The atmosphere grew quiet.
Ryuichi could only stand there in silence.
What a clown… he thought.
After the fierce tennis match earlier, Rias and the others walked over. A faint sheen of sweat still clung to her skin, and her crimson hair shimmered in the sun—radiant, confident, and full of life.
"Ryuichi, what happened here?" Rias asked, tilting her head slightly.
"No idea. Must be… personal charm?" Ryuichi answered without missing a beat.
Everyone fell silent.
Personal charm, my foot!
Sona Shitori—President of the Student Council—looked at Shimon Shirō with a puzzled frown.
"Didn't you say you were eager to get a familiar before?"
"Ahaha… about that," he laughed awkwardly, scratching his head. "I realized I could use more experience first. Handing out more flyers sounds like good training!"
He even shot Ryuichi a series of exaggerated winks.
Ryuichi sighed inwardly.
He appreciated that Shimon was giving him the chance, sure—but he really had no idea how to help this guy get closer to Sona anyway.
"Well, if that's what you've decided, then we'll respect your choice," Sona said at last.
Rias smiled softly. "Then allow me to thank you on behalf of my Ryuichi—and Asia as well."
After a few more words of polite conversation, the Student Council group took their leave.
Before leaving, Shimon lingered for a moment, pulling Ryuichi aside.
"Master! How'd I do? Give me a few pointers!"
"…Can you not call me that?" Ryuichi rolled his eyes. "If you like your president that much, why not just confess to her already?"
Shimon froze. "Confess? Uh… I tried that once."
"Oh?" Ryuichi raised a brow. "And?"
"She thought I was joking…" he muttered, slumping his shoulders.
Ryuichi blinked, half-speechless.
He hesitated a moment, then said quietly, "Maybe she didn't misunderstand. Maybe she's just… too kind."
Shimon: "...??"
Thanks for that stab straight through the heart, sensei.
He stood there blankly for a few seconds, then trudged off, face twisted in despair.
Ryuichi watched him go, wordless.
Another lost soul guided to the truth, huh?
He sighed. What a helpful devil I've become. That's not exactly how devils are supposed to act…
After School – The Clubroom
Later that day, in the Occult Research Club room, the mood had settled.
Rias sat gracefully on the sofa, sipping black tea. "We may not know every detail, but the client's request is secured. Tomorrow's the full moon, so we'll depart tomorrow night. For now, everyone rest up."
Ryuichi nodded, then turned to Asia. "Asia, I'll help you move your things today."
Until now, Asia had been living in the clubroom itself, but Ryuichi had already arranged an apartment for her—just across the street from his own place, less than fifty meters away.
"Thank you so much," Asia said with a gentle smile, then turned to the others. "We'll be heading out first."
"Take care," Rias replied warmly.
At Asia's New Home
After changing clothes, Ryuichi headed over to help her unpack.
"So, Asia—getting used to everything?" he asked, carrying a cardboard box to the table and beginning to arrange her small trinkets neatly around the room.
"Yes," she replied brightly. "Everyone in class is really kind, and the club members are all so nice to me."
Her smile radiated pure joy. "I've made so many friends. I think this must be the Lord's guidance. Praise be—ah, ow!"
She let out a small yelp, pressing her hand to her head in embarrassment.
Ryuichi couldn't help laughing. "You're still muttering prayers even though you're a devil now. Of course your head's gonna hurt."
"Hehehe…" Asia laughed sheepishly.
"Do you resent me for forcing you into becoming a devil?" Ryuichi asked quietly.
His tone was calm, but his gaze softened. He knew how deeply Asia had revered her faith. When he'd pushed her toward reincarnation, it had been the only way to save her—but it was still his decision, not hers.
Asia shook her head at once. "Not at all! Thanks to you, I've made friends, and I can live happily like this. It's something I never even dared to dream before."
Hearing that, Ryuichi smiled faintly. "I see. That's good."
Asia gazed at him, her emerald eyes gentle. "Ryuichi… you really are a kind person."
"…Didn't expect to hear that from you," he said with a wry grin.
So the 'kind demon' trope finally caught up to me, huh…
"I'm serious," Asia said innocently. "Even if you're a devil, I still mean it as praise!"
"I know." Ryuichi chuckled softly. "But I'm not as kind as you think. I just do what I feel like, that's all."
The blonde girl smiled so brightly her eyes curved into crescents. "Isn't that exactly what makes you special? Devils follow their desires—but you, Ryuichi, you make it feel… noble somehow."
Her hands folded in front of her chest as she spoke with almost saintly grace. "I believe it—your heart holds mercy and compassion, patience and freedom, fairness and understanding. Those are divine traits. They don't have to clash with being a devil."
As a former holy maiden, Asia understood how rare it was for all those virtues to exist in one soul.
In her eyes, Ryuichi was someone who could have been a saint… or a king.
One who could guide the lost—or lead the masses.
Ryuichi stood silent, half stunned by her words.
Her description brought to mind the Sword and Shield of the Benevolent King—and its previous wielder.
A ruler with love vast as the sky, a saint beloved by millions. A man whose death made even the heavens weep.
Am I really what Asia sees? Is that why this Sacred Gear accepted me?
Or have I yet to earn that right…?
As if in answer, the Sword and Shield within him gave a faint tremor.
At that instant, his demonic power surged, resonating with the world around him—growing stronger.
Ryuichi's eyes flickered.
He understood now: the Sacred Gear, too, possessed divinity.
Through his talk with Asia, he had stumbled upon a way to commune with it.
And with that understanding, his strength had deepened once again.
What he didn't yet realize was that this was a true path of cultivation—
a road of the soul that angels, devils, and humans alike could walk, transcending themselves through heart and spirit.
If demonic contracts were shortcuts,
then this path was the long, perilous climb—
the way of hardship and tempering.Those who reached its summit… transcended everything.