The purple flames stretched endlessly below me, a sea of Hellblaze that painted the Infinity Castle in violent violet light. The heat rolled upward in waves, distorting the air and making the wooden platforms shimmer like mirages.
It's been an hour since I was testing the limits of my new abilities and the results were... satisfying.
I placed my arm against the wooden wall, feeling the cool surface against my skin. The contrast between the scorching flames below and the untouched wood was surreal. No matter how hot the Hellblaze burned, the castle remained perfectly intact. Nakime's dimension didn't play by normal rules, fire, gravity, physics... none of it mattered unless I wanted it to.
With a single strum of the biwa, the flames vanished instantly, replaced by new blocks of wooden rooms. The purple glow disappeared, leaving only the muted browns and shadows of the castle's natural lighting. The temperature dropped back to normal, within seconds.
"Alright" I muttered, holding the biwa "Time to bring the Red Dragon Emperor into his new fate"
I focused my energy, reaching out to the location where I had Issei, stay meanwhile. The familiar presence of Issei's signature flared in my awareness.
He was currently sitting in his room, watching something inappropriate. With a sigh, I strummed the Biwa.
BIIIIN!
A door materialized in front of me, and I stepped through, and I was now standing in Issei's bedroom.
He jumped about three feet in the air, spinning around from his desk chair with wide eyes "WHAT THE—KIBA?! How did you—"
"Come on, Issei" I cut him off before he could drown himself into a full panic "Training starts right now"
"Training?" He blinked, confusion replacing the initial shock "Wait, right now? It's almost dinner time—"
"Yes, right now" I gestured to the door that still hovered behind me, showing glimpses of the Infinity Castle's impossible architecture through it's frame "Come on. We don't have much time"
Issei stared at the door, then at me, then back at the door behind me "Is that...?"
"My personal dimension. Now move, before I throw you into it, by myself"
He stood up slowly, still processing "Your personal dimension. Right. Because that's totally normal."
I grabbed his shoulder and pulled him through the door before he could overthink it, anymore.
Even patience has limits.
---
We emerged onto one of the larger platforms I'd created earlier. The space stretched out for hundreds of feet in every direction, wooden floors polished smooth and unbothered.
It was enough to not worry about the collateral damage.
Issei stumbled forward, catching his balance as he took in the surroundings. His jaw dropped "Holy shit. This is..."
"The Infinity Castle" I said, walking past him toward the center of the platform. "A dimension I control completely. Here no one can enter, without my permission. Which means we can cram a week's worth of training without fallen angels, coming for you"
"This is nuts!" He turned in a slow circle, staring at the impossible geometry "How do you even get a power like this?!"
"Well,....It doesn't matter"
"What matters is that you're going to be spending a lot of time here" I stopped and faced him, crossing my arms. "We need to unlock the next form of your Boosted Gear. Remember?"
His expression shifted from awe to confusion, then finally ended with perversion.
I kept my tone calm, hiding my urge to throw him down into one of Infinity Castle pits "She's interested in the Sacred Gear you possess. The Boosted Gear is one of the Thirteen Longinus, and you're its current wielder. And, That makes you interesting to powerful beings like her"
Issei's face went pale, finally putting the missing piece in the puzzle "But I can't even use it properly! I barely know what I should be doing with this thing!"
"Which is why we're training" I uncrossed my arms and took a step closer "The sooner you achieve the next form of your Sacred Gear, the sooner we can meet her, without you making us join for her dinner. You want to meet her, don't you? A big oppai beautiful lady?"
His eyes lit up with new excitement "Hell yeah!"
There it was.
The enthusiasm that made Issei both frustrating and useful. He might be a perverted idiot most of the time, but when it came to protecting people and oppais, he had genuine passion.
I sighed, reaching for Lostvayne at my side "For the next week, you'll be training here"
"A week?!" He sputtered "But what about school? My parents will freak if I just disappear—"
"I am a devil, remember? I will take care of things on the outside" I drew Lostvayne, the blade gleaming in the castle's ambient light.
I channeled my demonic energy into the sword, focusing on the technique I'd used moments ago. The air shimmered, and a perfect copy of myself materialized beside me. Same height, same build, same equipment. The clone looked at Issei with the same neutral expression I wore.
Issei's jaw dropped again "How the hell did you do that?!"
"Pretty cool right? I can creates clones that possess a portion of my full power." I gestured to the clone "He'll be your training partner till the next week. He knows everything I know about combat, and he won't go easy on you, so don't fool around with him like you do with me"
The clone nodded in agreement.
"Wait, wait, wait" Issei held up his hands, anxiously noticing the clone holding Lostvayne as if he will make sure to end Issei's life with one strike "You're just leaving me here with a clone of you? What are you going to do?"
"Handle other business, as usual" I turned toward the door I'd created earlier. "Focus on activating your sacred gear. Push past your limits, and..."
"Don't die"
"DON'T DIE?! That's your advice?!"
