3 Chapter 2: Vritra=Asura Shresta

A red burst of light formed within the room of the Sitri clan's house in Kuoh, a magic circle calculated for teleportation magic began to spiral with energy before being invoked without much problem.

"Welcome back, Sona. How was the trip?"

Tsubaki called out to Sona as she manifested from the teleportation magic, walking her way to her with a cup of tea she brewed while waiting for her to come back.

Along with the greeting of Tsubaki, four more voices called out to Sona for her return. The other members of the Sitri heiress' peerage.

"Welcome back, Lady Sona."

Reya Kusaka. A brunette who styled her hair into two braids.

A descendant of a witch who came into contact with Sona Sitri long ago, joining her peerage as her first bishop.

Momo Hanakai. A girl with curly white hair that reached to her waist.

The daughter of a wealthy businessman who held connections to the Sitri clan despite being a normal human.

She eventually formed a contract with Sona to join her peerage for reasons unknown outside the two. She joined as Sona's second bishop.

Tomoe Meguri. An auburn brunette who wore pigtails.

Hailing from a family of exorcists who entered a contract with Sona to cleanse a curse that befell her, the only daughter and heir of the family, she reincarnated as a devil to be cured of her affliction.

However, due to their dealings with a devil, her family was exiled from doing business as exorcists, forcing the clan to make a living through regular means after their fall from grace.

Equipped with the mystic spirit sword techniques of her exorcist family, she joined Sona's peerage as her knight.

Lastly was Tsubasa Yura. A girl with short blue hair and a strikingly handsome face despite her being a girl.

Being able to see and interact with the supernatural as a child, she developed a unique fighting style of subduing supernatural entities with her physical strength alone. Something she needed due to the harassment she received for being able to see them.

She eventually made contact with Sona and entered her peerage as her rook.

"Thank you all for the greeting everyone. But please, I can tell how tired you all are. You can all go back to resting."

Sona thanked her peerage for welcoming her back. Gazing at every single one of them before allowing them to be at ease.

All, except Tsubaki, were exceptionally tired after having completed numerous requests through the summoning leaflets.

Upon hearing Sona's words, all of them immediately slumped back into the various furniture to rest their weary bodies. Visibly lighting up in joyous expressions and letting out light sighs of satisfaction as they did.

Sona smiled as she watched her peerage act so casually around her.

She was a devil that valued strictness, discipline, and punctuality. But she would be remiss to say that she held true to those principles at all times.

"Hm? You seem a little happier than usual Sona. Did something happen with the request you just went on?"

Tsubaki commented after noticing a slight smile from Sona that appeared when she arrived, prior to observing the actions of the peerage she treasured deeply.

"... Nothing really ever gets past you does it, Tsubaki?"

Sona could only sigh in defeat as her close friend seemed to be able to read her like a book, something that Tsubaki found immense joy in accomplishing.

"It's my job as your peerage's queen to understand you the most after all~"

Hearing that something happened that pleased Sona greatly, the other members of the peerage woke up from their exhausted rest to ask their master what it was.

"What happened Lady Sona? Did something happen to benefit house Sitri?"

Momo spoke as she raised her head above a sofa where she was laying down.

Sona greatly valued the prosperity of her clan above most other matters, so it was a natural assumption that Sona would only behave as such when an immense boon was given to her noble house.

"A well-reasoned guess, Momo. But not quite correct. Though it will benefit house Sitri, I believe it to be better classified as a personal benefit. Specifically, a benefit that will improve the peerage moving forward."

"-!"

All the members immediately recognized what Sona's words could possibly mean. Answering their burst of surprise, Sona announced the latest change in the peerage.

"A new member will be joining our peerage. A rather impressive individual. It required me to sacrifice seven of my pawn pieces for him to reincarnate…and not only that, but he possesses a Sacred Gear as well. Something that will no doubt bolster our capabilities."

Tsubaki couldn't believe what she was hearing. She had been by the side of Sona for a long time, and she knew intimately well the standards and expectations of the underworld.

A seven-piece devil reincarnation indicates that an individual requires immense power for the process to even take place.

Add on top of that impressive piece of information the possession of a Sacred Gear, and it was a rare phenomenon even in the mystic world of the supernatural.

"Seven pawn pieces and a Sacred Gear… just where did you find such a recruit, Sona?"

Tsubaki was extremely curious as to the identity and entire scenario through which her master was able to come across such an impressive individual.

While the queen and most of the others were interested in the new recruit's potential, Tomoe immediately commented on a fact that piqued her interest.

"The new recruit to the peerage is a boy, Lady Sona?... Is he handsome?"

The peerage immediately tuned to Tomoe as she presented her line of thinking.

Though they would admit it, all of them were indeed curious about the fact a boy was joining their group that had all been woman until now…even becoming curious as to how he looked. It was only natural for them to think so.

"..."

Sona simply looked at Tomoe with an expression of disappointment that vanity was the first factor her knight wished to learn more about.

Tomoe responded to her master's disappointment with a cute expression as she stuck her tongue out. Acting as if she were an airhead.

"Umm…Tehe?~"

"𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩…"

Sona could only sigh as she prepared to respond to her question first. She recognized that Tomoe's query now took hold of her peerage's interest,

"You all will no doubt hound me for details if I ignore that question, so I will give what I can share for now."

Hearing Sona acquiesces to their curiosity, the peerage all began to listen attentively to their master.

"You will all learn more about his circumstances and information in a few days when I will formally introduce him to you all."

"I will be busy for a few days arranging for his requests to be fulfilled. The conditions he asked of me in exchange for joining my peerage as my pawn, as well as for him to associate more easily with us in the future… and you won't be disappointed with him in terms of appearance. That much I can guarantee."

The peerage was slightly disappointed that they had to wait for the juicy information. But when Sona endorsed the appearance of their new member, it was a great shock to all of them.

"YOU THINK HE'S HANDSOME, LADY SONA?!-"

Tomoe was the first to speak her mind.

She asked about the new member's appearance as a joke, but even she didn't expect Sona to follow through with it… much less admit her liking of it.

"Lady Sona liking a boy? Tsubasa, is this perhaps some form of illusion magic?"

Reya called out to her friend in disbelief, to which Tsubasa could only reply with equal confusion.

"I am not sure Reya. I can't detect any supernatural changes, and the Sitri manor holds many defences against magical attacks…an imposter perhaps?"

Tsubaki then placed her hand on Sona's shoulder. Her hands trembling as she wiped a tear with her other hand.

"I was so worried that you would grow old by yourself Sona… I'm so glad 𝘩𝘪𝘤… we must celebrate this momentous occasion."

Seeing her entire peerage begin to make fun of her, Sona could only shout back at them in frustration.

"WHAT'S SO WEIRD ABOUT ME THINKING A BOY LOOKS HANDSOME?!"

Whilst the rest of the peerage and Sona began to make a commotion so late into the night, Momo continued to watch the scene in silence, concern growing in her thoughts.

