Knock. Knock.
"Buchou, I've brought Kazuma Tenjou," the voice from outside announced.
"Let him in," came Rias Gremory's calm, elegant reply.
The door swung open. Kazuma stepped inside—and immediately, an invisible force crashed down on him. It wasn't just weight; it was the kind of presence that came from bloodlines older than empires. The air thickened, his knees wavered, and cold sweat prickled along his spine.
Still, he bowed low, forcing the words through the pressure."Kazuma Tenjou… Talent Acquisition Manager at Gremory Corporation. I greet the heiress—Rias Gremory-sama."
The pressure didn't ease. If anything, it sharpened.
Then, her voice—sweet in tone, but honed like a blade—cut through the silence."And your contractee?"
Kazuma swallowed. "Yes… I am currently under contract with Lord Alvaris Balam."
For a beat, nothing moved. The weight relented just enough for him to draw a shaky breath.
Rias rose from her seat. Crimson hair spilled like silk down her shoulders, her blue eyes glinting with the precision of someone who measured every step, every breath, every word.
"I see…" Her tone was soft, almost playful—but Kazuma's instincts screamed danger. "Then tell me, Tenjou-san… what business did you have trying to exert influence over a student already under my watch?"
"I—Forgive me, I wasn't aware—"
"You were aware." Her interruption was ice-cold, final. "You knew. And you were arrogant."
The room seemed to shrink around him. The air pressed harder, driving him toward the floor. His vision tunneled.
"A human," she said, her voice low, "not even a devil… and yet you dared to meddle in what I laid my eyes on?"
"I—I'm under contract!" he blurted, desperation cracking his voice. "I'm protected by the Gremory name! You can't—!"
The pressure slammed down like a hammer. His legs buckled; he dropped to one knee.
"Yes," Rias said, her crimson eyes burning now, the faint glow dancing like embers in the dark. "You are under contract. And we devils… hold the sanctity of our contracts in the highest regard."
Her next words were quiet—barely above a whisper—yet each syllable carried the promise of something far worse than death.
"That is the only reason I'm not killing you where you kneel."
Kazuma sucked in a sharp breath, his pride fracturing under the weight of her words.
"I'm giving you a chance," Rias continued, each syllable deliberate, precise. "A chance to explain yourself. To justify your actions before I decide whether you are worth the contract that protects you."
Her gaze narrowed to slits, the silence stretching thin and sharp—like a blade poised at his throat.
Kazuma swallowed hard, trembling. And then… he began to speak.
"That kid… he looked down on the Gremory name. Mocked me—as a judge." His voice was tight, tinged with both frustration and wounded pride. "I couldn't let that slide. He should be held accountable for his disrespect."
He shifted his weight, trying to recover some dignity.
"My plan was simple. Bring him in. Make him work for us. He's young—clearly a diamond in the rough. With the right guidance, I could shape him into something that would elevate the Gremory name in the arts sector."
He kept his eyes lowered, but the edge of his voice sharpened.
"Yes, his violin performance was exceptional—but the world is changing. Classical music will fade. Singing, idols, pop culture—that's the future. If we move now, we can lead that shift."
A faint smirk touched his lips. "Even the Sitri Corporation has begun scouting idol talent. I've heard a rumor that one of their high-ranking executives is a fan of magical girl shows."
He gave a small, almost smug smile—like he was offering her a golden opportunity. "So you see… I wasn't acting out of malice. I was thinking ahead. His talent could be a major asset if placed under the right hands."
Silence. Suffocating. Absolute.
Then Rias spoke—soft, almost melodic.
"I see… What a brilliant plan."
The praise lit a spark in his chest. He didn't dare look up, but his lips betrayed him, curving into a faint smile.
"No wonder you're the Talent Acquisition Manager of the Gremory Large Enterprise," she added, her tone warm, almost amused.
Pride swelled in him, confidence beginning to take root again.
Then—her voice sharpened, velvet turning to steel.
"Almost makes me want to let go of your punishment."
The smile died. His blood ran cold.
"P… punishment?" he whispered.
"But before I tell you what your fault truly is…" Rias's voice was still deceptively light. "Entertain me."
The words cut sharper than any blade.
"How exactly did you plan to make Eishi Lucivar work for you? Given what I've heard… he performed exceedingly well."
