Rize's Past

"My name? My name is Rize... and I'm a reincarnated devil..."

"My original name was Rihaya Okioto and I was 17 when I first met 'her'. She was so beautiful and cool. I couldn't help but admire her.

You were right, I was a bookworm and because of that I didn't have many friends in the first place, so it surprised me when she was the one who approached me first.

She said that I had potential and that she wanted to recruit me. I was confused about what she was talking about when she suddenly said that she was a devil and that I should join her peerage."

Reaching that part she let out a few silent tears and her regret was visible even for Ryujin.

She then looked at Ryujin wondering if he knew what a peerage was.

Ryujin could somewhat guess what she was thinking and nodded his head, "Continue, I know about a Devil's Peerage."

"I first thought that I was being pranked for some reason, which would also explain why she was talking to me but then she grabbed hold of me and started flying.

At that moment I had forgotten about her being a Devil. I was so fascinated by the view below me, the world never felt so small. It all felt like a dream but I knew I wasn't dreaming. Of course, she also explained that devils weren't evil it was just the name of their race and the misinterpretation of humans.

I felt like all my studies were useless. I had originally wanted to be a teacher at a prestigious college but the unconscious desire of being able to fly and explore the supernatural world made me make the biggest mistake of my life.

I accepted her offer..."

Before she could continue further Ryujin stopped her. He knew this was going to stretch on for a while.

"Let's leave first, We shouldn't stay here for too long. I can hear the rest of your story later."

Saying this he got up dusted his behind, He nodded at her and she started following him.

As they were reaching the city Ryujin made her stop and went to buy some clothes for her. Her current state would cause unnecessary attraction.

He couldn't activate his crown for the moment and he didn't want to expose his weakness to her. The last thing he needed was a devil constantly trying to scheme against him.

After handing her the clothes he turned his back to her. She paused and looked at him before silently changing her clothes.

Not for some gentlemanly reason but because he didn't want his first subordinate to be a lifeless doll.

He would slowly invade her mind and heart and make her loyal to him. To the point, she would sacrifice herself for him without hesitation.

Small little things like allowing her to change her clothes privately were enough to paint a positive image of his in her mind.

Soon they both reached the populous area of the city but since it was 1 am there weren't any people around.

He soon reached his house and she silently followed him without a word.

They entered the house and Rize saw a portrait hung on the wall, It was of a family. Two adults and a kid.

The parents were attractive and the kid was especially cute, 'So that's what he looks like.' Ryujin still hadn't taken off his mask.

But when she looked at her 'Master' she couldn't associate him with the smiling kid in the portrait.

"Your parents?" She hesitantly asked as her eyes flickered with various emotions.

Ryujin paused while ascending the stairs and looked back at her with his head half-turned. From the corner of his eyes, he gazed at her,

"Kill them if you wish, I could care less. Don't even try your petty schemes with me. There are many devils I can use besides you. Do not forget, you're nothing special."

Saying this he entered his room without caring about what Rize felt.

"So cruel and vicious..." She muttered in amazement wondering if Ryujin even had any kind of emotions.

Of course, it was also possible that he was bluffing, but she knew that she had now lost the courage to use his parents against him.

She could only laugh at herself in a self-mocking manner and enter the room he entered.

It was a normal room, nothing special. She could hear the sounds of the shower. She was left in an awkward position so she just sat on her knees on the floor.

After 5 minutes Ryujin exited the shower and with a towel wrapped around his waist and started wearing new clothes ignoring Rize.

After having freshened up he jumped on his bed.

"Now tell me the rest of your story."

"After I accepted her offer she took out a black bishop piece from somewhere and inserted it in me. She said I had potential in magic."

Hearing this Ryujin raised his left eyebrow in thought, 'Interesting, I'll see how much potential she has later.'

I was then taken to a place that made me seem like I was in a different world. She said it was Hell and where most of the devils resided. She took me to a large mansion and introduced me to the rest of her peerage.

But what made me confused was that most of them had listless eyes and looked depressed.

I hesitantly asked her about it and she said that I have nothing to worry about, That they had just lost a Rating Game and were feeling down.

I also saw some of them shiver when they heard her say "Rating Game" but I was naive back then..."

She paused and said after a moment, "A Rating Game is a battle of peerages between two devi-"

Ryujin stopped her from speaking further, "I know what Rating Games are as well, Continue."

Rize took a deep breath, "Some months had passed with me being in Hell. At first, I was frightened by everything but she later taught me how to fight and stuff.

One day she came and said that she was having a Rating Game. My fellow peerage members started shivering in fear while I was confused.

Unfortunately, we lost the Rating Game and I witnessed my previous Master's relaxed and calm face have certain anger to it.

After a few hours, I understood why everyone was crying and shivering. She tortured us in every way possible. Burning us and hitting us with hot rods, having us weakened and injured, ripping our fingernails and toenails and these were just light punishments."

Ryujin frowned hearing all of this. He still felt a bit uncomfortable hearing how his fellow and former humans were being tortured and there might be even worse happening out there.

But Ryujin didn't pay too much attention to it. He wasn't some kind of savior.

He was who mattered, His goals were what mattered and he would always be his priority. There were all sorts of unfortunate people in the world, should he go around helping everyone?

"This happened a few more times and I realized the true meaning of 'Hell'.

But one day the strongest member of the peerage rebelled and killed our master. I was still shocked when she looked back at us and said, "Escape, I'll take the blame, I've always considered you all as my younger sisters, Take care of yourselves... Goodbye..."

I was one of the first to escape because I didn't have much of an emotional attachment to them.

After that, I somehow returned to the human world but I couldn't bear returning to my family so I started living around Kuoh.

The bishop piece inside me disappeared after our master died but its chaotic energy spread throughout my body and I fell from a Middle-Ranking to Low-Ranking Devil.

It also caused me to have intense bloodlust so I have to hunt at least one human per week or I'll go crazy.

My life was ruined the moment I accepted her offer..."

Ryujin didn't say anything. He knew that after a devil died the rest of the peerage would usually be killed but most kind devils let them regain their freedom.

Once a devil that owned a peerage died their chess pieces would disappear.

"That's all about my past."

"Mmm," Ryujin hummed in agreement and said, "Go take a bath, I'll leave my mother's clothes for you to wear. Use the first aid kit to bandage your wounds and sleep on the mattress that's in the almirah beside you."

She nodded and got up.

He wasn't worried about his parent's reaction, he had already thought of a good explanation for them and the rest of the neighborhood.

From now on she would be his older adopted Step-Sister.