---
The ceiling was the same. So were the sheets. Even the familiar scent of wood and faint traces of tea lingered in the air, just like always.
But something… was different.
I felt alive. No pain. No burning in my muscles, no fragile bones screaming with every breath. Just a comforting weight over my body, like I'd finally slept after days lost to war.
Funny, isn't it? Wanting peace so desperately, only to feel like a soldier who doesn't quite know what to do with it.
Is this what a veteran feels like? Hell of a feeling.
"Issei-san?" That soft, angelic voice chimed like a blessed bell in the quiet.
I turned my head—and there she was. Sitting in a chair next to the bed, her blonde hair tied gently to the side, and a smile that for once didn't feel forced. Asia.
I… don't even know how I pulled it off. Raynare was stronger this time—too strong. I nearly died fighting her.
If it hadn't been for Ddraig, I would've been a stain on the ground.
Still, I guess interacting with Asia more honestly... maybe that struck a chord. And now that Ddraig's aura is seeping into me, things are bound to shift.
It's weird how the Red Dragon's presence carries this overwhelming sense of domination. Unlike Albion's cold, distant restraint, Ddraig practically radiates something primal. Especially effective on women, it seems.
Not that I'm complaining.
I'd like to fulfill Issei's dream. Call it repayment for lending me the Boosted Gear.
|•You don't have to.•|
I'm doing it anyway.
I sighed internally, eyes settling on Asia's face.
I need to stop forcing my magic. Using Brain Overdrive now could be dangerous in my condition.
"Good morning," I murmured, my voice a little rough. "Been there long?"
"Not too long…" she replied, gaze dipping shyly. "Rias-senpai asked me to watch over you. But… I also wanted to see you wake up with my own eyes."
I sat up slowly. No pain. Just a dull ache in the arms—probably the aftermath of overusing my Sacred Gears. The Boosted Gear was dormant on my left, the Twice Critical fully retracted on my right. The storm had calmed.
Strange… I can feel the Boosted Gear now.
|•Courtesy of yours truly~•|
That's good. Though, knowing Ddraig, there's definitely a price.
Of course.
"How about you?" I asked, focusing on her instead of myself.
Asia nodded firmly.
"I'm okay. Thanks to you. And… you gave this back to me." She raised her hand, where a small, soft green cross shimmered faintly—Twilight Healing had returned to her.
I smiled. She was alive. Whole.
|•Hurrah~!•|
I miss when you weren't audible.
Asia's voice broke through my haze.
"Buchou said that when you're feeling better, you should come down for breakfast. Everyone's waiting. Akeno-san made something special."
I chuckled softly. A special breakfast from Akeno? That could mean anything.
I moved to stand, wobbling slightly—Asia was immediately at my side, steadying me with her hand. Her touch was warm, almost like she was still channeling healing energy without realizing it.
|•Ohhh! Her oppai are touching our arm! What a glorious day!•|
…Honestly? I'm with you on this one.
"Let's go," I said. "Can't keep them waiting. Not after everything."
We stepped into the hall, the morning sun filtering through the windows—and for the first time in a while, the shadows felt like they'd lifted.
At least, for now.
The Gremory mansion hallway was still, peaceful. But something hung in the air—a subtle shift. Like everyone knew things had changed… but didn't know how to say it.
Asia walked close, clinging to my arm like she didn't trust me to stand on my own. Her Sacred Gear emitted a faint, soothing glow. I could feel it easing the last of my injuries.
Apparently, I'd been wrecked when I passed out. Go figure.
"Nervous?" she whispered.
"A little," I admitted. "Feels like the protagonist showing up late to Act Three."
|•That's because you are. Technically, I was the protagonist, but...•|
Right. Because your ego is what matters now.
|•It's not ego. It's narrative justice!•|
I had to fight back a grin as we descended the stairs. The warm scent of bread and coffee drifted through the air.
Akeno must've been cooking already. That woman is an enigma—sadistic, but domestic. I guess demons can be full of surprises.
