigh. ¡°Well, guess that means I¡¯m eating out. Alone.¡±


    And then, as if nothing had happened, she materialized again. ¡°As I was saying, Master, it is imperative that I remain by your side at all times. Please allow me to escort you on this mission.¡±


    I can¡¯t.


    With almost everything being long closed in the middle of the night, I decided to do the complete opposite of what might have sounded logical and hop on a train. This time, strangely, Saber chose to remain in her physical form and board with me. It wasn¡¯t rush hour, so at first I figured it wouldn¡¯t cause any problems. But just to avoid any unwelcome attention, I booked us a private first-class cabin, not willing to deal with any possible weirdos¡ªthere had been enough of that already. And it was surprisingly cheap, though Japan in general seemed to be a pretty cheap country as long as you didn¡¯t had to pay rent.


    The cabin itself was spacious, designed to seat four passengers comfortably. The walls were lined with dark wood paneling, and the leather seats invited you to sink into them and forget you were even on a train. The carpeted floor, paired with the wool slippers provided at the entrance, practically begged me to kick off my shoes and relax, letting the warmth wash away the chills of the night.


    It was quiet between us, the kind of silence that carried no weight. Saber didn¡¯t ask questions or seem concerned about where we were headed in the dead of night. She followed me with her usual quiet grace, managing to maintain her royal posture for a few minutes before finally letting herself relax. A soft breath escaped her as she leaned slightly forward, resting her gaze on the frost-edged window. The lights of the city blurred by, glowing streaks against the darkened glass, leaving only fleeting impressions that chased our pace like ghosts.


    There was wonder in her eyes¡ªpure, almost childlike.


    She wasn¡¯t confused, no. On the surface, Saber understood everything she saw. But there was something deeper. She wore the expression of someone who had spent a lifetime behind walls, trapped in a faraway paradise island, reading stories of a world she had never touched. I realized that this, all of this¡ªthe passing cityscape, the hum of the train, the quiet backdrop of a thousand lives that came and went to the rhythm of blue collar jobs, like ants dancing beyond the glass¡ªwas new to her. And though she seemed captivated, there was an unmistakable sadness lurking beneath it all, a soft melancholy pulling her away from the moment.


    Was she longing to return to that distant dream? Or was she imagining a world where that dream had never existed at all, a world where her kingdom never was?


    I couldn¡¯t tell.


    Eventually, a knock sounded at the door, and we were handed the dinner menu. It wasn¡¯t part of my plan, but good luck telling the girl with the Holy Blade that she couldn¡¯t order anything. After politely asking for my permission, she requested the Japanese menu. Shrimp-topped avocado tarts and fried octopus tentacles. I opted for a glass of red wine, closing my eyes for a brief moment, loosening my cold grip on time and allowing the hour of travel to flow by.


    When I blinked open again, the hum of the city washed over us, more vivid, more alive. Kuoh City was nice enough¡ªbut it felt small, barely a speck compared to the spiraling pulse of Tokyo.


    The bullet train slowed, its metallic screeching cutting through the air as we came to a halt at Tokyo Station. With a quiet exhale, I pulled myself up, pushing the weight of myself aside.


    ¡°Come on, Saber. There¡¯s something I want to show you.¡±


    We stepped out into the cold air, making our way down Marunouchi Street Park. The trees, though already in bloom, still wore their Christmas lights, shimmering from their roots to their crowns, creating a glowing path. Crowds streamed past in both directions, bundled in thick scarves, hands buried deep in their pockets as winter hadn¡¯t yet fully loosened its oppressive rule.


    Winter had technically passed, but a few holiday decorations lingered, stubborn remnants of a season gone. A dozen small stalls were still offering hot drinks and snacks, while street musicians played soft melodies, blending into the rhythm of our slow steps.


    The night was nearly imperceptible under the sheer number of lights and the bustling sound of locals and tourists mixing into each other. They moved between towering statues of beloved characters from anime and video games, scattered along the street like guardians of this modern world¡ªneon flowers commanding the attention of a thousand human butterflies.


    We walked until Tokyo Tower, which was at first just a speck in the distance, transformed into a gleaming sword piercing the clouds above. And finally, we stopped at the edge of an ice rink in Midtown, where a few skaters glided across the ice, performing graceful turns for the sparse crowd that lingered, savoring the last breaths of cold.


    ¡°Master,¡± Saber finally broke the silence. ¡°Is there a reason why we¡¯re here?¡±


    ¡°Well, technically, these are Christmas decorations,¡± I replied, half-joking. ¡°And since it¡¯s already March, I figured we should probably take a look before the heat returns and everybody remembers they don¡¯t get paid by the hour.¡±


    She leaned forward against the metal rail that bordered the rink, but I could see that wasn¡¯t the answer she had hoped for. Her eyes, though always sharp, held a quiet depth tonight.


    ¡°We¡¯re both new to this world, Saber. You, by circumstance¡­ and me¡­ well, by choice, I guess. I thought we could share this¡ªa night, a sight. I¡¯ve always wanted to travel but never really had the chance.¡±


    ¡°Travel?¡± She turned her gaze towards me. ¡°Is this your first night in this city?¡±


    I nodded, leaning back against the railing. ¡°Few things are as honest as ignorance. It¡¯d be a bit strange to ask you to stay in this world with me without showing you any of it first. It¡¯s not much, but¡ª¡±


    ¡°I like this,¡± she interrupted softly, her smile small but genuine. ¡°In my time, nights of peace and celebration like this were but fleeting moments between the storm of endless wars. Or at least¡­ they were for me.¡±


    ¡°Did you never have the chance to just¡­ hang up the crown and walk among your people? I doubt anyone would¡¯ve recognized you in a dress.¡±


    She lowered her gaze, shaking her head with a bitter smile. ¡°I never allowed myself the intention. In life, I was a king, and only a king. From the moment I pulled the sword from the stone until the day I died, I never faltered.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± I stepped closer, wrapping my arms gently around her from behind, my chin nearly brushing her shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re not alive anymore. Maybe now is the time to falter.¡±


    She stiffened in my embrace, her fingers gripping the metal rail tightly. I could sense the war within her¡ªan instinct buried deep, urging her to push me away. The tension in her muscles reminded me of a vase filled to the brim, fragile and ready to shatter. Yet, despite it, she allowed herself to relax, subtly leaning back against me. In front of the eyes of dozens of strangers who paid us absolutely no mind, she let herself be held.


    I closed my arms around the king and held her. One moment, then two, then five¡ªjust holding her. In another life, she had belonged to her kingdom, her people, their wars. But here, in this fleeting moment, I held her close, selfishly. I had no intention of giving her back, and I wanted her to know it¡ªto feel it.


    Yet, even as I pulled her from the world and into the quiet of my heart, I couldn¡¯t ignore how her eyes lingered on the skaters, watching them glide with silent fascination.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it if you do,¡± I teased.


