I sat at the massive desk in my office, idly twirling a pen between my fingers. The stack of papers in front of me seemed endless, and I couldn't help but sigh heavily.
Who would have thought that even in another world I would be drowning in work? - I chuckled, rubbing my temples.
Just a couple of days in Sirzechs Lucifer's body, and I was already starting to get used to this strange life. Grayfia and Millicas had become more than just "this body's family" for me. Their warmth, care, laughter - all of this was new, almost overwhelming. In my past life, there was no family, no love, not even a hint of anything like that. I never thought about marriage or children, but fate, as always, decided otherwise, throwing me into this reality with a wife, a son, and a bunch of responsibilities.
Life is a damn unpredictable thing.
My gaze fell on the laptop standing on the table. It looked ordinary, but it was the creation of Ajuka Beelzebub, the genius devil who had created it for Sirzechs. Old Sirzechs preferred paper, but even he knew that without technology it was easy to go crazy. The laptop filtered out routine decisions, leaving me with only the key questions - the ones that were currently sitting in this damned pile.
Ajuka, you are a genius, I thought, dreaming of a vacation.
Suddenly, I felt a magical signal, accompanied by an encrypted code. Quickly forming a communication circle, I entered the code and made contact. One of the spies Sirzechs had stationed around the world reported:
"Lord Lucifer, I have information. Lord Gremory and Lord Phoenix are planning a secret meeting. Perhaps it is related to Lady Rias."
I thanked him for his service, telling him to continue surveillance. The spy responded enthusiastically:
"Happy to serve, Lord Lucifer!"
The connection was cut off, and I exhaled, feeling the tension tightening in my temples.
The movement is starting, and I don't like it.
Sirzechs always had his finger on the pulse, especially when it came to Rias. He kept an eye on her safety, her surroundings, her life. I remembered the fan jokes about him being a siscon, and couldn't help but chuckle.
It seemed like that wasn't too far from the truth.
Standing up from the table, I stretched my stiff shoulders and glanced at the papers. Sirzechs wasn't just a director, or even the king of a country. He was the ruler of the entire devil race, a level of responsibility that human leaders could only imagine.
It's a good thing this isn't a universe with an Emperor of Mankind, I thought, humming a tune and teleporting to the Gremory clan's ancestral mansion, where Sirzechs had spent his childhood.
The hallways of the mansion were opulent: golden chandeliers, paintings, marble floors. The servants bowed with perfect posture, their faces expressing a mixture of respect and fear. I was heading towards the office of Zeoticus Gremory, Sirzechs' father, when I noticed two guards at the door. Their faces were pale, their hands were shaking, and sweat was running down their foreheads. I barely suppressed a smile.
Life had clearly not prepared them for this.
They were loyal servants of the Gremory house, ready to protect its interests, but now I stood before them, the former Gremory heir, and now Lucifer. Their dilemma hung in the air: should they let me in or follow the order to let no one in?
I walked closer, and the guards gulped, their hands shaking even more. With a slight smile, I said:
"You are doing well. Don't worry, I will make sure you are not punished."
They sighed in relief as they let me in. I entered the room, which was richly furnished, with paintings collected from all over the world. In the center of the room stood two people: Zeoticus Gremory, with red hair and a neat beard, reminiscent of Antares from Solo Leveling - the same commanding charisma. Next to him was Lord Phoenix, a blond man with a refined beard, in an aristocratic robe. Both were clearly not expecting me, and their surprised looks spoke for themselves.
Zeoticus cleared his throat, his voice calm, but with a slight wariness:
"Sirzechs, what brings you here? Is it urgent?"
His smile was polite, but I knew the aristocratic games. Underneath the simple words was a subtext: Do you know about our meeting? About Rias? Lord Phoenix was silent, limiting himself to a formal bow, but his eyes were watching me carefully.
I crossed my arms, smiling wider.
"Can't I visit my father?" I said, keeping my tone intentionally light. "Or do I need an excuse to come to my home now?"
Zeoticus chuckled, but his gaze remained intense.
"You know, son, now is not the best time for social visits. You could have warned me."
"And I think the time is right," I countered, emphasizing the last word. "Especially when it comes to family. Like Rias."
His eyes flickered, and I noticed him trying to hide his worry. Lord Phoenix, who had been silent until now, sighed heavily and intervened.
"Zeoticus, stop beating around the bush. Lord Lucifer clearly knows. Let's get this straight."
Zeoticus frowned, rubbing his temples, his gaze filled with irritation, but I remained calm, a small smile playing on my lips. He continued, his voice growing heavier.
"Sirzechs, the Underworld is in turmoil, as is the rest of the world. The sooner House Gremory and House Phoenix get closer, the better for all of us. Especially for our family."