The common room door creaked open—and there she was.
Rias.
Her crimson hair caught the sunlight, shining like fire, her poise elegant as always. Yet beneath it, a strength pulsed in her aura, quiet but commanding.
"Issei," she said, voice calm and clear. "It's good to see you up. And walking. That's more than most could manage after what you went through."
I hesitated. Should I joke? Thank her?
I nodded instead. She understood.
"Asia was key to your recovery," she continued, glancing toward her. "Her power, along with my own, stabilized you."
…Wait. Did she heal me while naked?
|•A shame I was asleep too. I missed the show.•|
You think I wanted to miss that?
"Issei-san protected me first," Asia said quietly. "I only did what I felt was right."
Rias smiled gently. "You did far more than that."
|•She's impressed. Maybe we're finally earning points with the Prez?•|
It's not a dating sim, Issei.
|•Sure it is. Just with more fanservice and way higher stakes.•|
Rias turned.
"Breakfast is ready. Come when you're able."
We followed her toward the dining room, and something inside me finally settled. No threats. No chaos.
Just the smell of food, the hum of morning…
And a fleeting taste of normalcy.
For now, that was enough.
---
The afternoon was slowly falling, bathing the Gremory mansion in a warm orange glow as sunlight filtered through the tall trees and stained-glass windows.
Everything felt suspended, caught in a stillness so pure it seemed almost unreal—like the world itself had decided to take a breath after the chaos.
I sat in the back garden, settled on a stone bench with an open book resting on my lap.
I wasn't really reading. Just pretending. My eyes skimmed the words, but my mind was too busy unpacking everything that had happened.
The fight. The pain. Asia. Raynare… and that maddening mixture of emptiness and power still simmering beneath my skin.
|•You could take this chance to actually read, you know? You'll need general knowledge if you're going to keep pretending to be me•|
I was waiting for you to say something. I'm just surprised it wasn't about breasts this time.
|•I'm maturing. Also, I saw plenty this morning.•|
A soft laugh escaped me—low, dry—just as I heard footsteps behind me. Not Asia. These were different.
Confident. Graceful. Certain.
Rias.
She wasn't wearing her uniform or one of her commanding formal outfits. Instead, a simple white blouse and a checkered skirt clung softly to her frame. Casual. Human. And… close.
"Of all the places you could be," she said as she approached, a gentle smile on her lips, "you chose the garden."
"If I get the chance to sit under the sky without something trying to kill me, I'll take it," I replied, snapping the book shut and letting it rest against my thigh.
She sat beside me in silence. There was no pressure, no tension. Just her presence—quiet, grounded—as if this brief moment of stillness was her well-earned reprieve too.
"Can I ask you something?" she said finally.
"As long as it's not a surprise test, go ahead."
That earned a soft laugh from her, light and musical. Then her gaze met mine—not accusing, but searching. Concerned.
"Why do you act like all of this is normal to you?" she asked. "Being a devil. Having the Twice Critical. What you did with Asia… with Raynare. You don't seem like someone who's only just stepped into this world."
The silence between us thickened. I could almost feel the original Issei holding his breath somewhere in the back of my head.
I took a moment, choosing my words carefully.
"It's not normal. Not even close," I admitted. "But sometimes you don't get time to process. You either adapt—or you break. I chose to adapt."
"Was it for Asia?"
"For her. For all of you. And... for myself," I said truthfully.
Rias lowered her gaze, as if weighing something unspoken.
"What you did… That wasn't something a rookie could pull off. Not even seasoned devils could've handled it like you did. You're… different."
"Or just really lucky," I said with a shrug.
"It wasn't luck," she replied. "It was conviction."
We let that sit between us, the rustle of leaves stirred by the wind filling the space where words didn't need to go. She didn't push, didn't demand. Her eyes searched, but not to pry—only to understand.
"I'm glad you're with us, Issei," she said at last, softly.