    She turned to look at me, and suddenly, we were too close¡ªour breaths mingling in the cool night air. Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly turned away. ¡°I-I believe you overestimate my abilities, Master. I might have a certain affinity for vehicles, but this¡­¡±


    ¡°Not many ice skaters in Camelot?¡±


    Her shoulders hunched slightly, embarrassed. ¡°I never imagined willingly stepping onto a frozen lake. Will¡­ will you teach me?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ you still think I know what I¡¯m doing? That¡¯s adorable.¡±


    Finding two pairs of ice skates wasn¡¯t difficult, though the price made me feel like I¡¯d just been fleeced by a middle-aged Japanese man who most likely made a living out of legally robbing tourists.


    Now.


    Had I ever skated before? On ice? On land? At all? No, not really.


    But how hard could it be?


    Strapping on my new shoe-swords, I managed to waddle my way onto the ice with all the grace of a drunk penguin. Once I was in position, I turned around to make sure Saber hadn¡¯t vanished into thin air. To my surprise, she was right behind me, wearing a sheepish smile that made my heart skip a beat. I couldn¡¯t help myself¡ªI extended my arm towards her, pulling her close the moment she took my hand. It was a good thing, too, because that¡¯s about how long my ability to stay upright lasted.


    It¡¯s always a relief to have a cute girl around who could bench press half a ton, especially when you¡¯re attempting something that¡¯s been known to send a few thousand people to the ER over the years.


    Would I have fallen face-first onto the ice? Probably not. It¡¯s hard to mess up that badly. But I wasn¡¯t about to risk exposing any of my abilities in public, so sometimes you just have to accept the inevitable consequences of your actions. Was I going to stop Saber from clinging to me like her life depended on it, her pretty little face buried in my chest as we drifted in slow, uncoordinated circles?


    Probably not. That, too, was just another consequence I¡¯d have to accept in order to grow as a person, no matter how hard it was.


    Eventually, I took a deep breath and pushed Saber away, sending us both gliding in opposite directions and making her scream. The first thing I learned about ice skating? As long as you¡¯re moving fast enough, falling isn¡¯t even an option. So I leaned into it, letting the ice slip beneath me, picking up speed.


    It didn¡¯t take long for us to reconnect at the center of the ice, still clueless about what we were doing but bold enough to double down. Saber gripped my arm, and we started spinning. I held both of her hands, letting her momentum take her in circles around me before releasing her and tossing her into the distance again. We repeated this dance over and over¡ªSaber spinning circles around me as I let her set the pace, not even trying to keep up. Not that anyone else was, either.


    One by one, the other skaters cleared out, instinctively avoiding the path of the knight in motion. I could see the worried glances, the nervous chuckles, as they watched from a safe distance, wondering just how far she could push herself before gravity decided she¡¯d lived long enough. And I¡¯d be lying if I said I didn¡¯t share those feelings, especially as Saber began to jump, catching onto me midair and forcing me to struggle just to keep us both on our feet. All the while, I smiled and pretended it was part of some grand performance I¡¯d been trained to do.


    By the time we finished, I had held Saber in so many different positions¡ªeverything from having her glide between my legs to tossing her into the air¡ªthat I almost expected a crowd of jealous fanboys to rush at me, trying to take me down.


    And I swear, I could see it in her eyes. She liked making my heart race. Her gaze had turned sharp and confident the moment she understood there was nothing to fear, and somehow consequences were on me tonight.


    ¡°Okay, okay! I give up!¡± I called out, catching her one last time and refusing to throw her again.


    ¡°Master!¡± she panted, her eyes burning with determination, her chest heaving as she struggled to calm herself. ¡°Is it time to go back?¡±


    ¡°Go back?¡± I repeated, confused. ¡°We were supposed to have dinner.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± She trailed off, a bit sheepish. ¡°But on the train, I¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know,¡± I answered with a grin.


    ¡°And can we¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, we can.¡±


    Without another word, she pressed her head into my chest, curling in close¡ªso close that the moment she lifted her eyes, her warm breath kissed my lips. But then, as if realizing the spectacle we had created, she glanced around and saw the entire crowd staring at us, breaking into applause. In a rush of embarrassed realization, she shoved me away, straight into the solid railing.

 Chapter 10: Beneath The Mask

    ¡°Master! Are you okay?!¡±


    Remember all that talk about not using my powers in public? Yeah, well, I wish I didn¡¯t.


    Saber kept apologizing as I peeled myself off the ground, feeling the sting of reality settle in after crashing into a metal bar at what felt like Mach one. I could regenerate, sure, but a bruise the size of a pineapple right under my ribs was a great reminder of what it felt like to have the wind knocked out of you. It was like being kicked in the balls¡ªpainful, breathless, and definitely not something I wanted to repeat. Still, I managed to shake it off well enough to avoid attracting a crowd. Lucky for me, no one had time to call an ambulance. I wasn¡¯t in the mood for awkward conversations with doctors asking how I survived a crash that left the railing in worse shape than me.


    ¡°Just¡­ leave me at the door, okay?¡± I grunted, not because I wanted to. ¡°I¡¯ll catch up in a second.¡±


    I saw the hesitation in Saber¡¯s eyes, her discomfort clear as day, but she didn¡¯t push back. She was too ashamed, too upset with herself to argue. Her silence felt heavier than the pain in my ribs.


    As for me¡ªwell, there was a reason I hadn¡¯t healed myself yet.


    Even after shamelessly taking a couple mouthfuls of stray blood before saying goodbye to Rias and company, I was far from my usual self. So, after slipping into the bathroom and closing the door, I reached into my jacket and pulled out a small canister¡ªhuman blood. I¡¯d brought it from home, fully expecting this might happen, though part of me hoped it wouldn¡¯t. I had never felt this hungry before, this... desperate¡ªat least not on a regular basis. But the urge to drink was undeniable, so there was nothing I could do about it. The last thing I needed was for Saber to see me lose control. Not now. Not yet.


    As I uncapped the canister and began to drink, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that I wasn¡¯t alone. My eyes flicked to the corners of the room, where shadows pooled unnaturally, thickening in my periphery, hiding. It felt like there were eyes on me¡ªsmall, pupil-less eyes lurking just a step beyond my vision, watching my every move. The whispers weren¡¯t loud this time, but they were persistent, faint and agitated, reacting to every breath I took, every interaction we had, as though they were nervously waiting for something to happen.


    The blood slid down my throat, cold and metallic, but with each swallow, the eerie whispers faded. The presence¡ªthose eyes, those shadows¡ªretreated, burned away by the satisfaction of feeding. For now, that was enough to drown them out, burn them away, to quiet the noise.


    With my mind finally clearing, my hunger sated, I pressed my hand to the wound. This time, I let my powers work, no longer fearing some unintended consequence. I focused on knitting the tissue back together, pushing everything back into place. It took a moment to get the thickened blood moving again, but once I did¡ªit gave a deep, satisfying burn, like cracking your back after hours of work. The kind of pain that makes everything feel right again.


    I could breathe.


    ¡°Alright, Saber. Let¡¯s¡ª¡±


    I stopped mid-sentence. She stood a few feet away, her back to me, her shoulders trembling. Even from this distance, I could hear her stifled sobs.