"I just hope Lady Serafall doesn't take this news too badly. I wouldn't wish for a newborn reincarnated devil to be smitten by a Satan so early on…"

Wishing for their new comrade to not be struck down with a barrage of ice. Momo wished only the best for the unfortunate soul.

…

..

.

In the early hours of the morning.

Where the cold morning air mixed with the faint grace of sunrise.

The light swaying and rustling of the trees moved along with the gentle breeze.

The song-like chirping of the birds resounded all around as they began to take flight once more.

𝘴𝘪𝘻𝘻𝘭𝘦

In the early hours of the morning, inside the kitchen of a quaint townhouse in a peaceful neighborhood. Saji could be seen cooking

"𝘴𝘪𝘱…this taste's good enough…"

Saji spoke to himself as he tasted a pot of miso he was preparing alongside grilling a few slices of salmon, and scrambling a couple of eggs.

A delicious and fulfilling breakfast meal he was already used to making.

'All those years of learning culinary skills for my one boss who kept complaining about the meals of his private chef… I loathed him for it, but now that I can provide my sisters with delicious food, it made all those sleepless nights in the kitchen worth it.'

Saji smiled as he put the skills he once hated to use for a more fulfilling purpose than a simple paycheck.

He was preparing dinner for his two younger sisters as they prepared to enter school.

It had been a few days since he summoned Sona and entered into her peerage as a pawn.

She held true to her promises and arranged for everything he requested very quickly.

They moved away from the rickety apartment they once rented and into a simple townhouse in a well-respected neighborhood of Kuoh.

'It's by no means the same as Issei's future house renovation. But I much prefer a normal house like this than the mansion that stuck out like a sore thumb.'

'I also remember the original Saji saying he moved into an apartment in a condominium instead of a townhouse… Is it perhaps because Sona sees more potential in me and invested more?'

Saji wondered what caused the change in treatment from what he read in the novels. But he didn't mind it. It was nothing but a benefit with no drawbacks for him.

'More importantly. Kaho and Gengo are now enrolled in Kuoh middle-school and nursery respectively, Much better than the public school they were in previously.'

'The escalator system of Kuoh academy will no doubt make things much less complicated for them in the future.'

Saji was extremely happy seeing his younger sisters begin to live and enjoy a much better life than before.

The smiles on their faces as they saw the changes in their life. The way Kaho stood silent in shock after seeing their new house and the way Gengo began curiously exploring their new home.

It reaffirmed to Saji his motivation to get stronger. To protect them from the absurd world they all lived in.

"Brother Gen… Good morning."

"Brudda…morn'..."

Saji turned to find Kaho and Gengo greeting him, both still very obviously sleepy from waking up.

"Good morning. Kaho. Gengo. Breakfast will be ready soon, so you two go wash and dress yourselves up first. You can give Gengo her bath, right Kaho?"

Responding to her brother's question, Kaho simply affirmed with a small nod as she sleepily carried her younger sister to the bathroom.

"Hehe…they're just too adorable"

Saji laughed lightly as he watched his two younger sisters enter the bathroom groggily.

"I wonder if I should take them out someplace outside for dinner… I wonder if Lady Sona could recommend some places."

Saji spoke to himself as he began to put his attention to his cooking once more. The black dragon king was enjoying his idyllic slow life.

…

..

.

"Brother… you do not have to accompany us to school every time."

Kaho silently spoke to her brother with a tinge of embarrassment on her face. She was currently wearing the prescribed uniform for Kuoh middle school as she carried her backpack.

"It's a brother's duty to make sure his younger siblings are always safe. Mom, Dad, and Grandpa aren't around anymore. So it's up to me to send you to school."

Saji spoke proudly as he carried Gengo in his arms. The young girl happily snuggled into her brother's arms.

"My classmates travel to school on their own, brother Gen. Kuoh doesn't have perverts acting in broad daylight, and there are even more police patrols around Kuoh academy compared to other places…"

Kaho continued to argue her point. Using a series of evidence to reinforce her stance. Something Saji simply dissuaded with his brotherly love and his knowledge of how many freaks there truly were in the world, especially in Kuoh.

"Even if it is extremely safe. There will always be a small chance of something happening. So long as it still remains, your brother will keep sending you two to school himself."

Saji affirmed with resolute determination. Something Kaho was very grateful for…she was extremely fortunate to have such a kind and caring older brother… the problem was… she wasn't the only one who appreciated her brother.

𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘮𝘶𝘳… 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘮𝘶𝘳… 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘮𝘶𝘳…

As the Saji siblings walked down the road leading to Kuoh academy. All around them, people were looking at the group with immense interest.

As Kuoh academy planned to implement the inclusion of male students for the next school year, the crowd that surrounded Kaho and her siblings consisted mostly of female students of the academy.

Curious stares from the elementary division. More interested stares from the middle school division. Admiration from the high school division. And dangerous gazes from the older sisters of the college division.

Saji was dressed in a cream-colored turtleneck and wool cardigan that complimented his natural blonde hair, and a pair of black jeans that gave contrast to the outfit. An attire that complimented his looks immensely

Kaho couldn't take it… she couldn't take the feeling of having so many predators look at her brother like a well-marbled piece of Wagyu.

"Isn't that Genshirou Saji? That prodigy from the news?"

"Oh my~ He's as handsome as the rumors!"

"His muscles are quite… captivating."

"I wonder… would he mind playing with some older sisters for an afternoon?~"

Kaho silently grumbled in frustration as she heard the passing comments from the various students. She was growing highly protective of the brother who so carefully raised herself and her younger sister.

'Brother Gen sacrificed so much to give us a good life. You want to be his girlfriend when you only look at the stuff he shows in public? I will never allow a hussy that doesn't truly appreciate brother Gen into our family!'

Kaho would only accept a woman who could appreciate the Saji she knew beyond all the headlines and award ceremonies. The kind older brother who lost too much at such a young age and the patient older brother who didn't fault herself or Gengo for any problems they caused.

'Only someone that can make him happy after everything he lost and gave away… only someone like that would be acceptable.'

Kaho couldn't do much for her older brother at the moment. But she could make sure that only the best happiness and joy could even begin to think of approaching him.

But though the little sister only wanted the best to care for his brother… she also felt the desire to keep him for herself.

'If I couldn't find anyone that fits my standards… wouldn't it be alright for me to be the one to take care of him?'

Kaho knew she could never truly become what others could be for her brother but he loved her immensely and she did the same to him… so…

'Wouldn't that be far better? We already love each other immensely, don't we?'

A dangerous desire began to form in Kaho's heart beyond Saji's notice.

But before it could solidify even more, Saji announced their arrival at the gate to Kuoh academy.

"We're here Kaho. Drop off Gengo at the nursery, as usual, won't you Kaho?"

Hearing her brother call out to her, Kaho broke out of her thoughts and replied.

"Y-yes! Don't worry about it!"

Seeing the panicked behavior of his little sister, Saji asked in concern about his behavior.

"Kaho… if you're embarrassed by me, it's alright to commute to school by yourself."

