[300 PS = 1 Chapter Bonus]
*
The moment Sona Sitri mentioned the Occult Research Club, a system window popped up in front of me.
[Ding! The system proposes the mission "New Partners!"]
1 – Agree to work with the Occult Research Club. (Reward: 1 Fusion Point)
2 – Insist on working alone. (Reward: 5 Fusion Points)
3 – Say you're not available for contracts today and go try again in the Underworld. (Reward: 10 Fusion Points)
Reject working with the Occult Research Club in exchange for 10 Fusion Points? I would never do such a thing. That amount of points would have to be at least 100 times greater for me to reject an opportunity like this.
I scratched my ear with my pinky finger. "Excuse me, could you repeat what you said? Occult Research Club today? What do they have to do with us?"
Obviously, I had to pretend I didn't know anything about the Occult Research Club.
Tsubaki, who was standing behind Sona on the right, leaned forward slightly and whispered something in the president's ear.
Sona widened her eyes and took a deep breath. "It seems I forgot to tell you something important. The Occult Research Club is... let's say, a different kind of devil group than ours here at Kuoh Academy. They're led by Rias Gremory."
"Rias Gremory?" I asked, trying to sound surprised. "You mean... the girl in my class? The redhead who looks like a model?"
"A model?" Sona rolled her eyes at me and quickly turned her chin away, looking disappointed.
"She's the heir to the Gremory Clan, one of the most prominent families among demons. The Occult Research Club is her base of operations."
I crossed my arms. "So, she's also... a demon? How did that escape my notice?"
Sona gave a small smile, as if she found my reaction naive. "Many mysteries go unnoticed even by the wisest of eyes. But for someone like you, who is also part of the supernatural world, I figured you would have noticed."
I shrugged. "Maybe I should have suspected something, but it wasn't on my radar. Still, that explains why she's... so beautiful. Just like you two."
Tsubaki and Sona's eyebrows rose simultaneously as their cheeks flushed slightly.
"Well, now that you know, you'll have a chance to get to know them better. Today, you'll be working with them to deal with a Rebel Devil who's been causing trouble around Kuoh."
I stood up, putting my hands in my pockets and flashing a relaxed smile at Sona.
"Understood. I'll go check out this 'Occult Research Club' and the Gremory heiress after class. Don't worry, I'll make a good impression."
[Ding! The Master chose option 1! Reward: 1 Fusion Point]
"I hope so," she said with her usual calmness before turning her attention back to the papers on the table.
I left the room, pretending to be casual. Fortunately, I had already gained the trust of Sona and Tsubaki to such an extent that they were both confiding in me an important secret like Rias's true identity.
It was no wonder. They had probably dissected all the official documents about me, so they dismissed the idea that I could cause any harm.
Even before absorbing the memories of another life, I, Akihiro Nishihara, had already heard of the Occult Research Club. Contrary to what one might imagine, they weren't seen as weirdos, not least because having the two most beautiful girls on campus, Rias and Akeno, as members made that impossible.
Despite this, it was common knowledge that the Occult Research Club was a type of club accessible only by invitation from a member.
And for most students, it was pretty obvious from the name that this was just another club to have some free space within Kuoh Academy and that the club didn't actually have any well-defined activities.
*
When the bell rang for the last class, I put my things away and was about to tell Akeno and Rias to wait for me. However, they left the classroom in a hurry.
Even so, I headed for the Occult Research Club building, which was at the back of the campus. The structure was... strange. It looked like an old house, the kind that would be used as a setting for a horror movie. Even the air around it seemed different, with more trees and shadows.
I stopped in front of the wooden door and stared at it. There was no sign indicating that I was in the right place, and the sinister aura didn't help to confirm it.
'I must be in the right place,' I thought.
So, I knocked twice, but no answer came. I waited for a few moments, looking around and wondering if I had arrived earlier than I should have. I held the doorknob for a moment, wondering if I should go in. After all, technically, I had been invited.
Not being one to hesitate much, I opened the door. The creak of the door greeted me with a faint echo.
"Hello? Is anyone here?"
The hall was surprisingly organized, with antique furniture and a fireplace that looked like it hadn't been used in a long time.
The windows were covered with heavy red curtains that blocked out almost all the outside light.
Since there were a couple of sofas, I sat there for a few minutes. However, after a long ten minutes of waiting, no one came to greet me.
"Okay, if no one wants to show up, I'll take the liberty of exploring," I said to myself.
I started walking through the building, passing through silent corridors and closed doors. The place seemed bigger on the inside than on the outside. I kept calling out:
"Rias-san? Akeno-san? Anyone?"
No answer came.
After walking around for a while, I came across a pair of large, well-maintained double doors. They looked important. Maybe it was Rias's office.
To check before going in, I knocked twice.
"Anyone there?"
More silence.
After a few seconds, I decided it was best to open the door. I couldn't wait all day. I pushed the door open, and a voice greeted me.
"Kiba-san, is that you making all that noise? Give me two more minutes and I'll be ready—" Rias said, but the rest of her sentence hung in the air when she realized it wasn't Yuuto Kiba knocking on her door.
She was standing in the doorway, steam rising from her body. Her red hair was partially covered by a white towel wrapped around her head, and the rest of her body was completely exposed and naked, with drops of water running down her skin.
She froze, her eyes meeting mine.
"Phew! What a welcome!" I let my first thought escape out loud.
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