    ¡°Saber?¡±


    ¡°I failed!¡± Her voice cracked with frustration. ¡°I keep being summoned to protect, and I fail!¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m fine. You don¡¯t have to worry about me.¡±


    ¡°Master,¡± she muttered, her voice small now. ¡°Do you¡­ Do you know¡­ Irisviel?¡±


    I stepped closer, gently throwing my arms around her shoulders, leaning into her warmth. ¡°She was born to die, just like everyone else. Her life was just¡­ shorter. There¡¯s nothing you could have done about that. But that doesn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t happy. As far as homunculi go, she might have been the happiest of us all.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s still¡­¡± A fresh sob escaped her. ¡°If I wasn¡¯t such a failure of a Servant, I could have¡ª¡±


    ¡°What could you have done?¡± I interrupted her. ¡°The Grail wasn¡¯t even real, Saber. From the moment you were summoned, you were set up to fail. None of those battles ever meant anything. But at least you spent time with her. I¡¯m sure that made everything easier for Irisviel, even if just by being by her side.¡±


    She turned around suddenly, pushing me away. Her eyes burned with a mix of anger and sorrow. ¡°How is that supposed to be enough?!¡± she snapped.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t,¡± I admitted, taking a step back and letting her words hang in between us. I moved to sit on a nearby bench, the wood creaking softly under my weight as I leaned back tiredly. ¡°But you were never meant to live either. You were summoned to fight, to suffer, and to die. Have you ever thought about how it must have been for her? Summoning someone she knew would only live for one war? She must¡¯ve felt like you do now. Maybe that¡¯s why she spent so much time with you¡­ because she felt sorry for you.¡±


    Her hands clenched into fists. ¡°B-But that wasn¡¯t the plan! If Kiritsugu and I had won, if I hadn¡¯t doubted¡ª¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯d followed every order to the letter? Won every duel? Defeated every Servant and claimed a pure, untainted Grail which never existed?¡± I paused, my chest tightening at the truth. ¡°Kiritsugu would have used his last command spell to kill you¡ªto make you kill yourself. He would have done it to make sure the Grail had the power of all seven Heroic Spirits before granting his wish, just to make sure there was no chance of it failing.¡±


    ¡°Lies!¡± she raged, her tears flowing freely now, shimmering under the dim moonlight. ¡°Irisviel would never allow such a thing!¡±


    I laughed. I didn¡¯t want to, but I laughed. ¡°Oh, Saber... Irisviel gave her life to him from the start. You think she wouldn¡¯t do the same with you? She hoped that after hearing Kiritsugu¡¯s dream, you¡¯d become just as loyal as her¡ªmaybe even offer your life willingly. When someone truly believes the perfect world is just one war away, what wouldn¡¯t they sacrifice? Wouldn¡¯t you have done the same?¡±


    For a moment, the night seemed to still. It was as if the weight of those words had drained the last bit of fight from her, leaving only the raw ache of truth behind. But I knew better than to let the silence linger too long. There could be no time for misery.


    ¡°Come on,¡± I said, standing up and dusting off my jacket. ¡°The night¡¯s not over yet.¡±


    Dinner had been my original plan after the ice rink, but now it was clear that she needed something more. Something physical to burn off the emotions storming inside her. Preferably, in a way that didn¡¯t involve us tearing apart a building.


    Finding a place for that kind of release in Tokyo, though? Not easy. So I settled for the next best thing.


    We took to the sky.


    Normally, I¡¯m sure she¡¯d have protested if I suggested anything resembling breaking and entering, but tonight she didn¡¯t question me. She didn¡¯t flinch when I led her down a dark alley, scaling the side of a building, and leaping rooftop to rooftop. So I just ran with it, and it wasn¡¯t long before we found what I¡¯d been looking for.


    I landed with a soft roll inside the fence-covered field, Saber just behind me. The place was dark, empty, and freezing cold from the constant howling winds that assaulted us from every direction, making the humidity in the air feel like raindrops against my face¡ªbut it was perfect. It didn¡¯t take long to get everything up and running, either. Turn on the power, connect the lights and we¡¯re ready to go.


    Funny thing about getting robbed for those ice skates we were probably never going to use again? At least it left me with some loose coins in my pocket¡ªperfect for the pitching machine. Magic could do a lot of things, but it wasn¡¯t great at getting random human technology to do whatever you wanted it to.


    ¡°You go first,¡± I said, tossing her a bat.


    Her eyes flashed with indignation. ¡°Is this your idea of reconnection?¡± she fumed. ¡°I confide in you the weight of my heart, and you expect to build a bridge with me through a childish game of sticks and stones?!¡±


    Without saying a word, I slid the coins into the machine. The familiar mechanical clunk signaled that the game was on. If balls had to get smashed tonight, I¡¯d rather not risk my own.


    Despite her protests, Saber took her stance the second she heard the machine warming up. She gripped the bat with enough force to bend steel, murder burning in her eyes. She stood tall, brimming with the barely restrained fury of a woman ready to destroy anything in her path, no longer concerned about grace or control. She was here for the violence.


    The ball launched into the air.


    Aaaaand she missed.


    ¡°What?!¡±


    Before Saber could recover from the emotional impact, another ball was thrown¡ªshe missed again.


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    ¡°How?!¡±


    And again.


    ¡°This foolishness is¡ª¡±


    And again.


    ¡°I demand that¡ª¡±


    And again.


    I watched in awe as her frustration mounted with every wild swing, her attempts sending faint shockwaves through the chilly night air. She hadn¡¯t quite figured out that the pitches weren¡¯t aiming for the same spot¡ªor that they didn¡¯t fly in a perfect line.


    How long was a round of baseball supposed to last, anyway? I had absolutely no clue. Nobody under forty even watches this fucking sport. I just kept feeding the machine more coins, watching her chase after the next pitch, her determination growing with every miss¡ªand you wouldn¡¯t believe how much it grew.


    By the time I became bored of watching her fail, the blonde knight was tired and sweaty, panting like a dog, dense mist spilling from her mouth.


    ¡°You suck, huh.¡±


    Of all the reckless things I¡¯ve said in my life, that might have been the closest I ever came to true, certain death. At this point, I wasn¡¯t talking to Saber anymore. I was talking to a Berserker.


    "Calm down, calm down," I backpedaled quickly. "Look, I¡¯ve never played this game either, and I gave you plenty of time to warm up. How about we make things interesting? A little bet. I hear Devils are into that sort of thing."


    "A bet?" Her eyes narrowed, calculating.


    "Yeah." I swung the metal bat for the first time, feeling its weight. "If I win, you have to tell the truth for the whole night. No dodging. No half-answers."


    Saber leaned forward. "And if I win?"


    ¡°I¡¯ll ban Kira from ever setting foot in the kitchen again.¡±


    Her eyes flashed with a challenge. There was no need for words¡ªthe game was on.


    And just as I started getting a little too comfortable, leaning into my own confidence, Saber finally connected. Her bat swung with an explosive force that disintegrated the ball in mid-air. Whatever was left of that poor baseball had left the planet at Mach 72. Yeah, I was definitely sweating now.


    But when the next pitch came at me¡­ I swung, and it went flying.


    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s¡­ pretty easy,¡± I remarked, surprised by how smoothly it came to me.