He emphasized the last word, his eyes boring into me, waiting for a reaction. I shrugged, trying to look casual.
"Who's against it? It just all seems rushed. They're still young, and our lives are much longer than humans."
Zeoticus chuckled, his tone slightly mocking.
"Shall I remind you how it was with you? You were engaged to House Agares as well, but I didn't interfere with your personal life. And what happened as a result? Civil war."
He chuckled, but Lord Phoenix's lips twitched nervously, as if holding back a comment. I sighed heavily, feeling the conversation was heading into dangerous waters.
"I'm not asking you to put it off forever," I said, my voice growing firmer. "Give Rias a month. Let her prove that she can decide her own fate." Both of them looked at me in surprise, their eyebrows raised in question. A month? For what? - their eyes read. I continued, not giving them time to object:
"Rias is against this marriage. So why not give her a chance to fight? Let her face Riser in a Rating Game in a month. If she loses, I will not interfere and will personally bless their marriage. "
Zeoticus was taken aback, his eyes widened, but he quickly pulled himself together. Lord Phoenix, on the other hand, smiled, his voice friendly, almost playful:
"Zeoticus, I do not mind. The outcome is already clear, but if Lord Lucifer himself blesses their marriage, it will strengthen the alliance of our houses. What do you say? "
Zeoticus thought, rubbing his chin, then shrugged.
"Alright, I see no problem."
I nodded, maintaining a smile, but my thoughts were elsewhere.
Rias needs time, but how can I help her?
There are no pawns in her peerage, and those that are broken, looking for a suitable candidate would be a waste of time and resources. Sanji is too weak, even Issei in canon barely defeated Raiser by sacrificing his arm and using holy water. Sirzechs chose Issei for a reason - he saw potential in him. He can't interfere himself - if I start dictating the terms, how will I be better than the tyrants Sirzechs fought against in the civil war? Sirzechs' memories painted a dark picture - the devils of that time were full of arrogance, lust for power and cruelty. They were ready to destroy their race for the sake of ambition. Sirzechs was different - almost a pacifist among predators, who loved singing and peace, but the war changed him, forcing him to become a leader who was feared and respected.
I do not want to repeat his path, but for Rias, I will have to play by their rules.
"Since it's decided, I'll inform Rias myself," I said, looking at the two of them. They exchanged glances, but didn't object. I turned around and walked out, my thoughts swirling around possible solutions.
Sairaorg is gaining strength, but he has his own problems. A month is too short to prepare him. Or is there another way?
An idea flashed through my mind, but I put it aside for now, deciding to think about it later.
Back at my mansion, I was walking down the hallway when I noticed Grayfia. Her stern, cold appearance was as impeccable as ever, but upon seeing me, her gaze softened and she came closer.
"Where were you?" she asked, her voice calm but slightly worried.
I decided not to hide the truth; it was pointless with Grayfia.
"It's about Rias," I answered, looking into her eyes.
Her eyebrows slightly raised, a hint of worry in her eyes. Rias had grown up under her care, and Grayfia worried about her almost as if she were her own daughter. I smiled softly to reassure her.
"Don't worry, I bought her some time. A month to prepare. I want to visit her and tell her in person. I might be staying there for a while."
Grayfia narrowed her eyes, an ironic smile touching her lips.
"Are you running away from work? Duties are still there, you know."
She lightly pulled my cheek, causing me to exclaim, "Grayfia, let go!"
She laughed, letting go of me, and I, without wasting a moment, gently touched her silver hair, running my fingers through it. Her eyes widened in surprise, and I, smiling, stepped closer.
"Grayfia, I can rely on you, right? Like always?" My voice became quieter, I gently touched her face, our eyes met.
I leaned down, whispering a few promises in her ear, which made her ears turn pink. Stepping back, I saw her embarrassed smile, but she quickly returned to her usual stern expression, looking at me reproachfully.
"Okay," she sighed. "I'll keep an eye on your work. But then you'll work hard."
"You're the best," I said, leaning down and kissing her. The kiss was passionate, our tongues intertwined, breathing quickened. When we pulled away, Grayfia tried to return to her cold face, but her blush gave her away. I laughed quietly, quickly leaving before she could give me a "debriefing." As I walked down the hallway, I thought about how easy it would be to become the hero of some Chinese fan fiction—shamelessly flirting, changing girls like gloves, without thinking about the consequences. But that's not my path. I'm not here to play a harem hero. I have a family—and I will do anything to protect them. And then there's the mysterious entity whose motives are still unclear.
Who are you, and what do you want?
***
I teleported to the human world, finding myself in a small room. Adjusting my robe, I smoothed out the wrinkles on my clothes. As Lucifer, Sirzechs could move freely between worlds—a privilege that all Satans, including Grayfia, had. It was much more convenient than traveling on the mystical train. Looking around, I moved forward, examining the Occult Research Building. Its gloomy architecture, imbued with a dark atmosphere, brought a slight smile to my face.
