[Isaiah's POV]
"Welcome to the Underworld, Isaiah"
The voice hit me before I'd fully processed the room.
Sirzechs Lucifer stood by the window. His crimson hair, the same shade as Rias's—caught the magical lamplight, falling past his shoulders in waves that would've made any shampoo commercial jealous. When he turned to face me, those eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made every instinct I had scream danger.
But his smile was warm. Genuine.
Somehow that made it worse.
"Please, forgive me for requesting your presence so soon after your journey." He gestured casually, like we were old friends catching up. "I know you should be resting, but I felt it important we speak privately before tomorrow's ceremony."
My legs moved on autopilot.
I dropped to one knee, right fist pressed against the cold marble floor. The stone bit into my knuckles. My pulse hammered so loud I was sure he could hear it—each beat counting down to... what? Judgment? Punishment? A painless execution for sleeping with the woman he thought was his wife?
"Sirzechs-sama." I kept my voice steady, formal. Years of serving Rias had trained that much into me. "There is no need for apologies. I am honored by your summons and grateful for this opportunity to speak with you." I lifted my gaze just enough to meet those eyes.
Silence.
Shit. Had I said something wrong? Used improper protocol? Pissed off one of the four rulers of the Underworld in the first thirty seconds?
Then Sirzechs sighed—a sound that carried gentle exasperation mixed with something that might've been amusement.
He moved forward, footsteps silent on the marble "Isaiah, please stand up"
I rose smoothly, years of combat training keeping my movements fluid despite the anxiety clawing at my chest. Finally standing, I took in the full measure of Sirzechs Lucifer.
He looked young. Mid-twenties at most. The formal attire somehow appeared casual on him, like expensive fabric was just his natural state. But those eyes... ancient. Knowing. Eyes that had seen the Devil Civil War, commanded armies, made choices I couldn't begin to imagine.
"I thought I told you last time we met to simply call me Sirzechs." His smile widened, carrying warmth that shouldn't exist in a being of such power. "We're past the need for such formality between us, don't you think?"
Last time we met.
The words echoed through my fragmented memories, searching for context that refused to materialize. When the hell had he said that before? The gaps in my past yawned wide—frustrating, terrifying. But I kept my face neutral, accepting the words at face value.
"As you wish..." The name stuck in my throat, fighting against every instinct screaming that addressing a Satan so casually was insanity "Sirzechs-san"
"Much better" Approval flickered across his features. He gestured toward the leather chairs near the fireplace. "Please, sit"
I moved to the chair, aware of Grayfia's presence as she drifted to her position near the door. Silent. Watchful. The Silver-haired Queen of Annihilation standing guard like a statue carved from ice and steel.
The leather creaked softly as I settled in. Fire crackled nearby, magical flames casting dancing shadows across mahogany bookshelves stuffed with ancient volumes. The room smelled of old paper, expensive wood polish, and something else—power, contained but unmistakable.
Sirzechs claimed the opposite chair with easy grace. He leaned back, fingers steepled, green eyes never leaving my face.
"I wanted to speak with you personally." His voice dropped, losing its casual warmth and gaining weight that pressed against my chest. "To express my gratitude. Subduing the threat of Kokabiel, protecting my sister not just once but twice..."
He paused, letting the words settle like stones dropping into deep water.
"If not for you, Rias would have been married to her fiancé for the rest of her life. Bound to someone she didn't love, trapped in a political arrangement that would have slowly crushed everything vibrant and fierce about her spirit."
The image crashed through my mind—Rias in wedding white, her crimson hair in elaborate styles, those blue-green eyes dead and hollow as she spoke vows to Riser Phenex. The future that almost was. The cage that nearly closed.
"I simply fulfilled my role as her Knight" I replied firmly, knowing very well what it will ensue "And this couldn't have happened without the help you and Grayfia-san provided. Without the method you suggested, without the support you both offered, none of this would've been possible"
The moment those words left my mouth, the atmosphere shifted.
Sirzechs stood, slowly. He rose and stared down at me with an expression I couldn't read.
His eyes bored into mine. Searching. Assessing. Looking for something beneath the surface.
"My apologies, Isaiah kun"
I blinked "What?"
His expression softened, carrying genuine regret that seemed impossible on the face of a Satan "Grayfia spoke to me about the guilt you felt for using that method." His voice dropped to something quieter, more personal. "Even though you agreed to help, you were forced into an impossible situation...all because of my selfish request."
"I..." I struggled to find words, to process what I was hearing "I do feel that it was wrong to use that method. Sacrificing your wife for your sister's life wasn't something I wanted to be part of. And even now I feel torn inside about what happened."