    ¡°Indeed it is, Master!¡± Saber gritted her teeth, her jaw so tight she looked like she could bite through a steel beam. But she hit again, destroying another pitch. ¡°Barely an inconvenience!¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m glad you¡¯re having fun!¡±


    ¡°Agh! Why wouldn¡¯t I be?!¡± She swung again, sending another ball into oblivion.


    We kept at it, round after round, neither of us missing a shot. The machine kept firing, and we both kept hitting, waiting for the other to slip up. But that just didn¡¯t happen.


    Eventually, the machine ran out of pitches. Saber grunted and tossed her bat into the net with a frustrated sigh. ¡°Now what?¡±


    I shrugged, spinning the bat in my hand. ¡°I guess we either both win or both lose. If you promise not to lie to me tonight, I¡¯ll do my best to keep the monster away from the oven.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± she muttered, turning away with a huff.


    ¡°So¡­ what should we do now?¡±


    Once again, there was no need for words between us. The answer came with a loud, undeniable growl from her stomach.


    And there was something I needed to see before the night was over.


    It was time to go looking for a meal worthy of a king.


    ¡°Let me get a double cheeseburger¡ªno garlic, hold the onions. Large fries and an Oreo shake.¡± Saber was still hiding behind her menu. ¡°And for her... Make it a Beacon King with extra meat¡ªswap the ketchup for barbecue, throw in some onion rings on the side, and a large Coke.¡±


    The server smiled with something that fell in between surprise and worry before quickly heading away.


    ¡°Master, this place...¡± Saber wrinkled her nose, taking in the scent that wafted through the air. She looked at me with the faintest scowl. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting something so... heavy.¡±


    ¡°You try being trapped in hell for a decade and not missing this greasy stuff.¡±


    Our food arrived in just five minutes, looking far better than it had any right to. The burgers were stacked tall and perfect, fries crisped to golden. It honestly didn¡¯t even look like fast food¡ªit was just a nice, well cooked meal as good as you could get at any restaurant.


    God bless the 2010s. A sudden bolt of pain shot through my skull. Agh... That¡¯s still annoying. Not like he can hear me anymore, anyway. He¡¯s dead.


    Knowing exactly how this would play out, I didn¡¯t bother waiting for Saber before digging into my meal. Truth was, I was getting almost nothing from it. Human food had long since stopped being a real source of energy for me, and junk food? Well, that was the equivalent of chewing on old, stale bread¡ªfilling but ultimately empty. But sometimes you had to put that kind of thinking aside.


    Because this wasn¡¯t really about eating.


    Smoking, drugs, and even most alcohol had always repulsed me. It wasn¡¯t like I hated the vice or anything, I just couldn¡¯t get into it¡ªit didn¡¯t feel good to me. But food... Food was different. It was the one indulgence I could still savor, the one guilty pleasure I didn¡¯t have to feel bad about. If nothing else, it was a small escape from the hunger that haunted the edges of my mind. And maybe, just maybe, it would help keep the other cravings at bay.


    And if not... well, at least I¡¯d enjoy the taste.


    I bit into the burger, which was nearly half the size of my own head, and instantly, everything felt... lighter. Life didn¡¯t seem so bad when you had a warm, greasy meal in your hands. Sure, things hadn¡¯t gone exactly as I¡¯d planned today, but there was no point in brooding over it. I had my food, and I had my Queen. At the end of the day, what else could a man ask for?


    Saber, however, wasn¡¯t quite so sure about it.


    She poked at her fries, reluctant, as if weighing whether she could simply avoid the encounter altogether. But the burger loomed large in front of her, the confrontation inevitable. Finally, after a resigned breath, she grabbed it with both hands, a soldier preparing for battle, and took a tentative bite.


    The change in her expression was immediate. Relief washed over her face, eyes fluttering shut as she savored the taste, each slow chew betraying her enjoyment


    ¡°So? What do you think?¡± I teased, leaning in with a smirk. ¡°And remember, no lies tonight.¡±


    Her eyes shot open, surprised, as she quickly swallowed, some sauce smearing across her chin. ¡°It¡¯s... I suppose this is quite pleasant,¡± she muttered, clearly reluctant to admit it.


    Her voice was calm, but her pride remained intact, as if enjoying something so simple was somehow beneath her.


    She refused to look at me, but I noticed how quickly she went for another bite.


    And I did the same, sinking into my own burger again, feeling the satisfying crunch of pickles and the warmth of the tomatoes as the bread slowly started to grow soggy in my hands. The juices spilled out messily, meat threatening to escape from both ends of the burger.


    But I didn¡¯t mind.


    It was exactly what I needed.


    Meanwhile, Saber was making an absolute mess of herself.


    ¡°Come here,¡± I said, struggling not to laugh.


    Placing my hands in between her mouth and her meal was risky, but I still managed to grab a few paper towels and carefully wipe the sauce from her face. She paused just long enough for me to clean her up a little, though the look she shot me said I was pushing my luck¡ªso I pushed further, slowly tracing her lips with my thumb a few times, looking straight into her emerald eyes, daring her to say something before finally letting go.


    ¡°Now, we just need¡­¡± I reached over to the counter, grabbed a golden paper crown, and placed it atop her head. I made sure it sat crooked, barely hanging on, then stepped back to admire my handiwork. Her focus was still glued to the food in front of her, so she barely noticed when I snapped a quick picture.


    It was impossible not to grin. She looked completely unbothered, as long as her mouth was full.


    ¡°Do you enjoy torturing my soul, Master?¡± she muttered after taking a breath.


    ¡°It''s your fault for being so cute. Besides, I can tell you¡¯re not really angry anymore.¡±


    ¡°C-Cute?¡± A soft pink blush crept onto her cheeks. ¡°From all the Masters I¡¯ve had, you¡¯re without a doubt the strangest.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve only had two,¡± I said, a bit confused.


    ¡°Three, if we count Irisviel. And you¡¯re still the strangest of them all.¡±


    By the time we returned to the streets, there was an unmistakable lightness in Saber¡¯s steps. She didn¡¯t say anything, but I could feel the shift in her demeanor, like the warm meal had peeled away some invisible weight. We both knew, though, that we were stretching the night far beyond what was reasonable¡ªmaybe even beyond what was possible. The city, once so alive, had quieted. The restless energy of Tokyo had faded, leaving behind a mute stillness. The cold winds bit into our skin, sharpening the awareness of just how empty everything around us had become.


    I stepped closer to her, letting my hand brush against hers, caressing her fingers before clasping our palms together. ¡°Is this¡­?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she shook her head gently, pressing herself against my side. ¡°Hold me. I want to feel¡­ normal. Even if just for tonight. I want to pretend I¡¯m alive again.¡±


    I wrapped my arm around her waist with confidence, pulling her closer. My hand settled on the curve of her hip, and for a moment, it felt awkward¡ªour bodies bumping against each other as we tried to find the right rhythm to walk so closely. But we simply kept walking, letting the silence stretch, an unspoken understanding forming with each step until we could move together, resting on each other.