I looked at her. And for the first time, I didn't feel the need to wear any kind of mask. I just nodded, letting myself rest in the peace of that moment.
For now, that was enough.
---
The morning sunlight poured into the classroom like liquid gold, warm and persistent, catching on the windows and casting long, lazy beams across the desks. The air buzzed with low chatter—restless and anticipatory.
There was a certain kind of tension. Not the kind that came before a fight, but the kind that came before something new.
A transfer student.
Asia Argento.
"Yo, Issei!" Matsuda lobbed a packaged bun at me from across the room. "Is it true the new girl lives with you!?"
"What's that got to do with anything?" I caught the bun without even looking up.
"Everything!" Motohama practically materialized beside me, eyes shining behind his glasses like some twisted pervert prophet. "They say she's foreign, super polite, cute, and—get this—she calls you 'Ise-san'. That's respectful and adorable!"
|•Oh, great. Here we go. Was I always this popular for all the wrong reasons?•|
No. This is new.
I sighed, not exactly in the mood to explain things.
Asia was living at my place now—Rias' decision, technically—but breaking that down meant giving up way more details than I was allowed to. Especially to these two morons.
"They're about to start again," I muttered, leaning my head back.
"Good morning!" came a soft, clear voice from the door.
Asia entered the room with gentle steps, bowing slightly with a shy smile that disarmed half the class on the spot. Myself included.
And just like that—silence.
Like someone had hit the pause button on reality. Even the teacher trailing behind her hesitated, as if struck speechless by the sheer serenity she carried with her.
Dressed perfectly in the Kuoh Academy uniform, her golden hair shimmered under the morning light. Her emerald eyes swept across the classroom with pure, unfiltered curiosity.
"You… You all saw that, right?" whispered Motohama, adjusting his glasses like they had thermal vision. "An angel… an actual angel descended into our mortal plane."
"How the hell does he live with someone like that!?" Matsuda groaned, as if the universe had personally betrayed him. "Where's the justice in this world!?"
|•I keep asking myself the same thing. Maybe we actually did something right for once.•|
Fought a fallen angel to the death. That count?
|•Yup.•|
Then yeah. We earned this.
"Maybe in another dimension," muttered Kiryuu, appearing beside me with that signature sly grin of hers. "But honestly, I'm not shocked. The girl practically radiates 'sweet cinnamon roll'. And for some reason, cinnamon rolls are always drawn to functional idiots."
"Thanks for the compliment," I grunted.
Asia finally noticed me and beamed brighter than the morning sun. She walked over, soft and composed, and stopped in front of my desk.
"Good morning, Ise-san," she said, her voice as soft as a breeze, bowing politely.
"Morning, Asia. Did you sleep okay?"
I didn't have to look to know Matsuda and Motohama were whispering about the fact that I dropped the honorific when speaking to her.
"Yes. Although I got lost once and ended up on the third floor… in the boys' bathroom," she said, blushing. "But Koneko-san found me and helped me."
"…What were you doing on the third floor?" Kiryuu asked, raising a brow.
"U-uhm… I just took a wrong turn…"
"Oh my God, she's precious. I could eat her up!" Kiryuu declared, grabbing Asia gently by the shoulders. "Issei, if you don't take care of her properly, I'm stealing her and making her my personal assistant."
"No, thanks," I said with a deadpan stare.
Asia blinked, a little confused, but offered a gentle smile anyway.
"Assistant?"
"Queen of gossip," Kiryuu winked. "But we'll talk more at lunch. Hey, do you like curry?"
"I-I love it," Asia replied, still a bit overwhelmed by Kiryuu's energy.
When the teacher formally introduced her to the class, Asia bowed again with that same grace, instantly earning the admiration of everyone in the room.
She was seated two rows behind me, and within seconds, a small group of girls had gathered around her, chatting excitedly.
And what I saw… surprised me.
Asia fit in.