Saji knew of some stories of how children would be embarrassed by their doting parents. He recognized some of those moments as Genshirou Saji, but his memories as Sebastian Claude took a much more prominent role in his personality.

Thus he didn't know if he was going too far with his affection.

"Brother…"

Kaho began to feel guilty for causing such a misunderstanding to occur.

She knew that her brother's persistence in accompanying them was his fear… the fear that he would lose her and Gengo too.

Though it annoyed her to see others droll over her brother, it hurt her more to see her brother sad.

"It's alright brother. I was and never will be embarrassed by you. I know everything you do… you do because you love us."

"Kaho…"

Saji felt touched by his sister's words. So much so that tears threatened to spill down at that moment.

"Go to school… your brother might cry if you say anything more,"

Saji said as he struggled to control his tears. A sight that brought light laughter to Kaho's face.

"Alright! Alright! See you later brother Gen!"

Kaho said as she turned to enter the academy. Gengo sleeping in her arms as she began tiredly waving goodbye to Saji.

"..."

Saji only stood in silence with a smile as he watched his sisters leave. But before he turned around to leave, he saw Kaho turn around to meet him one more time.

"..."

Kaho silently worded out what she wanted to convey. Saji was able to recognize the words she mouthed in silence.

'I love you brother'

Saji was unable to take it anymore… his brotherly love… it snapped.

"KAHO! GENGO! BROTHER LOVES YOU TOO VERY MUCH!"

Saji loudly proclaimed, causing the rest of the students to become surprised.

"!!!"

Kaho began to immediately brighten in embarrassment. She wanted to give one last word to her beloved brother, but she didn't expect him to suddenly shout in such a crowded place.

"NO MATTER HOW OLD YOU GET! BROTHER WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU VERY VERY MUCH!"

Hearing Saji continue to shout his love, Kaho could only shout back at him.

"I GET IT! SO PLEASE SHUT UP BROTHER! YOU IDIOT!"

Kaho immediately began to run toward the academy. Making sure she wouldn't trip or let go of Gengo in the process.

The middle child of the Saji sibling simply wanted to hide in a corner from the embarrassment.

Gengo began to laugh in joy seeing the burst in energy between Kaho and Saji.

Saji joined his youngest sister as he began to laugh heartily at her younger sister running away in embarrassment.

"..."

The surrounding crowds could only watch in silence as the scene unfolded before them.

Such a rowdy display so early in the morning would usually cause annoyance among the students.

But Saji's face seemed to glow even brighter than it did previously.

Seeing his natural features become more attractive as he was filled with love for his family, much to the annoyance of Kaho, only increased his charm among the crowds even further.

"Hm? Is something happening?"

Reya commented as she seated herself at a shaded table alongside her fellow peerage members.

A noise coming from the gate of the academy caught her attention and those of her comrades, but Tsubaki dismissed it.

"It's probably nothing to concern ourselves with. Moving back to what we were discussing. Will everyone be free for the meeting tomorrow?"

Tsubaki asked and she was met with a reply from Tsubsa.

"Of course, we will Tsubaki. Today is the day we meet the impressive pawn Lady Sona acquired, right?"

Seeing that the curiosity of her comrades guarantee their participation that day, Tsubaki affirmed her reply and concluded their short meeting.

'I wonder who you are… to leave such a deep impression on Sona…'

Tsubaki thought to herself with immense interest. She too looked forward to the meeting despite her usually serious demeanor.

…

..

.

Saji soon left the gate of Kuoh academy after his little sisters left his view.

Making his way to a prestigious state-run middle school he attended.

'This will be the last time I'll be here… aside from the graduation ceremony of course.'

Saji no longer needed to attend classes.

He was able to enter himself into a special program that would allow for the completion of the remaining schoolyear after sufficiently passing a difficult exam.

A test to prove that a student truly didn't require to attend any more classes for that school year.

'It wasn't so difficult for me though, it was child's play compared to picking up the corporate slack in my past life.'

Saji tiredly thought as he began to make his way to the faculty office.

He needed to process a few more documents and sign a couple of waivers before he could receive his status as having completed the school year early.

Saji walked down the halls of the school, but it was all empty due to the fact that classes were currently ongoing for the rest of the students.

It was going to be nothing more than a quick and forgettable event for Saji, but a noise soon caught his interest.

"OW!-"

A cry of pain from a feminine voice. Though the roughness in its tone seemed to imply otherwise.

'That voice…why does it sound familiar?...'

Saji began making his way to the source of the sound, eventually finding himself looking over the back alleyway of his middle school from a window.

From there he saw a brunette with green eyes lying against the wall. Her hair was styled in twin tails, and she wore a pair of green striped stockings.

Saji's mind immediately recalled who exactly this person was, he recognized her as a member of Sona Sitri's peerage. A pawn alongside Saji. One that would eventually surpass Yuto Kiba in sheer speed.

"Ruruko Nimura…"

Saji immediately began to wonder why such a character was appearing in this location of all places. Especially with her current condition.

'Bruises and some small bleeding… she's also holding a steel pipe by her side… don't tell me… did she involve herself in a gang fight?!-'

The conclusion he reached was rather absurd for the character he remembered, but there were a few subtle details that supported his idea.

'Ruruko was always known for having a short temper and a natural attraction to resorting problems with violence… and when she was traded to Xenovia, she began to refer to her in a gangster-like way'

'I always thought that was just a result of Xenovia's influence. Who knew she was immersed in that lifestyle prior?'

There was also the fact that Ruruko was wearing her uniform in a way that only a delinquent would. An improper form of the Kuoh academy middle school uniform his younger sister would always wear.

"Haa…haa…damn it…"

Ruruko breathed heavily as she cursed. The pain of injuries was too immense for her to take.

"We'll be comrades in the future, so it would be best to leave a good impression on her when I can… there's also the fact that just leaving an injured girl would weigh heavily on my mind."

Deciding on his course of action, Saji decided to start descending from his current position to approach Ruruko.

…

..

.

"Haa…haa…haa…"

Ruruko continued to breathe heavily.

'Damn it…why did those bitches have to be so pressed…'

Ruruko began to think back on how she ended up in her current predicament.

The only child of a well-off upper-middle-class family. Ruruko was blessed with living a relatively stable and comfortable life. But her lifestyle came at the cost of parents too focused on their careers to form a genuine bond with their daughter.

Her father and mother were rather controversial figures in the political space of Japan.

Because of this, the parents of children her age tended to disapprove of their child befriending Ruruko. Not wanting their families to be associated with hers that was tainted with political scandal after political scandal.

Growing frustrated at never receiving attention from her family and never finding a place she can belong among her peers, Ruruko began to delve into a life of delinquency.

Fighting her way to belong among the rejects of society, and to gather the attention of her parents with her misdeeds.

But Ruruko failed to achieve even a single success with her actions.

Her parents didn't care for her fall into delinquency. They simply allowed her to do so. If an incident became too big, her parents would bribe officials to waive it or sweep it under the rug.