    Somehow, the night carried us to a quiet garden in Shinjuku. It was serene¡ªlakes reflecting the faint glimmers of light from the stary tapestry above, green islands connected by small wooden bridges, insects casting soft ripples over the water. We stopped beneath a towering oak tree, the shadows draping us in darkness. The silence here felt different. It wasn¡¯t the cold emptiness of the streets but a peaceful solitude, where for the first time, it was just the two of us¡ªalone in every sense of the word. Not a single human soul or sound to be found, or to find us.


    ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± I asked, my voice low, almost hesitant. ¡°And¡­ you know what I mean. I want to understand, I need to try.¡±


    Saber drew in a long, steady breath, her chest rising and falling. ¡°This doesn¡¯t feel real to me. It¡¯s as if I¡¯m dreaming¡­ like at any moment I¡¯ll wake up and find myself right back where I started, summoned at that church.¡±


    I stayed quiet, giving her the space to continue.


    ¡°I enjoyed tonight,¡± she admitted softly, ¡°more than I¡¯m willing to admit. But¡­¡± Her voice faltered, and in the darkness, I saw it¡ªthe weight she still carried, the shadows that lingered in her gaze. ¡°A part of me¡­ abhors this happiness. It feels undeserved. I am not ready to move on, and I don¡¯t believe I should find peace this easily.¡±


    ¡°Saber¡­ moving forward isn¡¯t the same as running from your mistakes.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± she sighed. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t redeem me either. The oaths I swore¡­ they were for life.¡±


    ¡°And that life is over.¡± I spoke with more conviction than I felt. ¡°I know it¡¯s not easy to accept, but we can¡¯t keep dragging the past into the present. You¡¯re not the same person you were then, and we can¡­ we can build something new here, if you want to.¡±


    For a long moment, she remained silent, distant, as if the weight of my words sank deep into some unreachable part of her. I could almost feel the tug of her mind pulling back to that distant past, to the battlefield, to the throne, to all the things she lost. It was always there, hovering over her, a constant reminder of everything she held herself accountable for¡ªcracks on her own mirror.


    Then, she shifted. Saber lifted herself off the cold bench and gently slid onto my lap, her small frame fitting into me as though it belonged there. Her back pressed against my chest, and the warmth of her body seeped into mine, driving away the remnants of cold. I was always amazed at how delicate and fragile she seemed to be¡ªfor all the battles she fought, for all the burdens she carried, the knight weighed no more than a delicate flower, her presence filling the air with the soft scent of vanilla and fresh grass.


    ¡°Maybe¡­¡± she whispered. ¡°It¡¯s not that I want to refuse¡­ it¡¯s just¡­¡±


    I wrapped my arms around her, slowly, almost instinctively. She didn¡¯t resist. In fact, she melted into the embrace, her body yielding against mine as if she had been holding herself together for too long. Her head tilted back, her chin resting on my shoulder, and when our eyes met, there was something different in her gaze¡ªsomething raw, naked, and vulnerable. It wasn¡¯t the look of the king, the warrior, or even the knight. It was just her¡ªtired, broken, and aching in a way that could not be explained with words.


    Her soul, though, still fought against all peace, still refused to let go, like a beaten horse brought to water but too stubborn to drink. I could see it behind her eyes, the battle between what she wanted and what she thought she deserved.


    ¡°And what if I were to order you to stay here with me?¡± I whispered, brushing my lips gently against the back of her neck. A shiver ran down her spine, subtly arching her back. ¡°What if I demanded, as your King, that you try to be happy? What if I don¡¯t care about the oaths you once swore and claim you all for myself?¡± I stopped for a moment, and chuckled. ¡°Could a villain enchant the mighty King of Knights, and force her to main by his side, until her heart forgets how to escape?¡±


    Saber¡¯s small fingers pressed themselves beneath my chin. Her eyes were full of hesitation and warmth, and a small, trembling smile tugged at her lips.


    "To forget how to escape¡­" she echoed, her voice carrying a note of amusement, though there was a weight beneath it. "Is that truly what you desire? To hold me here¡­ knowing that a part of me still remains elsewhere?"


    ¡°Maybe. Or maybe I want to be the one place you don¡¯t need to escape from.¡±


    ¡°I suppose¡­¡± her voice cracked slightly, a tremor of emotion slipping through, ¡°I suppose I cannot refuse the one who summoned me¡­ If such a vile master were to steal me of my freedom and force my heart to enjoy it¡­¡±


    She leaned in, her lips brushing against mine in a soft, tentative kiss. I followed her lead, deepening the connection, as if afraid she might slip away if I didn¡¯t hold her close enough. Our kisses were slow, tender, mellow, the quiet night filled with nothing but the rustle of our clothes and the soft sound of our breaths mingling into each other as we pulled away, time and time again.


    I opened my eyes, breaking the kiss just long enough to catch the sight of her golden hair cascading over my face. The silvery glow of the moon framed her like a perfect portrait, her features softened by its ethereal light. Her arms were wrapped around me, encompassing my world until everything but her faded into the background. It was just us, suspended in a frozen moment of fantasy as snowdrops started to fall like a lazy curtain to this final act of selfishness.


    ¡°I never thought¡­¡± she muttered against my lips. ¡°Is it really okay for me to act like this? Can a king simply¡­ enjoy this warmth? Is it okay for me to be¡­ as a woman?¡±


    I took one of her hands in mine and pressed it to my lips, feeling the delicate weight of her fingers. ¡°You¡¯ll have to,¡± I murmured, kissing her knuckles softly, ¡°because I want both the king and the woman.¡±


    She let out the smallest laugh, a quiet sound that held both relief and uncertainty. ¡°Does the greed in your villainous heart know no bounds?¡±


    I cupped her face with both my hands, drawing her close once more, and took one last bite of the precious knight¡¯s lips, savoring the sensation as if addicted to the very taste of her. I knew it was supposed to be the last kiss, a final dramatic pause, but I couldn¡¯t stop there¡ªnot when her touch anchored me, not when the warmth of her skin was something I wished to memorize. So my words had to wait, lingering in the space between us until her touch gave me permission to speak again.


    ¡°Artoria¡­¡± I breathed her name like a quiet spell. ¡°No, Lady Pendragon.¡± My fingers brushed her cheek, as if trying to wake her up. ¡°Would you do me the honor of facing this world with me?¡±

 Chapter 11: Shameless

    I woke up in my own bed, feeling a sensation I hadn¡¯t experienced in a long time¡ªthe comfortable, familiar warmth of another person lying next to me, and embracing me with care.


    My eyes fluttered open, trying to adjust to the morning light creeping through the curtains. But before I could focus, I noticed something far more important¡ªthe heat pressing against both my cheeks, the soft scent of fresh soap filling my nose, and the unmistakable feeling of skin brushing against mine. Still half-asleep, I buried my face in the warmth before me, realizing I was resting comfortably between a pair of large, plumpy, bouncy breasts. A sleepy grin pulled at my lips.


    I instinctively reached under the sheets, my hand finding its way to my partner¡¯s waist, pulling her closer until our bodies were flush against one another. My fingers brushed across the smooth curve of her hip, which begged for me to just ride it. Surprisingly, she was completely naked¡ªa fact that immediately caught my attention. But my foggy mind couldn¡¯t quite recall how we had ended up in this situation.