Sirzechs glanced at Grayfia. Something passed between them—silent communication forged through years of partnership, understanding that transcended words. Then he looked back at me and sighed deeply, shoulders carrying the weight of confession.
"What I'm about to tell you must stay within these walls" The command threaded through casual words, absolute and unyielding "Do you understand?"
I nodded, pulse quickening. The shift in his demeanor was profound—this wasn't just a grateful older brother. This was a Satan about to reveal state secrets.
He returned to his chair, settling into the leather with the weight of someone about to share a burden carried for centuries. Leaning forward, green eyes locked on my face with laser focus.
"Grayfia is not my wife"
The world tilted.
My thoughts stuttered to a halt. Sound muffled, like cotton had been stuffed in my ears. My mouth opened, closed, opened again.
"What?"
"During the Devil Civil War" Sirzechs continued "Grayfia defected to our side. She didn't agree with the Old Satan Faction's decisions, their brutality, their refusal to adapt and change." His expression darkened. "It took courage to turn against her own faction, to risk everything for what she believed was right."
He paused, gaze distant with memory.
"Even after we won, even after the Anti-Satan Faction took control of the Underworld, many didn't trust her fully. A defector from the enemy camp, someone who'd fought against us before switching sides—there were those who saw her as a potential spy, waiting to betray us." He paused, then looked at me "The politics were vicious. She would've been isolated, possibly exiled or worse, despite everything she'd done to help us win."
My mind raced, processing implications that branched out like spider webs. I glanced at Grayfia—she stood near the door, silver eyes forward, posture perfect. But something flickered in her gaze. Old pain, carefully buried behind the mask of stoicism.
"So she had no choice but to take the identity of my wife while serving me as a maid" Sirzechs finished the revelation with quiet finality. "It protected her, gave her a position of unquestionable authority and trust. And it silenced those who would've seen her destroyed for political convenience."
I sat frozen, thoughts fragmenting and reforming in new patterns. Grayfia wasn't Sirzechs's wife. The method—that intimate act that had haunted my every quiet moment, hadn't been what I thought it was.
Relief flooded through me, so intense it was almost dizzying. Then confusion. Then a desperate scramble to understand the full scope of implications.
"This secret must not get out" Grayfia's voice cut through my spiraling thoughts, sharp and absolute. She stepped forward, silver eyes burning with intensity that made my breath catch "If this information became public knowledge, it could lead to sparks for another war. There are still Old Satan Faction sympathizers who would use this revelation to undermine Sirzechs-sama's authority, to claim deception at the highest levels of government" Her expression turned cold "The political fallout would be catastrophic"
My training kicked in automatically. I straightened, meeting her gaze directly, letting every ounce of conviction show on my face.
"I understand" The words came out firm, weighted with promise "This information stays between us. You have my word"
Sirzechs studied me for a long moment, green eyes searching for any hint of deception or weakness. Then he nodded, satisfaction flickering across his features.
"There's something else I need to inform you" He shifted gears smoothly, tone becoming more businesslike "After your promotion ceremony tomorrow, I'll be traveling to Kuoh Town to sign a peace agreement with the leaders of the Angels and Fallen Angels."
"This agreement represents a fundamental shift in our relationship with the other factions" Sirzechs leaned back, fingers steepled again "It's essential that it proceeds smoothly, without incident. Given your role in defeating Kokabiel, your protection of Kuoh Town, and your proven loyalty to my sister, I want you present as representative, beside me for Devils, Isaiah kun"
The words hung between us—not quite an order, but weighted with expectation that made refusal impossible.
"I'd be honored" I kept my voice steady despite the pressure building in my chest.
Something shifted in his eyes—a calculating look that made my instincts prickle with warning.
"There's one more thing." His voice dropped, gaining weight that pressed against my sternum. "A decision I've been considering, and I want your input before making it official"
He leaned forward, green eyes intense enough to burn.
"Your achievements speak for themselves. Defeating Kokabiel whose strength rivals Satan Class Devils, protecting Rias, your growth as a Knight...these aren't minor accomplishments. You've proven yourself exceptional in both power and character. If you want it, I could promote you to the rank of Ultimate-Class Devil and honor you with the title of Satan"
The words detonated in my mind like miniature bombs.
Ultimate-Class. A Satan title. The implications crashed over me in tsunamis—power that would place me among the highest-ranking devils in existence, authority that transcended normal hierarchies, recognition that would reshape my entire future.
It was everything my ambition had been driving toward. Everything I'd been working to achieve so far.
And yet...
I thought of tomorrow's ceremony. Receiving my Evil Pieces, becoming a King in my own right. Building a peerage. I do want the title of Satan, but not this fast, not until I have acquired some members for me. And if I accept Satan's position right now, it would only diminish my freedom and to look for my peerage members.
