Chapter 3: The King, The Bishop, and The Pervert
Kuoh Academy was exactly as Lucian remembered from the screen: sunset-colored walls, overly-manicured greenery, and an atmosphere that felt suspiciously like a rom-com waiting to happen.
"Where exactly am I staying?" Lucian asked as they crossed the gates. "I didn't see a moving truck at the Gremory villa."
Rias didn't stop walking. Her crimson hair swayed with a rhythm that screamed authority. "You're staying in the club room, Lucian. The Old School Building has more than enough space for a distant relative to make himself comfortable."
Lucian stopped dead. "The club room? As in, the dusty building with the creaky floors? Rias, are you serious?"
"I am remarkably serious," she replied, finally looking back at him. A small, dangerous smile played on her lips. "Just so you know, the transition was a headache for my father. For that, I've decided I dislike you for at least the first week."
"The feeling is mutual, my Queen," Lucian muttered, though his eyes drifted. Great. I'm a noble devil and I'm essentially a squatter.
Rias stepped closer, her hand reaching up to pinch his cheek with surprising force. "Don't you dare say you hate your King, Lucian. In this world, I am your master. If you forget that, your punishment will be... creative. Family status won't save you from a brutal training session."
"You're very cruel, Rias," Lucian hissed, rubbing his face as she let go.
"I am a Gremory," she shrugged, turning back to the path. "Cruelty is just a matter of perspective. Now, move. You're in my class."
"Wait, second year?" Lucian caught up. "I'm fourteen! Shouldn't I be a first-year with the—" He caught himself before saying Issei. "With the other kids?"
"You're a High-Class Devil's collateral. Your mental capacity is supposedly higher than a human teenager's," Rias said flatly. "Besides, I want you where I can see you. No more talking. As your King commands."
Lucian sighed, falling into step. "As the King commands."
The Transfer Student
The introduction was a blur of whispers. When Lucian walked into the second-year classroom behind Rias, the air seemed to leave the room.
"Everyone, this is Lucian Gremory," the teacher announced, sounding a bit overwhelmed by the sudden influx of red hair. "He is a transfer student and a distant relative of Miss Gremory."
Lucian offered a polite, practiced bow. "I hope we can all get along."
He took his seat near the back. To his right, Akeno Himejima was already watching him, her violet eyes twinkling with an amusement that made his skin crawl. To his left, the rest of the class was already descending into a frenzy of gossip.
During the break, the inevitable happened. A swarm of girls surrounded Lucian's desk like a colorful, perfumed tidal wave.
"Lucian-kun! Are you really related to Rias-sama?"
"Are you free this Saturday? There's a new cafe in the shopping district!"
"Your eyes are so intense! Is that a family trait?"
Lucian glanced toward the front of the room. Rias didn't look back, but she subtly tapped her watch. The workload dump, Lucian realized. She had warned him that the Gremory name came with a price: social shielding.
"I'd love to," Lucian said, flashing a smile that was just charming enough to be a weapon. "But my cousin is quite the taskmaster. She's already delegated a mountain of club work to me for the weekend. How about we check in next week? I'd hate to give any of you less than my full attention."
It was a masterclass in "the soft rejection." The girls didn't look hurt; they looked determined to wait.
Rias nodded almost imperceptibly from her desk.
"My, my," a voice purred in his ear.
Lucian jumped slightly. Akeno had materialized beside him, her hands clasped behind her back. "You're quite the little charmer, aren't you? Is this the 'little one' we're supposed to play with, Rias?"
Rias stood up, joining them. "Be respectful, Akeno. He is still a Gremory, even if he is a nuisance. My brother sent him here to... broaden his horizons."
Akeno leaned in closer to Lucian, her scent of fallen lilies filling his senses. "He looks so much like Sirzechs-sama. It's almost uncanny. I wonder if he's just as fun to break?"
Lucian felt a cold sweat on his neck. Akeno Himejima. Definitely more dangerous in person. She doesn't just tease; she hunts.
"I'm much harder to break than I look," Lucian said, trying to regain his footing.
"Oh? I look forward to testing that theory," Akeno giggled, her hand lingering on his shoulder for a second too long before she walked out with Rias.
The Peerage Meeting
Evening fell, casting long, orange shadows over the Old School Building. Lucian stood in the center of the lavishly decorated Occult Research Club room.
"Everyone, meet our new Bishop," Rias announced.
Yuuto Kiba stepped forward first, offering a polite hand. "Welcome, Lucian. It'll be good to have another male perspective around here. Things get a bit... intense."
"I can imagine," Lucian shook his hand.
Koneko Toujou sat on the sofa, munching on a chocolate bar. She looked up at him with her usual deadpan expression. "Another pervert?"
"I prefer 'enthusiast'," Lucian joked. Koneko just blinked and went back to her snack.
"So, where is he staying again?" Kiba asked, looking at Rias.
"The club room," Rias said, pouring herself a tea.
Kiba winced. "President... isn't that a bit cruel? The plumbing in the east wing is... temperamental."
"Does this room look small to you, Kiba?" Rias asked, her voice dangerously calm.
"No, no! It's very spacious! Majestic, even!" Kiba retreated instantly.
Lucian patted Kiba's shoulder. "Don't bother, Yuuto. I tried. She's in a mood."
Rias ignored the comment, setting her cup down with a sharp clack. The atmosphere shifted instantly to business.
"Fallen Angel activity has been spiking in this sector," she said, her eyes turning sharp. "There's a particular student in the first-year class we need to watch. Issei Hyoudou."
Lucian felt a jolt of recognition. And there it is. The protagonist enters the stage.
"Keep an eye on him," Rias continued. "Don't make a move yet. I want to see if the rumors about his potential are true. Lucian, Kiba—you're on night patrol tonight."
"Night patrol?" Lucian groaned. "I haven't even unpacked my sleeping bag!"
"You can unpack after you ensure our territory is secure," Rias said. "Unless you'd like to stay behind for a private 'discipline' session with me?"
Lucian grabbed his jacket immediately. "Night patrol sounds lovely. Let's go, Kiba."
Shadows of Kuoh
The night air was crisp as Lucian and Kiba walked the perimeter of the school. Kiba moved with the grace of a practiced warrior, while Lucian was still adjusting to the weight of his own mana.
"You're taking this well," Kiba noted. "Most branch members would be offended to be put on guard duty."
"I'm not 'most members'," Lucian replied. He looked up at the moon, his red eyes catching the light. Issei is out there. Somewhere. And so is Raynare.
The "canon" was about to kick off. He could feel it in the air—a shift in the magical pressure of the city. He wasn't Issei. He wasn't the guy with the dragon in his hand. He was just a Bishop with thirty seconds of destruction and a set of eyes that could copy the world.
Suddenly, Lucian stopped. His eyes flared a brilliant, glowing red.
"Did you feel that?" he whispered.
Kiba's hand went to the hilt of his sword. "A spike in light-element mana. Over by the park."
Lucian stared into the distance. He felt a faint, lingering gaze on the back of his neck—not from a friend, and not from a common Fallen.
"Something's starting," Lucian muttered to himself, a thrill of genuine nerves hitting his stomach. "And I don't think thirty seconds is going to be enough."