    Not that I was about to ruin the moment by asking questions.


    No, instead, I pressed my lips into the deep valley between her breasts, kissing her skin with a lazy, satisfied sigh. The rhythm of her breathing shifted ever so slightly beneath me, and I felt her body stir in response to my touch.


    "Saber?" I murmured, my voice thick with sleep. "Are you awake, baby?"


    A voice responded, but not the one I expected. ¡°Saber?¡± The tone was teasing, laced with both amusement and just the faintest hint of disappointment. ¡°Is there something you forgot to mention, Nyx?¡±


    The sound of her voice pushed me out of my half-conscious state. I pulled my head back, blinking away the remnants of a dream, and my gaze met not Saber¡¯s emerald eyes but a large pair of bright blue ones staring down at me with a devilish gleam


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay,¡± she purred, clearly enjoying my confusion. ¡°I¡¯ll forgive you this time, since I did invite myself unannounced. But please, Nyx, do try to learn the feeling of my body. It would be a real shame if you couldn¡¯t recognize this...¡± Her tone was equal parts playful and sultry.


    Before I could even think of a response, she slid her fingers through my hair, gently pushing my head back down, pressing my face right between her breasts once more.  I could have resisted. I probably should have resisted. But then again, who was I to turn down such comfort? After a moment of quick, strategic thinking, I realized that allowing my field of vision to be completely overtaken by Rias¡¯ impressive assets was actually a crucial step in my grand plan to ascend to godhood¡ªor something like that, anyway.


    Now a bit more awake, I realized I should have known it wasn¡¯t Saber simply by the way her chest rubbed along my face, leaving just enough space in the middle for me to drown in. Rias'' heartbeat was slow, soothing¡ªalmost hypnotic¡ªand her skin carried a faint touch of lavender, a lingering sign that she had taken a bath right before slipping into my bed, which only made me want to taste her even more. Controlling myself, I inhaled deeply, appreciating the subtle gesture.


    I really wanted to stay there.


    For most, blood is associated with violence and injury¡ªan unpleasant necessity. But for me, it was far more than that. Blood was love, blood was life¡ªin the most literal sense. It had been years since I¡¯d had the chance to simply lie in bed and take in the rhythm of another person¡¯s pulse, the quiet beat of a heart so close to my skin. Rias'' blood sang to me, flowing in harmony with her contented sighs, her body relaxed and completely at ease against mine. Her fingers threaded gently through my hair, her touch affectionate as she looked down at me with a soft, knowing smile.


    People could lie, but blood was always honest.


    My hand drifted down slowly, fingers curling around the soft flesh of her thigh, pulling it gently until her leg hooked itself around my hips. The mix of warmth and softness washed over me, drowning my thoughts in a lazy stupor. This¡­ this was the perfect way to wake up. But as much as I could feel that Rias was enjoying this just as much as me, I couldn¡¯t forget the simple truth of who we were¡ªtwo Devils, fighting for control, no matter how sweet the moment might seem. Her nails scratched lightly at the back of my head, begging me to close my eyes and let her handle it all, but I knew I couldn¡¯t let myself get too comfortable. I needed to remind her who was in charge here.


    So, with a smirk, I pressed my lips down onto that inviting valley one more time, and gave her a playful bite.


    ¡°E-Ehyh!?¡±


    Rias nearly jumped, startled, a soft gasp escaping her lips as I left a faint mark on her skin. It wasn¡¯t much¡ªjust a little something for her to notice when she looked in the mirror later that night and remember my face. A gift.


    ¡°Sorry, President,¡± I offered the most half-hearted apology I could muster. ¡°But you really should be more careful about who you get in bed with. Sometimes I wake up with a bit of an appetite, and¡­ well, you know how it can be.¡±


    ¡°I-I see¡­¡± she stammered, trying to maintain her confident facade. ¡°As a King, it¡¯s my responsibility to take care of my peerage members to the best of my ability. However¡­¡± She hesitated, her face flushed. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯d be appropriate to let you feed on me just yet, if that¡¯s what you were hoping for.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough,¡± I replied, my hand sliding higher along her thigh, tracing the curve of her body as I nestled my face against her neck. ¡°But I¡¯m sure this much is fine, right, President?¡±


    I began to kiss the side of her neck, my lips brushing softly against her skin. Rias'' entire body tensed for a moment, a small yelp slipping past her lips before she quickly composed herself again, trying to play it cool. But I could feel the way her breath hitched, the faint tremble in her frame as I continued my gentle assault.


    ¡°T-That¡¯s a little¡­¡±


    My hand, still resting on her thigh, moved up once more until I reached the curve of her backside. I waited for just a second, then gave her a firm, sadistic slap. The sharp sound filled the room, and Rias let out an involuntary scream, her hands flying to cover her mouth as her face turned an even deeper shade of red, almost the same as her hair. Mortified, she glared at me with wide, disbelieving eyes.


    ¡°So, President¡­¡± I leaned in close, my voice low. ¡°Does every member of your peerage get this kind of treatment? I can definitely see Akeno enjoying it the most¡ªmaybe we could have some fun together?¡±


    Her face twisted as she struggled to find the right words, her brain clearly still trying to catch up to what had just happened. But before she could gather her thoughts, I rolled us both over, pushing her gently onto her back, positioning myself between her long, beatiful legs. I pinned her beneath me, taking my time, making sure she felt every movement, every shift in power.


    This wasn¡¯t about teaching her a lesson. No, this was more of a¡­ demonstration. A preview of the game we were about to play until one of the two surrendered to the other.


    ¡°W-Well¡­¡± She scratched her cheek. ¡°It¡¯s not like I do this for everyone! I just thought that since you¡¯ll be with us from now on, I-I should do something to help you feel a bit more¡­ welcomed.¡±


    It was easy to tell those words had been rehearsed, probably part of a routine she had prepared, one where she played the role of the teasing seductress while I was supposed to act helpless, worked up, and probably too frustrated to do anything about it. The goal was clear¡ªto blue ball me enough to get me to follow her around all day like a dog in heat, completely at her mercy.


    Yeah, not happening.


    Instead, I let my fingers pace slowly along the back of her leg, my hand curling just enough to brush near her crotch with each pass, pretending it was accidental. I kept silent, making no effort to push things further¡ªafter all, I wasn¡¯t aiming to start something too intense. No, I just wanted to make sure that by the time she left, there¡¯d be a warm, lingering feeling between her legs.


    I wanted her to think about me every now and then. She had hopped into my bed looking to start some heat with that body of hers, and that was exactly what I was going to give her.


    ¡°So,¡± I whispered lazily. ¡°Can I expect this kind of company for as long as I keep participating in the club? I have to say, it¡¯s not a bad way to keep me motivated.¡± I gently grabbed her chin, turning her face toward mine as I sank back into the pillow beside her. ¡°You know, I didn¡¯t think it was professional to say this the first time we met, but¡­ that scarlet hair of yours is really something else. Can I¡­?¡±


    Her previous confidence visibly wavered as she sank slightly into the sheets. Rias hesitated for a moment, then gave a shy, almost imperceptible nod. Just as I leaned in closer, about to tangle my fingers in that fiery hair, ready to grab it and pull her head back until she offered her neck to me¡­ the door to my room swung open.