I thought of Sirzechs himself, and the weight he carried. The burden of responsibility that came with that title.
Do I want this? To leap straight to Ultimate-Class before I've even built my own peerage? To carry a Satan title when I haven't proven I can lead?
The answer crystallized with surprising clarity.
"I'm honored beyond words, Sirzechs san" I forced my voice to remain steady, respectful, choosing each word with precision "And grateful for your faith in me. But... if I may speak honestly?"
Sirzechs gestured for me to continue, curiosity flickering across his features.
"I want to earn that rank" The words came out stronger now, conviction bleeding through "Not through a single battle or because I helped save Rias, but through consistent growth and achievement. Tomorrow, I'll become a King. I want to build my peerage, develop my abilities, and prove myself worthy of such a title through sustained effort rather than a single moment. For such a title, strength and character aren't enough to honor it"
I met his gaze directly, refusing to look away.
"If that rank is something I can still earn in the future, I'd prefer to work toward it. To know that when I reach Ultimate-Class, it's because I've truly earned that recognition from devils within the Underworld"
Silence stretched between us—fragile as glass, heavy as stone.
His expression remained unreadable. No anger, no disappointment, nothing that gave me any indication whether I'd just made the right choice or a catastrophic mistake. Refusing a Satan's offer wasn't something most devils would even consider.
Then he smiled—wide and genuine, carrying approval that warmed the room.
"To tell you the truth, this is exactly the answer I was hoping to hear from you" He stood, extending his hand "You understand what true strength means, Isaiah. Not just power handed to you, but power earned through dedication and growth. The offer remains open. When you feel you've earned it, come find me. I'll be happy to make it official"
I rose, accepting the handshake. Relief flooded through me, loosening tension I hadn't realized was coiled in my shoulders.
"Now." He released my hand, turning to Grayfia. "I imagine you're exhausted from the journey. Grayfia, would you escort Isaiah to his room?"
"Of course, Sirzechs-sama." She moved to the door, opening it with practiced efficiency. Silver eyes glanced at me, unreadable. "This way, please."
I bowed respectfully to Sirzechs. "Thanks for everything Sirzechs san"
"I should be the one thanking you for everything you've done for my sister, and devils" His smile turned warmer "Sleep well. Tomorrow's an important day"
I turned toward the door, following Grayfia into the corridor. But just as I crossed the threshold, Sirzechs's voice drifted from behind me.
"You must have missed me" The words carried theatrical suffering worthy of a stage actor "Now I can get back to all this wonderful thrilling paperwork..."
The sarcasm was thick enough to choke on.
The door shut behind us, cutting off his continued grumbling.
Relief washed over me like a breaking wave—intense enough to make my knees weak. The confrontation I'd been dreading had transformed into something completely different.
I can't imagine spending my youth on paperwork The thought flickered through my mind, accompanied by an image of Sirzechs buried under mountains of forms. Not only did God's executives but even a Satan can't escape. No amount of power is worth that prison, not now
We walked in silence through corridors lit by magical lamps casting warm light across polished stone. Our footsteps echoed softly—the only sound breaking the estate's quiet.
Then Grayfia spoke, voice cutting through the silence like a silver blade.
"You handled that pretty well"
I glanced at her "Did I? I refused a promotion to Ultimate-Class. Don't you think it's foolishness?"
She paused mid-step, turning to face me fully. Silver eyes studied me with penetrating intensity "Sirzechs-sama doesn't. Neither do I. You chose growth over shortcuts, earning respect over given titles. That takes wisdom many devils never develop"
"I see"
She nodded once, then resumed walking. We continued through the corridors, turning down passages that grew quieter as we moved away from the main areas. The architecture shifted subtly—walls carved with more intricate patterns, floors inlaid with precious metals catching the lamplight, doors spaced farther apart suggesting larger rooms beyond.
Finally, we stopped before an ornate door. Its surface was carved with flowing patterns that seemed almost alive in the flickering light—geometric designs interwoven with what might have been Gremory family crests, all inlaid with gold gleaming like captured sunlight.
Grayfia took out a key from seemingly nowhere, unlocking the door with a soft click. She pushed it open, revealing darkness beyond "Breakfast will be served at eight tomorrow morning. The ceremony begins at ten. Please ensure you're properly rested"
"I will. Thank you, Grayfia-san"
She bowed her head slightly, the gesture carrying more respect than her usual demeanor.
Then she turned and walked away, footsteps fading into the corridor's quiet like smoke dissipating into night.
The Underworld trip turning out to be more exciting than I thought it would.
. . .
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