A real Gothic park.
I headed towards Rias's office. The room was small and cozy: a couple of sofas, a table where Rias sat, immersed in papers. With her glasses and a concentrated look, she looked almost like an ordinary student. Hearing my footsteps, she shuddered, looked up and froze. Her eyes widened, her mouth slightly open in silent surprise. Without giving her time to recover, I smiled and spoke first:
"Hello, Rias. How are you? Is everything alright?"
My question caught her off guard, but she quickly pulled herself together, took off her glasses, and stood up.
"Brother?" she breathed out, rushing towards me.
We hugged, and I felt her warm breath as her chest pressed against mine. Something inside me trembled, but I immediately suppressed it.
She's your sister, idiot.
After the hug, I stepped back, looking at her: long red hair, blue eyes, pink lips, Kuoh Academy uniform - a white shirt and a short skirt. I couldn't help but smile.
"What?" Rias narrowed her eyes, her voice became wary. "Why are you here? You're busy, and anyway... this is not for nothing."
I laughed, teasingly:
"What, can't you visit your little sister?"
She looked embarrassed, her cheeks slightly pink, but she immediately crossed her arms, giving me a sharp look.
"Brother, there's no need to lie to me. You came on business."
I stepped closer, touching her head, and lightly combed her red hair. She froze, clearly not expecting it.
"It's a beautiful color," I said, smiling.
Rias snorted indignantly.
"You have the same!"
"That's different," I winked. "You wouldn't understand."
She frowned, clearly confused, but I removed my hand and changed my tone to a serious one.
"You're right, I came on business. It's about your engagement."
The cheerful atmosphere evaporated. Rias's face became serious, her brows furrowed.
"What happened?" Her voice was tense.
"Father and Lord Phoenix have decided to speed up your wedding with Riser," I said, looking into her eyes.
Her face flushed with anger, and she opened her mouth to protest, but I released a slight aura, filling the room with pressure. Rias sank into her chair, her eyes widening in shock, tears streaming down her cheeks. The image pierced my heart, but I did not back down.
"I bought you a month," I continued, softening my tone. "In a month, you will face Riser in the Rating Game. If you win, your freedom will remain yours.
Rias, still wiping away her tears, sniffled, her voice shaking.
"A month? Brother, you know I can't... Raiser is too strong, and I..."
I touched her shoulder, causing her to flinch. My voice became gentle but firm.
"Rias, you're giving up too soon. You're a Gremory, and we never give up. I believe in you. And I'll stay here to train you and your peerage."
Her eyes widened, and she stared at me incredulously.
"You? But you're busy! And... what's the point? A month is nothing!
"The point is to fight," I said, squeezing her shoulder. "I'm your brother, and I won't leave you. Trust me."
My words hurt her. A determined light lit up her eyes, though her voice was still shaking:
"Brother…"
I hugged her, feeling her sobbing, staining my robe with her tears. I didn't object, gently stroking her hair, whispering soothing words. After a few minutes, she calmed down, pulling away, her reddened eyes now burning with determination.
"Gather your peerage tomorrow," I said. "Training will begin under my supervision."
She nodded, and I smiled, heading for the door.
"I still have something to do. See you later."
I felt her gaze on my back as I left the office. Walking through the academy's corridors, I looked at the blue sky, the white clouds, and breathed in the fresh air. Everything was so familiar and strange at the same time. Suddenly, I noticed Sona Sitri and Tsubaki walking towards Rias's club. They froze when they saw me. Sona's glasses were about to slip off, and she quickly adjusted them. They bowed as they approached, their voices full of respect:
"Lord Lucifer, welcome."
I waved my hand, trying to ease the tension.
"No need for formalities, we're alone."
Sona looked at me reproachfully, but said nothing. I barely held back my laughter.
If I were of a lower status, I would have been giving a lecture already.
Her prim face was almost comical, and I couldn't help myself:
"It's not proper for a young lady to be so strict. You won't find a life partner that way."
Sona choked, her eyes widened, and Tsubaki stared at me in shock. Sona cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure.
"That's... irrelevant," she muttered, her cheeks slightly red.
"That's right," I agreed, smiling. "But since you're going to Rias, she'll tell you everything. And it's time for me to go." Without waiting for an answer, I moved on, humming a melody. I noticed their surprised glances out of the corner of my eye, but I didn't turn around. Kuoh Town was small, cozy, somewhat reminiscent of my hometown. Passersby cast curious glances at me, schoolgirls ran up, asking for selfies, admiring my "aristocrat cosplay." I chuckled, posing for a photo, but my thoughts were occupied with something else. I was heading towards the old church, feeling that something interesting was waiting for me there.