If she was expelled, her parents would simply move her to a school that would accept her. Usually after numerous "donations" to the school's foundations.

Even when she caused nothing but trouble. Ruruko's parents never turned her way.

'It's like they don't even want to acknowledge I exist… then why in the fuck did they have me in the first place?'

Ruruko was frustrated at not receiving her parent's attention, much less their affection, but if she could find a place to belong… then it would be fine… but even among rejects, Ruruko was alone.

Her status as the daughter of a politician and the beneficiary of very dubious money led her to conflict with the local student gangs in every school she went to.

Not being able to contain her anger. She began to lash out by beating up every single person that rejected her. Developing and honing her skills as she was expelled and transferred throughout her academic career.

'Those poor excuses of parents sent me to Kuoh… hoping that the academy would be able to reform me…'

But it didn't. Ruruko simply continued her delinquent behavior. Leaving school to start trouble with student gangs from other schools.

Boys, girls, it didn't matter to her. If they pissed her off, she would find one way or another to come out on top.

However, Ruruko was a bit unlucky this time around.

'Who would've thought they would carry a gun…'

Ruruko didn't expect the presence of firearms, given the near absurd restrictions and laws regarding guns in Japan.

'I was able to avoid getting shot… but I was instead stabbed in the leg…'

Ruruko looked at the knife that still lodged itself in her thigh. She didn't remove the knife due to that would ensue if she did.

'I need to find a clinic… but… I'm too weak…'

Ruruko needed to find assistance badly…but she hesitated due to her pain…and because she was on her final straw.

Her permanent record was horrendously awful, and even her parents struggled to keep it afloat.

There was a reason they decided to consciously send their daughter to a school that would help her improve… it was because if she added one more case of delinquency to her record… she would no longer be eligible to enroll in any public or private learning institution.

Ruruko naturally feared having her future cut off entirely. But her anger was simply too much for her fear to control.

Now she lies in the alley of a school she doesn't recognize.

'If I'm found, I'll be treated but will no longer be able to learn… if I'm not, I might just bleed to death…'

Ruruko greatly exacerbated her condition.

But the girl didn't care if she was gonna die or not. All she knew was that it hurt badly, and something bad would happen if she didn't do anything about her injuries.

"Haa…haa…haa…"

As Ruruko continued to breathe heavily as she contemplated where it all went wrong…a voice called out to her.

"You alright there?"

Ruruko immediately tensed up as she turned to the source of the voice.

A man around the same age as her… wearing a cardigan and a sweatshirt… a rather large first-aid kit in his hands.

"..."

Ruruko felt she recognized the person in front of her from somewhere but she couldn't remember it well enough to reach a conclusion.

"I'll be approaching you alright? I don't know if your silence is supposed to communicate something to me. But if that knife wound on your thigh there isn't treated, you'll be in for a world of pain as you recover."

The man snarkily said to her as he began stepping closer.

"Don't…step…closer…"

Ruruko attempted to intimidate the man as he was approaching, but she was too weak to successfully pull it off.

"Don't speak, you'll only tire yourself."

The man said as he began to open the compartments of the large first aid kit he carried.

"If I wanted to assault you, I would've done so already."

The man began to rummage through a bag before pulling out a plastic bottle with a blue-colored liquid. The labeling on the cover showed a menagerie of athletes.

"Here, drink this sports drink. You need to get some electrolytes to treat the dehydration caused by your bleeding."

Ruruko hesitated for a moment, but soon began to gulp down the drink as the man fed it to her mouth.

It was a satisfying feeling to have the cold drink refresh her dry mouth.

"Good. Now if you don't mind. I'll begin treating you…"

The man began to approach her thigh where the injury was located, but Ruruko immediately pulled away as she glared at him.

The man could only sigh as he witnessed the response.

"Like I said. I could assault you whenever I wanted. But I didn't. I gave you a drink, so you now have the voice to shout out for help. Why would I do that if I wanted to do something perverted?"

"..."

Ruruko remained silent for a few moments, before retracting her leg back so he could reach it.

"Thank you."

The man gave out a faint but gentle smile from his annoyed expression from earlier.

Something that struck a chord within Ruruko.

'Has anyone…ever smiled liked that to me?...'

Ruruko couldn't even remember the last time a person approached her that didn't want to elicit sex or to make use of her relationship with her parents or for her money.

She remained suspicious of the man that was helping her. But she didn't know who he was and few people learned of her identity when she moved to Kuoh.

'Perhaps… this guy just wants to genuinely help me?'

Ruruko couldn't help but think of such a thing.

She quietly watched as the man continued to treat her injuries with proficiency and care.

Whenever he was about to apply antiseptic, he would tell her to brace for the pain with a soft gentle tone that soothed her heart.

The sensation of his hands as if he treated her like a fragile object that was to be handled with care.

The calm rhythmic noises of his breath, it all seared themselves into Ruruko's memory.

"..."

She watched with silent focus on the man's every action and mannerism.

No longer out of vigilance, but out of interest.

"What's your name?"

Ruruko hesitantly asked the man who was helping him.

Upturning his eyes to her, the man simply smiled as he replied.

"Genshioru Saji. You?"

The man turned back to working on treating her, so Ruruko replied quickly.

"Ruruko Nimura…"

"Nice to meet you, Ruruko. I didn't expect to be here tending to such injuries on a day like this but life works in weird ways like that, huh?"

"Yes… it does…"

Ruruko didn't know how to proceed from there. She had spent her entire life interacting with others through her anger that she didn't even know how to associate with a person normally.

"..."

But as the silence continued to be deafeningly loud in Ruruko's mind, Saji simply stepped away from her as he extended his hand.

"I was able to handle most of the immediate concerns, but I should have the nurse check up on your condition. That way you can get some painkillers if the injuries still hurt."

Seeing the clear intentions of Saji be conveyed so clearly, Ruruko, though hesitant at first, eventually took hold of the hand extended to her.

"Thank you…Saji."

Hearing the quiet voice call out to him.

"Don't mention it!"

Saji replied with a wide genuine smile.

"-?!"

A feeling began to take over Ruruko. One she didn't understand, or at least, fully comprehended its implications.

'Get yourself together. You're not some girl that falls head over heels at the first sign of kindness… you're not…'

Ruruko did her best to calm her emotions from spilling forth as a result of experiencing all the new emotions she was feeling.

But just at the moment, she was about to rein herself in.

𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳

A warmth began to enter her senses.

'... a cardigan?...'

She saw that on top of her body was a cream-colored cardigan… the one Saji wore as he treated her.

Ruruko turned her eyes towards Saji he simply smiled awkwardly.

"I'm a supporter of the belief that women can choose what they wear. But I don't think you came out of your house with the exposure you currently have… so you can borrow my cardigan for now."

Ruruko was confused for a moment, then remembered her clothes were a bit torn from her fight earlier.

"..."

A flush began to emerge on her face. Not a sudden onset of heat or emotions… but a gentle and gradual one.