Not completely—there was still a quiet awkwardness—but she was trying. She smiled shyly, listened intently, and answered with such gentle honesty that it made the entire room soften around her.
It was like the class lowered its collective volume just to make space for her.
"I can't believe this…" Matsuda whispered in a mix of awe and despair. "Asia-chan's too pure for this cruel world."
"And she lives with Issei," Motohama added, as if that fact was the final, crushing blow to his will to live.
"Please. Just end your lives already."
I shot them a mildly annoyed glance.
Though… I didn't hate talking to these guys.
Kiryuu leaned across my desk with a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Alright, spill it. What did you actually do to win the cosmic lottery? Aside from being a walking contradiction."
"I've got no clue," I said honestly for once. "I'm just… trying not to screw it up."
|•Wow. That was shockingly mature. I barely recognized that voice coming out of your mouth… which is weird, since it's also mine.•|
Fair. But hey, can't hurt to let people think better of me.
"Mmm… maturity. Scary. You sick or something?"
I didn't answer. Just smiled a little, watching Asia as she laughed—softly, modestly, bringing a hand to her mouth like she still wasn't used to showing joy in public.
|•Look at her… so far from the hell she came from. I'm glad she's smiling. Like none of it ever happened.•|
Yeah… makes me happy to see her living her dream.
And for a moment, I forgot everything else. The Twice Critical. Ddraig. Raynare. The danger lurking in the shadows.
Because Asia was okay. She was happy.
And that—right now—was enough.
|•Remember this. Etch it in. Because you know what comes next.•|
Yeah.
Peace never lasts long in my life.
Especially with this guy in my head.
|•Love you too, Other Me~!•|
---
The atmosphere in the Occult Research Club was... too quiet. The kind of silence that wasn't born of peace, but of anticipation.
Akeno moved with graceful precision, preparing tea like it was a sacred ritual, her gentle smile hiding untold thoughts.
Koneko munched quietly on her cookies, nestled into her usual corner, observing with those sharp cat-like eyes that rarely missed a thing.
Kiba flipped through a book, more to pass the time than out of any real interest.
And Rias…
Rias stood by the window, her eyes fixed on the sky like it held answers she couldn't quite reach. There was a tension in her stance—one I was starting to recognize too well.
I sat on the couch, oddly restless. Not from discomfort, but from something else… something primal. Like a sixth sense screaming that something was coming.
|• You know who's about to walk in, right? •|
Yeah. And I can already feel my blood starting to boil.
|• Get ready for the walking ego. •|
As if on cue, a magic circle ignited on the floor—its flames rising with dramatic flair.
A tall man stepped through, exuding the kind of smug arrogance that could choke a room.
"Rias Gremory," he said, his voice deep and overconfident. "At last, we meet again."
Rias turned slowly. Her face remained unreadable—no surprise, no warmth. Just quiet, seething displeasure.
"Raiser."
He smiled. The man was striking, tall, with fire-blond hair that flickered like an eternal flame. His sharp features were only outdone by the unbearable smugness in his golden eyes.
He walked like he owned the floor, the building—hell, the entire dimension.
"I'm your fiancé, Rias! You could at least pretend to be happy to see me." He opened his arms as if announcing a royal decree. "In fact, I bring wonderful news: the engagement has been moved up!"
|• Confirmed. Grade-A douchebag detected. •|
I don't want to kill him.
I want to bury him alive… then heal him… and start over.
"That's news to me," Rias said, arms crossed, her voice like ice wrapped in velvet.
"My mother will send the formal notice soon," he replied, that smirk never leaving his face. "You know how these things go—politics, tradition, noble obligations. It's best not to fight it."
Kiba rose quietly, positioning himself just a step behind Rias.
Akeno set down her tea tray with the softest clink.
Koneko stopped chewing.
Everyone… was preparing.
And me?
I just wanted to punch him in the face.
|• Not yet. You need the duel. Freeing her has to be your win. •|
I know. Doesn't mean I don't want to rearrange his smile.