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    ¡°Nyyyyyyyx! Get the fuck out of bed and make me something to e¡ª¡±


    Kira froze mid-sentence, frozen in utter disbelief as she took in the scene before her. For a moment, it looked like she might just drop dead from embarrassment right then and there. Meanwhile, Rias quickly grabbed the covers, pulling them up around her body as she scrambled to sit up, managing to hide most of her chest¡ªbut not quite enough.


    ¡°Y-You¡¯re Kira, right?¡± Rias said, offering an awkward smile. ¡°I believe we¡¯re in the same class. I just dropped by to make sure Nyx didn¡¯t miss school today. I¡¯m his¡ª¡±


    ¡°Kira, just close the door,¡± I cut in, my voice calm as ever. ¡°You¡¯ll be seeing Rias around here pretty often from now on, so you don¡¯t have to stand there staring at her tits forever. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll have another chance.


    Kira¡¯s fumbled for the door handle, her eyes wide with horror. Without another word, she slammed the door shut behind her and practically ran off down the hall.


    ¡°Well,¡± I chuckled, turning back to Rias, who was now biting her lip in silence as my hand traced its way down her form, inching dangerously close to her pubis. I let my fingers hover just below her belly button, teasing the idea of going lower through her flat abdomen, watching the way her breath hitched in anticipation.


    But that was enough.


    ¡°C¡¯mon,¡± I said, giving her a playful push, as if none of it had been serious. ¡°If you want more of this, you¡¯ll have to show up a little earlier tomorrow. I don¡¯t lock my door.¡±


    Rias blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift, and for a moment, she looked as if she might protest. But then, with a soft, defeated sigh, she let herself collapse back onto the bed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ consider it,¡± she murmured, still not looking at me, too proud to let the embarrassment defeat her.


    I leaned down, brushing my lips against her cheek in a loving kiss that was meant to calm her. ¡°Get dressed. I¡¯ll make you something to eat,¡± I whispered before standing up, grabbing a shirt, and slipping it on as I left the room.


    It¡¯s strange how the human brain works¡ªsometimes, you just feel something, a cold shiver, a sense of foreboding. There¡¯s no logical reason behind it, no sound or sight to trigger the instinct. But you know, deep down, that your next step is important¡ªno, vital for your survival.


    ¡°Good morning, Master.¡±


    Saber¡¯s voice erased my victorious smile, her presence somehow making the air feel heavier. She stood there, by my door, both hands on the hilt of her fully drawn sword, her posture rigid and vigilant like a statue. Her expression didn¡¯t change, and that alone was enough to unsettle me. It wasn¡¯t that I was surprised she¡¯d been standing guard¡ªafter all, that¡¯s who she was¡ªbut this was different.


    ¡°S-Saber!¡± I forced a smile, nerves creeping into my voice. ¡°My cute, little lion¡­¡±


    She didn¡¯t move, my words bouncing off before reaching her as if she had erected an invisible wall between us. The way she stood there, all stoic and composed, felt like the martial version of her giving me the cold shoulder. A chill ran down my spine.


    ¡°I had been wondering why you decided to lower the magical defenses every other night, Master,¡± she said, her voice calm but carrying the weight of an angry reprimand. ¡°I did not realize you were in the business of fishing common harlots off the street.¡±


    ¡°Oh, c¡¯mon. You can¡¯t seriously be mad about that,¡± I said, trying my best to sound nonchalant and confident. ¡°I was expecting Rias to visit one of these nights, but I didn¡¯t think Devil negotiations would be¡­ this close and personal.¡±


    Saber¡¯s expression softened slightly, but not enough to make me feel at ease. She sighed, a quiet sound of resignation, before sheathing her sword. ¡°As your Queen, I will take any excessive advances towards her as a personal insult.¡±


    ¡°Which means¡­?¡±


    She stepped forward, her face now inches from mine, her cheeks reddening ever so slightly. ¡°That you¡¯re not allowed to do anything with her that you haven¡¯t done with me.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t contain myself any longer. I pushed her back against the wall and kissed her deeply, my hands gripping her shoulders as if I needed to ground myself. It was rough, passionate¡ªfull of a heavy sense of possession.


    ¡°If you wanted to crawl into my bed naked, we could¡¯ve talked about it,¡± I whispered against her lips


    Saber¡¯s face flushed even more as she turned away, fighting to maintain her composure. ¡°Breakfast better be good,¡± she muttered before storming off down the stairs.


    That was one challenge I could get behind.


    Unfortunately for me, it seemed like I had pushed Kira too far with my teasing earlier¡ªshe was nowhere to be found, already having left for school on her own. So, there I was, sitting at the breakfast table with Saber, my serious, jealous, sword-wielding girlfriend, and Rias, the double D Devil who had found her way into my bed all on her own.


    I could tell Rias was itching to ask questions. Her eyes occasionally flickered toward Saber, curiosity dancing behind them. She must have wanted to know exactly what my relationship with Saber was or how someone as formidable as her had come into my life. But the Devil wasn¡¯t foolish enough to just poke people around¡ªespecially not a grumpy Holy Sword user. Saber clearly wasn¡¯t mad about me having someone else around, but there was a big difference between that and actually enjoying it.


    At first, I tried to spark some conversation in between the two. But I quickly realized that the only thing preventing a fight from breaking out was the amount of syrup on Saber¡¯s pancakes.


    ¡°Master, wait!¡±


    As the days had passed, kisses between us had become more of a normal occurrence¡ªsomething we both seemed to need and want more than we were willing to admit. But what caught me off guard this time was how completely unashamed she was about it right there. She kissed me in front of Rias, with no hesitation or concern for being watched, even as we held each other close for far longer than necessary.


    It was¡­ new.


    I made sure to return the kiss with equal care, letting her know just how much I appreciated her proud display of affection, and that I wasn¡¯t afraid to show any guests who was the woman of the house.


    ¡°Have a good day,¡± she mumbled, her voice carrying a new warmth. ¡°And please, remember¡­ I¡¯m always willing to rush to your side.¡±


    There was something unguarded in the way she said it, something that left me feeling more than a little flustered as I turned to leave. Saber had been making a real effort to be more open lately, more emotionally vulnerable and available¡ªmore of a real person. But this... I couldn¡¯t help walking out the door wearing a sheepish smile, hearing my heart beat.


    ¡°So¡­ Saber?¡±


    I nearly jumped out of my own skin, having completely forgotten that she was even there. I¡¯d been walking towards the school, lost in my own world.


    ¡°Pendragon,¡± I said.


    Rias gave me a curious look, clearly confused by the response. ¡°Pendragon?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a descendant of King Arthur,¡± I explained. ¡°It¡¯s something we¡¯d rather keep private. I¡¯m not her first Master, but I¡¯m the one she¡¯s decided to stay with¡ªfor now.¡± I tried to make the explanation as straightforward and logical as possible, not wanting to give away too much.