"Thanks…"

Saji replied once more.

"Again, don't mention it"

Placing her arms over his neck. Saji began to assist Ruruko at the clinic of his middle school.

…

..

.

"She'll be fine. She just needs to rest for a while to recover her strength. The painkiller I gave her will assist in letting her fall asleep"

A middle-aged female nurse spoke to Saji regarding Ruruko's condition. Something that he can only thank the nurse for helping him with.

"Thank you so much. For lending me the first aid kit without question, and taking her in secretly."

The woman could only smile gently at the youth in front of her eyes.

"You've helped me many times during your stay in this school, and you've been nothing but a model student in academics and behavior. I didn't do any favors, I'm simply trusting you."

The nurse then turned to the curtained bed that held the resting Ruruko.

"I was also a delinquent once you know? But someone in my life pointed me in the direction of medicine… of helping others."

"That girl seems to be as troubled as I was back in my day… I would be remiss if I just ignore a kindred soul. I know just how hard it can be to get a fresh start… to ask for help when you're knee-deep in darkness…"

Saji quietly listened to the story of the nurse.

She was never a character mentioned in the stories he read in his past life. But her experiences were complex and genuine.

It was moments like these that helped Saji ground himself.

To remind himself of the fact that this world wasn't something he could just play around with.

It was real and he was a part of it. Not some omniscient being arriving at a playground.

"Besides Saji, you passed that hard exam, right? So this will be the last time we'll be meeting."

"Yeah… it is…"

Saji wasn't sure if he would ever meet this person again.

The places he would be involved in as a member of Sona Sitri's peerage. The peaks he wanted to achieve for himself. They were far too foreign from this regular nurse who worked for a regular school in some town in Japan.

Saji wasn't the best at goodbyes… he was simply far too inexperienced with such encounters.

"..."

Seeing the troubled look on Saji's face, the nurse simply laughed heartily before giving him one last piece of advice. She didn't do much to guide Saji as an educator, but an educator she was nonetheless.

"We humans continue living by leaving behind, Saji. Bonds, attachments, regrets, joys, we leave all those behind as we continue moving forward in life. It's only in letting go of our burden and leaving it behind in the past, do we find the strength to push on one more step forward…"

"But you shouldn't be melancholic about what you leave behind…because when you reach a point where you can no longer move forward…at the end of your life…you can look back upon the trail you made…and feel satisfied at how far you've gone"

Saji pondered on the words of the nurse.

But before he could say anything in reply, the woman prepared to leave the clinic. She had other business to attend to at the school, so she began to leave. Leaving one last word with Saji.

"Just know Saji… the clinic isn't exactly sound proof so if you ever want to get frisky…"

"Miss… please don't label me as some sort of sexual deviant-"

"HAHAHAHA! Just making sure~"

Not wanting to face the annoyed wrath of her school's model student, the nurse left the grumbled Saji as she began to laugh while walking down the hallway.

"...𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩… you just had to ruin that reflective mood…"

Saji complained about the tonal shift of the nurse as he made his way to Ruruko's bed.

Opening the curtains, he came face to face with the girl blushing profusely. He was fully aware of what caused this reaction in her.

"Ruruko… like I said before if I wanted-"

But Ruruko understood clearly what Saji was trying to say.

"I know! I know… just… dont mention it…"

Seeing Ruruko act so embarrassed at the mention of sex, Saji couldn't help but laugh lightly at the innocence of the delinquent student.

'So rugged and crass but at the same time so innocent and bashful. So this is the appeal of gap moe…'

After appreciating the rather adorable sight he just witnessed, Saji's curiosity got the better of him.

The pasts of the members of Sona Sitri's peerage weren't really explored in the novels Saji read. So he wanted to learn the history of the person who was an essential part of the Sitri peerage.

"So… what's your story? How'd a girl like you end up like this?"

Ruruko's bashfulness cleared away once Saji posed his question. Her instincts took over as she began to glare at him slightly.

"I'd rather not say…"

Saji recognized the behavior she was displaying. He knew it all too well.

"I'm not asking to give you sympathy or pity. I know full well how annoying it can be at times"

Saji spoke with calm and confidence.

The death of his parents and grandfather. Being the sole provider and pillar of support for his two younger sisters. His experiences as Genshirou Saji.

Being orphaned at birth. Becoming obsessed with obtaining a life that was never provided to him. His endless effort to accrue achievements to do so. His experiences as Sebastian Claude.

Saji was no stranger to the empty pity of the people around him.

His efforts would always be attributed to his tragedies rather than his own efforts.

No matter how far he ran… he would always be chained to those moments in his life. Like a period of time that kept repeating no matter how many years passed.

"I'm not going to promise you that it will be better or it can all change. We just met a few minutes ago, didn't we? It would be pretty hard to suddenly jump from strangers to something so intimate right?"

Ruruko remained silent. Slightly embarrassed that she was touched greatly by the few minutes Saji had with her.

"I'm simply asking to understand who you are. Nothing more, nothing less. We don't even have to talk about it if you want… Do you have any interests or hobbies?"

Saji smiled as he changed the topic. He wished to understand the past of the person in front of him, but he wasn't in a rush to obtain such information at this moment.

He was fine to simply chat with the girl who seemed so troubled.

"..."

Ruruko remained quiet before replying to Saji.

"I used to be in the track and field team when I was younger… I liked it quite a lot…"

Ruruko decided it wouldn't hurt to open up a little bit.

"Track and field? Never took you as an athlete type. What did you like so much about it?"

Saji smiled as he entered a conversation with the injured girl.

Saji and Ruruko began talking without stopping. Words kept naturally flowing and adding to the conversation. Understanding each other more with every story and anecdote they painted with their words.

Before long they began to share their personal experiences. Their traumas. Their fears. Their dreams. Their drive.

What defined what they are, who they are, and so much more.

Before long they laid themselves bare but Ruruko, as much as she began to earnestly the most genuine conversation she had ever received, her eyes began to slowly but surely get heavier.

'No… not now… I… was having so much fun…'

The girl who only wished for somewhere to belong… for someone she can simply just be herself with. She didn't want their connection to end with the alluring draw of sleep.

"..."

Saji noticed her eyes slowly but surely begin to fight to stay open. He guessed she was afraid of not being able to meet with a person who could connect with her so easily. But Saji smiled as the girl didn't realize they would soon become comrades in arms.

Putting his hand on her head and stroking it gently. The same technique he would use to put his sisters to sleep. He spoke gently and softly to Ruruko.

"Rest up Ruruko. I'm sure we will meet each other again one day."

Ruruko's mind began to misconstrue what she saw. Instead of Saji, she began to see her parents. A sight she never personally experienced when she was younger, but one she desperately wanted to happen.

"Promise…pinky promise…"

Ruruko groggily extended her pinky out towards Saji, and Saji intertwined his pink with hers.

"I promise. So go rest up."

Hearing Saji's words. Ruruko accepted the warm embrace of sleep.

…

..

.

