Rias could tell—it was going to be very difficult to earn a place in Ryuya's heart.
He was the type who seemed easy to get along with on the surface, but whose inner world was locked tight, hard for anyone to truly reach.
But so what?
Personality could be changed—slowly, bit by bit.
And Rias Gremory had more than enough confidence to make that happen.
The paperwork for Ryuya's club application went through effortlessly.
With just a few words from Rias, everything was handled almost instantly—it seemed she had connections in the student council.
And so, Ryuya officially joined Rias's club—the Occult Research Club, of which she herself was the president.
When they arrived at the clubroom, two others were already waiting inside.
One was Akeno Himejima, the second most beautiful girl in Kuoh Academy and another mature "onee-san" type whose popularity rivaled Rias's own.
The other was someone Ryuya recognized immediately—
Koneko Toujou, a petite silver-haired girl from his class.
Unlike the elegant Rias and graceful Akeno, Koneko had a completely different kind of charm.
She was small and doll-like, her hair a snowy silver and her golden eyes giving her an almost otherworldly cuteness.
But her face was blank, emotionless, and she sat so still that she looked like a porcelain doll—beautiful, yet eerily quiet.
When Rias entered with Ryuya, both Akeno and Koneko looked over, greeting him with polite nods.
"Ryuya, I'm sure you already know these two," Rias said as she clapped her hands lightly and sat down on the sofa with elegant grace.
"I do. We're classmates," Ryuya replied.
Rias smiled. "That's right. I arranged for everyone to be transferred into the same class so it'll be easier for us to act together. From now on, they're your comrades."
"My, my~ I look forward to working with you," Akeno said sweetly, her voice carrying that signature teasing lilt. Her soft smile was radiant, and her tall figure paired with her high ponytail made her every bit the ideal mature beauty.
Koneko also spoke up politely, though her tone was flat and calm, showing almost no emotion at all—clearly the type who didn't waste words.
"Koneko is my Rook," Rias explained, "specializing in close-quarters combat. As for Akeno—she's my one and only Queen. The two of you will be fighting side by side in the future, so make sure to get along."
"I see." Ryuya nodded, then asked curiously, "And me? What's my position, President?"
Rias's lips curved into a small smile as she recalled the chaos of his reincarnation ritual.
"Ryuya, you're the most unusual devil servant I've ever had. At first, I used a Knight piece on you—but it wasn't enough. In the end, I had to use two Knights and all eight of my Pawns just to complete your reincarnation."
Akeno let out a playful giggle.
"In other words, compared to other Kings, Rias now has nine fewer servants. The pressure on your shoulders, Ryuya, is enormous~ You'd better not let her down~"
Ryuya was left speechless.
Killed by a Fallen Angel, resurrected by a Devil, and now expected to fight as his new master's servant?
And from the sound of it, he might have to take on ten opponents at once someday.
Yeah… that sounded great.
Absolutely not miserable at all.
But really—what could he do about it now?
With a quiet sigh, Ryuya spoke softly, "So… can you finally tell me what the deal is with Devils, Fallen Angels, and Angels?"
"Of course," Rias said with a gentle smile, her tone turning calm and deliberate.
And so, she began to explain—slowly and clearly—the hidden world that existed behind human society.
"Devils, Fallen Angels, Angels, Dragons, Yokai, and Humans all coexist in this world," Rias began, her tone calm and measured. "Most Angels reside in Heaven, while Devils live in the Underworld."
That… actually sounded very similar to Western mythology.
Ryuya couldn't help but wonder—had he crossed into some world that was somehow connected to the myths of his previous life?
"As the name suggests," Rias continued, "Fallen Angels were once Angels themselves. But after being consumed by impure thoughts and forbidden desires, they fell into the Underworld. Since ancient times, the Fallen Angels have manipulated humanity, seeking to destroy Devils. The Angels of Heaven have done the same, and because of that, countless wars were waged among the three factions."
She looked toward Ryuya. "So far, you're following along, right?"
Ryuya nodded slowly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"So, once again, Angels and Fallen Angels end up being the villains of the story, huh?"
He said it in that dry, almost detached tone of his, but there was bitterness behind it.
If Angels and Fallen Angels were so dangerous, who the hell decided to paint them as paragons of virtue in human history?
Being stabbed by one had definitely left him with some lingering resentment…
Rias chuckled softly, her eyes glancing toward Akeno, who sat nearby with her usual serene smile, saying nothing.
"Well, they're not all bad," Rias said with a small, knowing smile before continuing.
"Since those ancient times, the Angels, Fallen Angels, and Devils have fought countless brutal wars. The bloodshed went on for ages, and eventually, all three sides suffered devastating losses. That's what finally led to the peace agreement we have today."
To Ryuya, it all sounded… oddly familiar.
Just like human history—fight and destroy each other until everyone's too tired to keep going, and then finally decide it's time for peace.
Even now, though there were still occasional conflicts among the three factions, the large-scale wars had long since faded into the past.
"As for Dragons and Yokai," Rias added, "they've always had smaller numbers. They've stayed hidden from the world, rarely getting involved in the affairs of Angels, Devils, or humans."
Ryuya finally had a clear grasp of this world's structure—and also why the Fallen Angel had tried to kill him.
So that was it.
They were afraid of what he might become if left alive.
He let out a quiet, humorless laugh.
Funny, he thought. I wasn't even trying to cause trouble—and yet they still came for me. Fine then. If that's how it's gonna be, I'll make sure this grudge doesn't end until one of us is dead.
His thoughts drifted to that silver sword and shield that had appeared from nowhere.
That must have been his Sacred Gear.
"About that Sacred Gear," he asked quickly, "what exactly is it?"
Rias rested her chin on her hand as she explained, "People say Sacred Gears are gifts from God—but that's only partly true. Many are naturally formed, born into the world and choosing their own wielders. Their origins are often… mysterious."
"How do I make mine appear?" Ryuya asked. "I don't want to be caught off guard next time someone tries to kill me."
Rias smiled. "Once you've successfully summoned it, it will respond to your will from then on. It can appear or vanish whenever you desire. You can try summoning it now, if you like."
She shifted slightly, stretching her long legs up onto the sofa in a relaxed, unguarded posture.
Ryuya blinked, then sighed inwardly.
That kind of pose would have made most men lose focus entirely—but honestly, after everything he'd seen that morning, he was pretty much immune.
He'd already experienced "scenes" far more explosive than this.
This was nothing.
There was no point in getting flustered over trivial things.
Right now, there was only one thing on his mind—
Summoning the Sacred Gear.
…
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