    ¡°For now, huh?¡± Rias¡¯ lips curled into a smile, and she brought a hand up to her mouth. ¡°Is she usually this¡­ affectionate with all of her Masters?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± I leaned into the banter, smirking, ¡°let¡¯s just say she takes good care of her Masters. Not so different from how you take care of your Peerage members, right? If anything, I¡¯d say I¡¯ve gotten to play around with you a little bit more than with her. She never lets my tongue get that far down.¡±


    I saw the exact moment when Rias¡¯ mind registered my words. Her steps became stiff and awkward. She was clearly remembering how I had been on top of her naked body just the moments ago, and it left her out of her element. For a Devil, she clearly was no succubus.


    Deciding to push my luck just a little further, I casually wrapped an arm around her waist as we walked, drawing her closer without a hint of shame.


    ¡°H-Hey!¡± Rias stammered. ¡°No one said you could just¡ª¡±


    ¡°What?¡± I interrupted her. ¡°It¡¯s not like people aren¡¯t going to start talking about how we¡¯re always together, even coming to school. Might as well give them something real to talk about, don¡¯t you think? Let¡¯s see what kind of rumors they can come up with.¡±


    Rias didn''t immediately respond, but I saw the shift in her expression¡ªthe furrow of her brows, the small flash of irritation. However, her walk soon changed. There was a deliberate sway to her hips as we crossed into the open campus, the subtle swing of her perfect hourglass figure making sure to attract attention. It wasn¡¯t just a simple walk anymore; she was putting on a show. The whispers started almost immediately. People were watching, so I did the only thing I could do and pushed my hand a little lower¡ªgiving the public what they wanted and grabbing myself a piece of that ass.


    By the time we said goodbye, parting ways to our respective classrooms, it was clear that half the school was talking about our entrance. The hushed gossip and wide-eyed stares followed me all the way down the hallway. It was almost funny. These Japanese girls, despite their reputation for being reserved and respectful, were far from shy when it came to their erotic curiosity. Still, they tried their hardest to keep up appearances in public. So, seeing one of their senior classmates, someone as famous as Rias Gremory, walking into school with such confident, sultry steps... well, it was practically the same as if I had brought her in wearing nothing but a collar and leash. The idea alone could probably set the rumor mill spinning for days.


    I hadn¡¯t expected Rias to play along, but there she was, feeding the flames with every sway of her hips. Maybe she was even more of an exhibitionist than I¡¯d ever imagined.


    That would be fun to test.


    And yet, despite her bold performance, not even that had managed to drown out every other conversation in the halls.


    No, there was someone¡ªa particular name that kept coming up as I sat down at my desk, the only one capable of commanding enough attention to steal the spotlight from our little stunt.


    Issei Hyoudou.


    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s going on?¡± I asked Kiba, my curiosity piqued by the unusual buzz in the room.


    Kiba looked a little hesitant, glancing around before answering. ¡°Oh, you haven¡¯t heard? Apparently, one of those guys almost got hit by a car while chasing down a porn magazine.¡±


    I blinked, processing the absurdity. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ pretty bad. Is he okay?¡±


    Kiba rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable with the whole situation. ¡°W-Well¡­ He wasn¡¯t actually hit by the car, but when some girls rushed over to help him, they noticed he had¡­ glued pictures of their faces over the women in the magazine.¡±


    My mind went blank for a second, trying to wrap itself around the sheer level of idiocy, and I let out an involuntary sound. ¡°Uh¡­ uh?¡±


    The boy gave a pained sigh. ¡°Let¡¯s just say that when they saw what he¡¯d done¡­ He ended up being taken to the hospital¡­ even without the car.¡±


    I had no words. None.


    My initial opinion of Issei Hyoudou had been fairly neutral¡ªhe was just some perverted guy who didn¡¯t really impact my life one way or another. As long as I could avoid him, whatever happened involving Ddraig was just business, nothing personal. But now?


    Seeing all of this play out from the sidelines, without the luxury of some magical narrator or insider knowledge, was a whole different experience.


    And honestly? Watching Issei and his little group of friends¡ªthe infamous Perverted Trio¡ªdo their thing, I was starting to wonder how anyone tolerated them this long. It wasn¡¯t just their reputations; it was the fact that they seemed to live in this weird world of mutual delusion. Always cuddling together, whispering about the next dirty thing they¡¯d obsess over as if this time it would make them popular, openly discussing their latest escapades like some kind of unholy, horny brotherhood.


    For most students at Kuoh Academy, Issei and his friends weren¡¯t just a group of perverts¡ªthey were more like a bizarre, homoerotic cult, united in their twisted pursuit to get each other horny and worked up during school hours so they could go home and jerk off together right after, all three of them sharing the same room. The mental image was enough to make anyone cringe.


    And the worst part? The rumors weren¡¯t even that far off from reality. I was starting to see them that way myself. It was getting harder and harder not to grimace every time those three were within a thirty-foot radius of me. My body just assumed they smelled like garbage¡ªit was almost like a magical aura of disgust and decay.


    By the time I snapped back to the present, I realized I¡¯d been staring blankly at Kiba for a solid twenty seconds. His sympathetic expression told me all I needed to know.


    With a gentle pat on my shoulder, he offered what little comfort he could. ¡°It¡­ gets better¡­ eventually¡­¡±


    Yeah, right. Kiba was a terrible liar, and the pain in his eyes wasn¡¯t exactly selling the hope he was trying to give me.


    Just as I was about to comment on it, a soft voice interrupted the moment.


    ¡°It¡¯s not so bad! At least we can have some fun while those two visit their friend at the hospital.¡±


    Murayama¡¯s voice, playful and light, reached my ears just before I felt her arms wrap around me from behind. She leaned in, pressing herself against my back, and I could feel the weight of her chest rest over my shoulders. It wasn¡¯t on Rias-level, but there was enough weight to make me¡ªonce again¡ªrealize the absurdity of my situation. After all, she was nothing short of a really cute girl that remained both easy to talk to and deeply invested on Japanese swords as part of her training.


    On any other school, Murayama would have been the top-of-the-class, instant love-interest of any guy with some sort of good taste. But here at Kuoh¡­ she was pretty much average, and almost desperate for some positive interactions with men.


    How the hell can you live in a world like this¡­ and still get no bitches?


    ?


    That night, for the first time, I was officially called to the Occult Research Club¡¯s room.


    I¡¯d been there a handful of times over the past week, mostly hanging around, helping out with small tasks that didn¡¯t require much thought. It was routine by now. Rias had no reason to think I wouldn¡¯t show up tonight, especially not after the playful show we put on earlier that morning. So the fact that she had personally summoned me this time meant something was different. Something important.


    My suspicions were confirmed when I saw the glowing Magic Circle traced across the floor, intricate runes pulsing faintly as if alive. It wasn¡¯t just for show. It was ready, active, and waiting for us to step in.


    Rias stood in the center, a confident smile playing on her lips as she waved her arm with her usual theatrical flair. The room, dimly lit by the circle¡¯s glow, gave her an almost ethereal presence.


    ¡°Tonight,¡± she began, commanding, smooth, ¡°we work as Devils. Every single one of us.¡±