'What I expected to be a simple short trip turned out to be more eventful than I thought. To think I would come into contact with Ruruko so early on…do I have protagonist luck or something?'

Saji thought to himself as he was walking down a street that was situated next to a river. A classic scene in any anime.

The sun was beginning to wane as its hue began to paint the sky in a majestic orange.

As night crawled nearer and nearer, Saji could begin to feel his body become stronger and stronger. The night was when a devil was at their natural peak.

'Hm?... That figure… that's…'

As if to reinforce the idea of Saji having an insane amount of luck, over the distance. A trio of students the same age as him began to draw closer.

Their silhouettes faintly awoke Saji's memories, but one, in particular, stood out the most.

"How's your progress been? Motohama…Matsuda…"

A brown-haired boy who looked visibly tired called out to his two companions who looked even more tired than him.

"No more studying…please…"

The skinhead of the trio cried out in desperation. As if he were suffering through a trauma right now.

"Don't remind me Issei… we just need to get in then our dreams can be fulfilled."

The bespeckled one of the trio told his friend to not bring much attention to it. The desperation in his voice was clear.

The brown-haired boy… Issei Hyoudou tightened his fist as he proclaimed loudly.

"We just need to pass the Kuoh academy entrance exam… AND PARADISE WILL SOON BE IN OUR HANDS!!-"

As Issei shouted out his desires so blatantly in public, a few passing by schoolgirls looked at them with disgust. The other two didn't mind it much, but Issei visibly reeled from being so hated.

'First my future comrade, now the protagonist of the story… guess I should retract what I said a while ago.'

''I don't have protagonist luck. Just good luck. It's this guy that has the protagonist luck.'

Saji smiled wryly as he watched the future red dragon emperor hang out with his buddies as the infamous perverted trio.

It was hard to imagine that the boy he was looking at right now would soon become an existence that would defeat absurd enemies like Trihexa, but Saji knew all too well that it was an undeniable truth of this world.

'It hurts a bit to see his tendencies… but I don't have a raging hate boner for the guy. He's perverted for sure, but his heart is in the right place when it counts. There are much worse protagonists to work with than Issei.'

Possessing the boosted gear that contains the power and soul of the red dragon emperor, Ddraig.

Further brought to greater power through his bonds and resolve, but mostly his desire to do every perverted act possible with a woman's bosom.

'For a world with such absurd enemies. It's comforting that the world's last line of defense operates on a very simple-to-understand basis'

Even if it operated under the premise that would make one ashamed to associate with.

'Regardless. I'll be working with him in the future, and I'll be able to possibly incentivize his growth differently from the story…at the very least I'll have to make sure he isn't so successful at peeping at girls while in Kuoh academy'

Saji formulated his plans in his head as he soon passed by Issei's group who were too trapped in their fantasies to notice his passing.

But Saji, wanting to play a little bit, decided to whisper something as he passed by Issei.

"I look forward to working with you soon… Oppai Dragon…"

"Huh?-"

Issei then turned his head to the faint whisper he heard.

He wasn't able to distinguish what was said, but he felt as if… it was calling out to a deeply intrinsic part of his soul.

"Hm? Issei? What are you looking at?"

Motohama called out to his friend who turned away from their perverted discussions.

"Motohama… did you hear what that guy said?..."

Turning to the figure Issei was talking about, Motohama began to analyze and reeled in disgust once he did.

"It's that popular guy every girl in our school is talking about. Genshirou Saji"

Matsua, who heard that a popular guy passed by them, immediately began cursing the person he considered a normie.

But Issei simply drowned them both out.

He would usually dislike popular guys due to his desire to have a girlfriend but he was feeling a different sensation from the person.

'It's like… I'm somehow connected to him…'

Unknown to both Issei and Saji at the time. The Sacred Gears inside their souls resonated as if greeting each other in a meeting of coincidence.

Ddraig reacted with a green glow, and Saji's Sacred Gear replied with a violet haze… but it wasn't 『Absorption Line: Black Dragon's Pulse 』but something far more potent… much more dragonic than the chameleon Sacred Gear.

…

..

.

Late at night, as the moon soared high in the starry sky.

Deep in the interior of the Sitri clan's mansion in Kuoh, Sona Sitri, and her peerage were together in a meeting room.

"Once again, I'm Genshirou Saji. I have been recruited by Lady Sona as a pawn. I look forward to working with all of you."

Saji said as he made a light bow to the rest of the peerage. An action that was met with a round of applause by everyone else.

Saji had just concluded his introduction among the numerous members of the Sitri heiress' peerage.

His history. His motivations. His personality. His likes and dislikes. Anything about himself that was important, Saji conveyed to the rest of them.

"It still doesn't feel real… Genshirou Saji, the prodigy student is now in our peerage…"

Tomoe commented in disbelief. She remembered him from various news articles and tv interviews with local stations and publishers.

He was advertised heavily by the city government as the pride of Kuoh City. Being the first student in a long while to have originated there and gain repute and recognition in numerous fields.

"Don't press too much on your disbelief Tomoe, you might make him uncomfortable by acting like he's different from us. He's still a person at the end of the day and now… a devil, like us."

Tsubase calmly spoke to bring back Tomoe to reality.

She knew far too well the effects of being treated too differently from others.

"I appreciate the concern Miss Yura, but I'm fine with it. I'm quite used to it."

Saji tried to ease the tension between Tsubasa and Tomoe. He wasn't affected much by being put in the spotlight.

He had long been used to the feeling of a corporate assistant for many CEOs who spent their time playing with their subordinates… especially him.

Tsubasa looked sympathetically at Saji. She knew how a person would learn to separate themselves from topics like this. She had to learn to get used to it as a child who grew up able to see the supernatural where the rest of her friends and family couldn't.

But if she was intruding in on his space, she wasn't one to judge if that was the path they resolved themselves to walk on. But she did remain adamant about changing one thing.

"It's your choice Saji. But one thing to keep in mind. Feel free to refer to all of us by our first names. Lady Sona is able to trust you, so we trust you as well. We are all devil servants in service of the same master, so let's not be too distant from each other."

Tsubasa smiled as Saji returned the sentiments with thanks.

"I understand...Thank you, Tsubasa."

Seeing the two of them hit things off so well at her expense, Tomore grew angry with her friend.

"How could you do this to me Tsubasa? Throwing me under the bus to get buddy-buddy with our handsome new comrade. I thought our friendship was worth more than that!-"

But Tomore was once more silenced, this time by Reya, who had been observing everything silently with a kind smile on her face.

Smacking Tomoe in the head before she could speak much more.

"Do forgive Tomoe, Saji. She's simply a lot more energetic than most…"

Reya knew that her friend Tomoe tended to get too personal with people she was interested in, so she was afraid she made a bad impression on the new member of the peerage. But Saji soon dissuaded those fears.

"It's all right Reya. I get your concern, but I actually get along with people like Tomore a lot. There's no need to keep her in check for my sake."

'Extroverts make having a conversation much easier, you just need to go with their flow.'