I glanced back over my shoulder "You're in hands of a devil now. Good luck, Issei."
I stepped through the door before he could protest further, leaving him alone with the clone. The last thing I heard before the door closed was Issei's panicked "WAIT—" followed by the clone's calm reply.
"Let's begin"
---
( Yuuto's Apartment )
Back in my apartment, I checked the time. Twenty minutes until I needed to prepare the dinner. Enough time to drift away from the day's chaos.
I moved into the kitchen, pulling out ingredients from the fridge. Cooking was one of the few genuinely relaxing activities I had left. No magic, no combat, no political maneuvering. Just a nice smell of grilled fish, ingredients, and technique.
Rice went into the cooker. Vegetables onto the cutting board. I fell into the familiar rhythm of prep work, knife moving in steady with practiced strokes. Carrots, onions, bell peppers, everything cut into perfect pieces.
The knock on my door came just as I finished seasoning the meat.
I paused. I wasn't expecting anyone tonight. Rias was still out with Sona. Akeno, Asia and Koneko would tell him beforehand.
The knock came again, more insistent this time.
I set down the knife and wiped my hands on a towel, moving toward the door. My Haki reached out automatically, scanning for any hostile intent or dangerous signatures, standing on the other side of the door.
What I found made me stop mid-step.
One familiar and one unfamiliar presence.
Phenex?
I opened the door.
Lady Phenex stood in the hallway, dressed in an elegant dress. Her blonde hair was styled perfectly, and her posture radiated the kind of confidence that came from centuries of noble upbringing.
Beside her stood Ravel, looking significantly less composed than her mother. The young Phenex girl wore a nervous expression, hands clasped in front of her.
"Good Evening, Knight of Rias Gremory" Lady Phenex said, her voice smooth and radiant "I apologize for the unexpected visit. May we come in?"
I bet someone laid a curse on my apartment, to not have a peaceful night anymore. As soon as I get that bastard, I am throwing him to the Infinity Castle and ask him to now try to curse this, mf! Tossing away those thoughts in my mind's Infinity Castle, I smiled.
I stepped aside, gesturing them in "Of course. Please, make yourselves comfortable"
They entered with the kind of grace that made my decent apartment feel royal in their presence. Lady Phenex's eyes swept over the space—the modest furniture, the simple decorations, the kitchen visible from the living room. If she had any judgments about my living situation, she kept them off her face.
"Please, sit" I gestured to the couch before moving back to the kitchen "I was just preparing dinner. Would you like some tea?"
"That would be lovely, thank you" Lady Phenex settled onto the couch with graceful ease. Ravel sat beside her, still looking uncomfortable as if she had no idea what was about to happen next.
I put the kettle on and returned to the living room, taking the chair across from them "I assume this isn't a social call, Lady Phenex"
Lady Phenex's expression softened slightly, the perfect noble exterior cracking just enough to show genuine emotion underneath "No, it isn't. I came to apologize"
That caught me off guard.
"Apologize?"
After all the beatings that I gave to her son, She is apologizing? After all that scars of humiliation that I gave to him, she was apologizing?! What the hell was going on in here?
But then she replied to my query which made it go away as soon as it came into my head.
"For my son's behavior during the Rating Game" Her voice remained steady, but I could hear the underlying shame in stating this "Riser's actions were... unbecoming of our family. The disrespect he showed toward Rias Gremory and her peerage, his arrogance, his cruelty, none of it reflects the values my husband and I, attempted to instill in him"
Ravel flinched at the mention of her brother, as I calmly took in her 'apology' to make sure if it was genuine or just a facade for an offer she was going to pull on me, later.
She continued, her gaze meeting mine directly "You defeated him decisively, and from what I understand, you showed remarkable 'restraint' given the circumstances. He could have been hurt far worse"
I kept my expression neutral as I replied firmly "He challenged my King's honor and disrespected her peerage. So, I responded appropriately, Lady Phenex"
"Even my husband agrees with your actions" A slight smile touched her lips "He said This humiliation, will serve him well for not underestimating his opponents"
I simply nodded, to not put any fuel into her flame of son getting disrespected so badly
The kettle whistled. I stood and moved to the kitchen, preparing three cups of tea. When I returned, Lady Phenex was watching me with an expression I couldn't quite read.
I handed them their cups and sat back down "With all due respect, Lady Phenex, I don't think you came here just to apologize for your son's behavior. So shall we, get to the reason why, you came with your daughter, right?"
She took a sip of tea, nodding in approval at the taste and then looked at me in the eyes.
"I have come to bargain"
She set her cup down carefully, as I listened to her "By the Rules of wager, Ravel is supposed to become your servant, for her entire lifetime. You made her that offer before the Rating Game, and she accepted, along with her brother who proposed this absurd wager"
I glanced at Ravel, who nodded almost imperceptibly.