Kazuma swallowed. His thoughts scrambled—he had to fix this. If he could justify it, maybe she'd understand. Maybe…
A smirk crept back onto his face.
"Easy, Rias-sama. Since he performed so well, he'd naturally come to me to claim his prize. And that's where the devil contract comes in."
He leaned forward, confidence swelling again.
"I'd give him what he wants—wealth. I've read his background. He's poor. People like that are easy to sway. I could offer housing for his mother… permanent support so she'd never work again."
His tone grew bolder, pride dripping from every word.
"This wouldn't just be a scholarship—it would be a job. Who in their right mind would refuse an offer to work under the Gremory name? He'd be a fool not to."
He straightened, convinced of his own genius.
"I could secure him. Make him a star under our banner. A gem polished to brilliance by the Gremory name!"
He laughed—loud, exhilarated, basking in his imagined victory.
And then…
Knock. Knock.
Not on the door.
On the window.
Kazuma turned, confused. A bird?
No… it wasn't an ordinary bird. Its feathers shimmered with an unnatural sheen, eyes glowing faintly like embers.
It tilted its head at him once—then tapped the glass again.
Rias simply raised her hand.
The woman beside her—Akeno—moved gracefully toward the window. With practiced ease, she opened it, and the bird fluttered in, landing gently on her palm.
Then—poof.
The bird vanished in a small cloud of soft, glowing mist.
In its place, a letter.
Kazuma stared, wide-eyed.
He'd seen supernatural things before, yes… but even this made him swallow hard.
A familiar, he realized. A messenger.
Akeno handed the letter to Rias without a word.
The room was silent again.
Rias broke the seal and unfolded the paper. Her crimson eyes scanned the contents, unreadable. For a long moment, she said nothing.
Then, calmly—too calmly—she set the letter on the table.
She looked up.
Her eyes locked onto Kazuma.
And they were cold.
Then the pressure bore down on him—harder this time. It was no longer just spiritual energy. It was judgment.
"Your plan," she began slowly, "was good..."
Crash!
_____________________________________________________________________
In the Student Council's room....
She really is a devil, he thought as her finger gently touched his lower lip.
Then, like a snap, he pulled himself back together. "And if I refuse?"
Sona pulled away, still smiling—but now cooler, sharper.
"Then nothing happens. We won't force you," she said plainly. "But we will require you to form a contract—one that ensures you'll never speak of this to anyone."
Eishi's brow furrowed.
"You won't be harmed," she added. "But… you'll be unprotected. You've already begun leaking magical energy. That makes you a target."
He stiffened. "A target… from what? And why?"
Sona's voice dropped, grave and steady. "Many things."
She held his gaze, her expression no longer composed but serious.
"Fallen Angels. Stray Devils. Even Stray Priests."
Eishi's eyes widened. "Stray… priests?"
Tsubaki spoke calmly beside her. "Those who've lost their way. Fanatics. Cast out by their own faith, yet still wielding power… and hatred."
Sona continued, "If you truly possess a Sacred Gear, Eishi, then some would seek to take it—by force."
He swallowed hard.
"And if you're not fully human," she added, her tone even heavier, "say… half-devil or something else entirely—then to some factions, especially certain Fallen Angels, that alone is enough reason to hunt you."
Eishi felt a chill run through him.
"So whether I wanted to or not…"
"…You're already part of this world," Sona finished for him. "And it will come for you. One way or another."
Eishi blinked. "I see…" He paused. "Stray priests? But I thought—"
Sona interrupted gently, her voice quiet but unwavering. "Angels, Devils, Humans… good and evil aren't defined by race. They're defined by choices. By the being itself."
Her gaze was steady—too steady.
"There are priests who've lost their way and become monsters. Angels who've fallen from grace. Devils who, despite what you may think, follow their own sense of honor."
She let the silence linger, her eyes never leaving his.
Then, softly but clearly, she spoke:
"So… what's your choice? Will you join me and become my pawn… or walk away?" She extended her hand toward him—an invitation and a challenge wrapped into one.
Eishi hesitated.
His mind raced with everything he had just heard. Devils. Angels. Sacred Gears. This wasn't just about a scholarship anymore—it was a life-altering decision.