Saji thought back to his experiences having to network with corporate figures back in his secretary days. He was glad that most of his targets were extroverts. Simply swing with their punches and it was the easiest job to perform… at least for Saji and his messed up idea of work.

"If you say so…"

Reya worried that she might be letting their new member into a world of headaches…but the confidence of the pawn assured Reya to not worry too much about it.

"..."

Meanwhile Tomoe simply continued to observe Saji.

'I act like this in order to get a gauge on a person's personality… perverts would try to take glances as I move around, shy people would crumble under and stoic types tend to keep me in line…'

Tomoe was highly sensitive to the emotion's of others. As the child that brought her family's exorcist clan into exile. Despite not wanting her family to enter a contract with the devil for her own sake, her distant relatives disdained her immensely, while her more immediate family walked on eggshells around her.

She learned from a young age to distinguish friend and foe, and what a person wants to achieve by associating with her.

'But Saji… I can't seem to get any read except for… acceptance? Like he could roll with anything I throw at him…'

Tomoe began to smile more and more.

She had a preference for younger guys, but that was simply because she had a liking for how they would react to her.

Seeing a rare person who could keep up with her antics, Tomore was very intrigued.

"You and I are gonna have lots of fun Saji!"

Getting up from her position, she immediately put her arm around Saji's neck.

"I look forward to working with you too, Tomoe."

Tomoe examined once more Saji's expression.

'No perversion towards me no inherent repulsion or desire… yeah… we're gonna have a lot of fun~'

The spirit exorcist turned devil set her sights on new prey.

"...𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩 I just hope Tomoe doesn't go too far with her interests…"

Tsubaki tiredly sighed as she witnessed the peerage's knight begin to sink her fangs into Saji. Something he didn't notice given he didn't know much about her characterization.

"Look on the bright side Tsubaki, At least we will have more capable hands at administration-related work."

Momo tried to bring the peerage's queen to look at the positives that came alongside the negative of Tomoe's antics.

Sona, Tsubaki, and Momo tended to be the only ones capable of much paperwork.

Sona and Tsubaki due to the fact they were raised and trained to be the heirs of prominent clans. While Momo apprenticed under her father as a child on how to run a business.

"Saji's presence will allow us to move forward earlier than expected with our plans."

Sona followed up with Momo's statement as she sipped on her tea.

"We shall move forward with making the student council the base of peerage starting next school year."

"I was planning to delay it until two years from now until I could find more members but Saji's competence seems to be equivalent to a team of devils I could've recruited in the next two years, so we will push ahead of schedule,"

Sona stated her intentions which got no draw back from her servant devils.

Kuoh academy's student council only elected the president that was to be chosen.

Once elected, a president will then decide upon their cabinet personally and work from there.

'I planned to lose the election and negotiate to be vice president. But that won't be necessary anymore.'

Finishing her tea and her plans for her peerage solidified, Sona began to make her way to Saji while the rest of the peerage watched.

"Now that we have completed the rest of the itinerary for this night's meeting it's time to move on to the final topic… awakening Saji's Sacred Gear."

The peerage began to fill with anticipation. Sacred Gear awakenings were rarely seen in the underworld, and for all present save for Sona and Tsubaki, this would be the first time they would witness it,

"Tsubaki, Momo, and Reya. Reinforce the barriers surrounding the mansion and confirm the presence of the concealment spells."

"Yes, Lady Sona!"

The queen and two bishops began to light up with energy as magic circles began to rotate around their feet.

Information was power, so for a major investment of Sona like Saji. Sona had to make sure everything was absolutely hidden.

"Lady Sona, all preparations are complete and at maximum capacity,"

Tsubaki reported her findings with succinctness.

"Good. Tsubasa and Tomoe. Stand by as guards just in case anything happens."

Sona knew that on rare occasions, Sacred Gears would go haywire when they were first manifested. So she assigned her knight and rook to take guard of the magicians as they sustained the room.

Sona herself readying her water magic just in case of emergencies.

"Yes, Lady Sona!"

Tsubasa stood in front of Reya as she entered a martial arts stance.

Meanwhile, Tomoe stood in front of Momo, her spirit exorcist sword manifesting in her hands.

With the preparation complete, Sona stood in front of Saji and began to instruct him.

"All right Saji. Though this situation may make you nervous. This is simply a precaution for a worst-case scenario that is even rare among the already rare manifestations of Sacred Gears."

"Simply breathe and relax. Too much tension or anxiety will simply result in difficulty calling upon your Sacred Gear."

Saji began to breathe calmly as he analyzed the situation.

'While Rias had Issei manifest his Sacred Gear in a more relaxed environment. Sona chose to be more careful in her preparations… nothing against Rias as a peerage king, but Sona really is the better one to work for.'

Saji took a moment to praise his employer, or more accurately, his master.

Though he was going to have to worry about future events. For now, he could take it easy. Working for his dream employer, and with coworkers who could carry their own weight.

They might not hold as much potential as Rias' peerage at the moment, but they carried significantly less baggage and thus less of a target for them to be tracked by more powerful forces.

'But moving on from enjoying my new work environment… breathe…relax…and focus.'

Saji began to put his attention to manifesting his Sacred Gear.

Outside of the night, he spurred it slightly upon meeting Sona, he wasn't able to connect with it much after. Avoiding the trigger he learned about in the light novels, lest he catches the attention of the fallen angels.

"Fuu…"

Seeing Saji begin to relax, Sona began to move on to the trigger that would manifest her pawn's Sacred Gear.

"Now… imagine the pinnacle of strength… absolute power… imagine it down to the tiniest detail… then vision yourself reaching out to it, Saji."

"Yes, Lady Sona."

Saji began to enter his mind and begin painting the image of absolute strength. The strongest entity he could imagine.

A bald man. Saitama.

'Imagine… the detailed animation of season one… the expressive illustrations of the manga… the scale of the battles… the aftermath of the effects… imagine it.'

Saji got his image of absolute strength… now he needed to reach for it.

'Remember… why you need to attain such strength… for grandpa to rest easily… for mom and dad to do the same… for Gengo… for Kaho.'

Fueled by his love for his family, Saji's Sacred Gear began to manifest.

A light breeze began to sweep through the enclosed room. A violet aura began to surround Saji's arms.

"..."

The peerage watched in fascination at what was happening. Sone was just as intrigued, but kept quiet so as to not break Saji's focus.

The light began to get brighter and brighter…soon a form was taking shape.

A black chameleon with violet eyes and gold trimmings began to manifest upon Saji's left arm.

'Is that his Sacred Gear?...'

Sona watched curiously as it began to take form… but in a moment… something changed.

𝙁 𝙐 𝙐 𝙐 𝙐 𝙐 𝙐 𝙐

"-?!"

Sona steadied herself as the wind became more violent. The aura that enveloped Saji became larger and larger… eventually turning into a pillar of energy that began to wash across the room.

"Saji! Snap out of it!"

Sona tried to call out to her pawn, but Saji didn't reply. It was as if he was in a deep trance.