"However" Lady Phenex continued, "I have... concerns about this arrangement. Ravel is young, and while she is talented, she is also my daughter. I want to ensure she would be treated well and given opportunities to grow, under your care"
"I understand your concerns," I said. "But if you're here to convince me to accept the offer—"
"Please hear me out before you make your decision"
She requested solemnly.
I waited.
"In exchange for releasing Ravel from the wager to become your servant, the Phenex family will provide you with Phoenix Tears. For free. For as long as you live"
The offer hung in the air between us.
Phoenix Tears.
The rarest and most valuable healing item in the Underworld. A single vial could heal almost any injury, restoring lost limbs on the spot. They were worth the fortunes, and the Phenex Clan controlled the entire supply.
Free access for life? That was an incredibly generous offer.
Far too generous.
I leaned back in my chair, processing. With my limited regeneration from Nakime's abilities, I could heal wounds and cuts as long as my head or limbs didn't get severed. But Phoenix Tears would let me reattach limbs with ease, recover from even catastrophic injuries.
It was tempting.
But...
I thought about my peerage in the near future. About the plans I would make. About the Rating Games ahead and the enemies I'd inevitably face.
Having Phoenix Tears would be useful, yes. But having a Bishop like her in my peerage? Someone with the Phenex regeneration, someone with tactical knowledge and genuine potential, I could develop?
That was irreplaceable.
I met Lady Phenex's gaze "That's a generous offer. Truly"
For a moment, both Phenex's eyes lit up that I would jump into this gold mine but I had different plans tonight.
"But, I Refuse"
Ravel's head snapped up, eyes wide with surprise.
Lady Phenex's expression didn't change, but I saw the slight tension in her shoulders "May I ask why? Phoenix Tears are—"
"Invaluable? I know that very well" I set down my own cup "But so is your daughter, to me"
Ravel's face flushed red, by my proclamation and even Lady Phenex seemed dumbfounded by what I meant by that.
"I don't need Phoenix Tears" I continued. "I have very much trust in my abilities. They're cool healing aids , yes, but they're sufficient for most situations. And honestly? I'm not planning on getting into positions where I'm losing limbs anytime soon"
A slight smile tugged at Lady Phenex's lips as she heard my words.
"But what I do need" I said, looking directly at Ravel "is a skilled Bishop for my peerage. Someone intelligent, someone who understands tactics, someone with genuine potential beyond just their family name. She was the only one to give up and knew her potential and it shows how much aware she is about her own potential"
At this moment, I wasn't even sure what I was saying but I drove the conversation to highlight her greatness. As long as she is in my peerage in the near future, I can get access to the Phoenix Tears for free. But her potential wasn't denied, a Phenex who is not arrogant and can listen, is way more worth than getting free Phoenix Tears for eternity.
I stood up, moving to stand in front of them.
"I see capabilities in your daughter that your son wasn't able to see, Lady Phenex. She's far more mature than her brother and devils in his peerage. And, Those are the qualities I value in my peerage members."
Ravel stared at me, something like wonder in her eyes and admiration that Momo had for Aizen.
But luckily for her, I had no plans on stabbing her with my sword.
"The reason I asked her to become my servant," I said, turning back to Lady Phenex "was because I was aiming to have her in my peerage. Not as an accomplishment, not as a political tool, but as a genuine member of my team. So if you still have any worries about whether I might mistreat your daughter—"
I smiled, swaying away any of her last suspicions about my intentions.
"I will nullify this wager"
Both Phenex women's eyes went wide.
Lady Phenex recovered first, though her composure had clearly been shaken. She studied my face for a long moment, searching for... what? Deception? Hidden motives? Behind that king smile of his.
Whatever she was looking for, she apparently found something satisfactory.
"It seems'' she said with a smile of warmth "You genuinely see value in her beyond her name. And also, how you spared my daughter in the Rating Game, when she was offered to give up. I have full trust in you and your words"
"I wouldn't have made the offer otherwise" I sat back down "Ravel impressed me during the Rating Game. She was the only one on Riser's team who actually seemed to understand what was happening. If she'd been in charge instead of your son, that match would have gone very differently"
Ravel's face was now completely red, but she managed to say "I... thank you, Yuuto-sama"
Lady Phenex was quiet for another moment, then nodded slowly "I see" She stood, and Ravel quickly followed, her cue "Ravel will stay with you from now on, with my blessing"
"Thank you, for trusting me with her"
"Please dear, Don't make me regret this decision" she said, but there was warmth in her voice now "Ravel is precious to me. If you truly value her as you claim, then I expect you to help her reach her full potential"
"I intend to"
Lady Phenex, then paused as if she was struggling to ask me something but she asked it.
"Since you made the decision to have Ravel instead of Phoenix Tears... I want you to take my next request in consideration, Knight of Rias Gremory"
"I'll do it, if I have in it my interests and power to go along with your request"
She replied with an almost sheepish smile as she asked "Can you let me stay here, with you and Ravel for some time?"
Uh...What?
. . .
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