"You have a curious way of introducing yourself," I said, my voice calm but low.
Raiser turned his eyes to me like I was a background prop that just spoke.
"And you must be the rescued pawn. The new pet." He eyed me like I was barely worth his attention. "I've heard rumors. But don't get excited, boy. This is a family matter."
"Right. Except this 'family matter' just barged into our clubroom uninvited."
|• Well said. Should've spit in his face while you were at it. •|
Not on Akeno's carpet. I have some standards.
Rias lifted her hand, and I stopped. Her eyes said everything: This is mine.
"Raiser, I'll say this once," she said, voice steady and clear. "I never accepted that engagement. It was forced. If you think I'll just sit back and allow it… you're mistaken."
He gave her a pitying smile. Like he was humoring a child.
"You'll understand soon enough, Rias. The date is set. I hope you're ready... to surrender."
Silence fell like a curtain.
Then Akeno exhaled, her voice laced with sweet sarcasm.
"Well… that was unnecessarily Phenex."
Rias didn't reply. Her clenched fist spoke louder—knuckles pale, her rage contained only by sheer will.
"So that's the next obstacle," I murmured.
|• And the first real decision. If you're going to free her… you'll need to stand as a King, not a pawn. •|
Then let him prepare. Because I won't let anyone dictate her future. Not even fate itself.
I stood, eyes locked on the door he'd just exited.
The political game was over.
Now came the personal war.
A flash of silver light lit the room—and a woman appeared.
"Grayfia-sama," Akeno said softly, bowing her head.
The Queen of the Underworld stood tall and composed, her silver gaze sweeping the room—lingering on Rias… then on me.
Her face betrayed nothing. No emotion. No judgment. Unless you really knew her.
"So it's just as we thought," I said, stepping forward uninvited. "He wants the deal sealed before anyone can stop it."
Grayfia nodded.
"The House of Phenex has pressured the Council. The political weight behind this is significant."
Rias looked down, frustration flickering in her expression.
I stepped forward.
"Then I need to know, Grayfia-sama. Is there a legal way out?"
She studied me. Not dismissively… but with quiet calculation, as if weighing whether the truth was something I could handle.
"There is one path nobles recognize: a Rating Game. Should Rias defeat Raiser in combat, the engagement can be nullified."
"And if she loses?" Kiba asked, voice solemn.
"Then she forfeits the right to choose her future."
The room grew heavier. The air itself seemed to resist breathing.
|• There it is. The line in the sand. •|
And I'm going to burn it away.
"We accept the challenge," I said before Rias could speak.
She turned to me—eyes wide—but didn't object. She couldn't.
Her eyes held the same flame I'd seen in the mirror before—pride, wounded and burning.
"Hmph. How predictable." Raiser's voice echoed again from the doorway—he had never really left. "You want a game? Very well. You have ten days."
He smirked like he already had the trophy in hand.
"Oi, Penex" I shot back "Make it a month"
"What?" His arrogance cracked, especially at the way I called him "Penex."
I stepped closer, hands in my pockets.
"If you're going to fight us, make it fair. Ten days is what you give when you expect to win. A month… shows you're not afraid."
His eyes narrowed.
"Are you challenging me, insect?"
"No." I smiled. "I'm giving you the chance to prove you're not a coward."
|• Masterclass provocation. I'm proud. •|
Learned from the best~
Raiser scoffed—then laughed.
"Very well. One month. Don't say I didn't give you time to say goodbye to your dreams."
He vanished in a burst of fire.
Rias looked at me.
"That was reckless."
"Yeah," I admitted. "But we needed it. Not just the time… the fire."
She sighed… and let out the faintest smile.
"Thank you, Issei."
"Don't thank me yet. I still need to kick his ass."
Grayfia stepped forward, her voice quieter.
"Be careful. Raiser doesn't underestimate because he's ignorant. He does it because he's used to winning. That makes him even more dangerous."
We all nodded.
Because now, officially…
The war had begun.