"Tsubasa! Tomoe! Get hold of Saji! I'll begin to reinforce the barriers! The mansion might break at this rate!"

Sona immediately began manifesting her magic circle to assist Tsubaki, Momo, and Reya who were struggling to maintain the safety precautions.

"GH!- Lady Sona! I and Tomoe can't seem to reach him! The aura is so dense it's forming a physical barrier!"

Sona immediately began to panic more as soon as she heard Tsubasa's words.

'So the magic energy has reached critical and has begun to turn into a solid… I might need help!-'

As if right on time, Sona's childhood friend arrived in response to the burst of magical energy that was felt around Kuoh. Alongside her was her peerage's queen Akeno.

"Sona! What's happening?!-"

Rias immediately strengthened her foothold as she fought against the wind pressure coming from Saji.

"Rias! You and Akeno assist us in reinforcing the barriers! If this magical energy gets out, the damage will be insurmountable!"

"-?!"

Rias immediately realized the severity of the situation. She knew her friend Sona wasn't quick to panic but seeing her like this. It meant this is an event that fell outside her predictive capabilities.

"Akeno! You reinforce the arrays alongside Sona's peerage. I will assist Sona in reinforcing the core of the formation!"

Hearing her master's orders, Akeno immediately complied and manifested her magic circle.

But as she did so she couldn't help but keep her eyes on the source of all the commotion. Saji.

'This energy… it's conveying such rage against heaven… it's a much more potent rage than even a fallen angel's…'

She quickly dissuaded her interest in the boy to focus on her task. It would take everything she had to keep up the barriers' strength.

All across Kuoh, the supernatural entities began to look toward the source of the immense magical power, but only one, in particular, was able to recognize the severity and importance of the source… and it intrigued him greatly.

"Vritra…the dragon king whose soul was shattered into numerous pieces. Producing an untold amount of Sacred Gears based on its four abilities that defined its strength…"

The fallen angel's anticipation began to stir more and more as he could no longer deny what was happening…it was a miracle.

"But the black dragon king possessed one more authority that could only be manifested when it was whole… we tried seeing if fusing the partial Sacred Gears could lead to its manifestation… but every trial was a failure… it was concluded that something more potent was needed."

Azazel began to take a sip of his wine before speaking out the answer to the question of reawakening the true Vritra.

"A mortal that possesses the Sacred Gear that crystallized the fragment of Vrittra more than the others… the centerpiece Vritra Sacred Gear…"

Azazel began to smile widely as his scholar's curiosity began to take hold of him.

"I wonder who you are… inheritor of the prison dragon's legacy…"

…

..

.

Black and black and even blacker.

That was the only way Saji could describe where he was.

He couldn't speak or move.

He couldn't struggle or close his eyes.

He simply existed in the space he found himself in.

Panic didn't take over him… neither did fear… no emotion could be conjured from where he was.

But soon, lights began to light up the dark plane of existence.

Deep violet eyes peered into him with curiosity apparent.

『Its been so long since I've been awake…so you must be the one who possessed the true fragment of my mind…how lucky you are young devil.』

A voice spoke out to Saji…but he couldn't determine its origin…male or

female?…young or old?...foreign or familiar?

The voice sounded like all of those all at once. But the being turned out to be more cordial than its appearances, apologizing for the faint confusion it sensed in Saji's mind.

『Forgive me. It has been a while since I last spoke to another person, so I forgot to adapt my voice into a form you can more easily understand… a woman? You have quite the apparent taste, young devil.』

The voice soon began to take a more definitive shape.

Deep, sultry, and succulent.

The being now spoke in a mature woman's tone.

『I don't mind being a woman for once. I was originally genderless at birth… perhaps my being of the fair sex might motivate you more?』

The being teased Saji, but he couldn't reply to it at all, something the being failed to notice until after.

『Oh yes, you must find it hard to even conceptualize this plane of existence… the sheer amount of knowledge must be paralyzing your senses at this very moment.』

『Then I will no longer tattle on much longer. For the sake of your sanity, and because my time is currently limited.』

The being spread its wings as a violet light began to emerge from its eyes and throughout its body.

『Bane of Indra. The dragon who shall asunder the world's flow to a complete stop. The black dragon king, The prison dragon. I go by many names, young devil. But for you… you may simply refer to me as Vritra.』

( i m a g e )

The dragon then approached Saji with its head, moving along gracefully with its serpentine body to observe the devil from every angle.

『Yes… you will do nicely… do you wish to enter an accord with me, young devil? I will follow your will regardless, but should you wish to work with me as partners rather than a crude master-servant bond, then I will assist you to the best of my abilities… Is this something you are interested in?』

"..."

Saji was silent, but the silence was all Vritra needed to understand him. His answer made the dragon ecstatic.

『Excellent. I simply request of you to locate the remaining shards of my being… I will not rebel against you nor harm yourself and those you love… I simply wish to be whole again, dear devil.』

"..."

『Hm? It seems you quite understand what my request would entail for yourself alongside my own benefit. It seems we are quite attuned to one another, dear devil, I'm very pleased to have burrowed myself inside such a reasonable individual.』

"..."

『Nothing averse shall happen due to my appearance. Your master and comrades are doing quite well to repress my energy. They will simply be tired out as a result of our meeting.』

"..."

『Red and White dragon emperors? Longinus evolution? Oh. Those things will be attainable for you dear contractor. My potential was merely hindered by Indra's forces when I was at my weakest. Should you reform my soul once more and dedicate yourself to strength. You will not doubt be able to reach your goal… what an adorable family you have, if I might add.』

"..."

『Yes, it would appear to me that you will soon awake then I shall hurry along with the necessary information you need, dear devil… no… my dear partner.』

Vritra began to coil itself around Saji. The sensation of the dragon's scales more easily conveyed the information the dragon was about to impart to him.

『The name of the Sacred Gear you possess is 「Asura Shresta: O' Demon, Cover All the Heaven and Earth」...』

『Its abilities and uses? I believe a practical demonstration to be fitter to understand it clearly.』

Vritra then manifested a shard of a violet crystal. A shard of its soul.

「Absorption Line: Black Dragon's Pulse」

The crystal manifested itself into the chameleon Sacred Gear Saji was familiar with, but it would soon be gone/

Tens. Hundreds. Thousands. Tens of thousands…million.

Millions of eyes emerged from the shadows of Vritra.

It was as if an army existed inside of it.

『Go, my asuras… consume the fragment into my being…』

In an instant, an army of black serpents burst forth and began to devour the Sacred Gear.

As the serpents did, Saji could feel a surge of power coursing through him. A sensation that Vritra seemed to share as well.

『Ahh~ Does this not feel oh so pleasurable, my dear partner? So work your best to collect the fragments of my soul… that we might partake in this pleasure together more often~』

Saji remained silent, but the dragon grinned with glee. Knowing her partner was in agreement.

『If it's not clear to you yet… your main Sacred Gear holds the ability to consume and assume any of the fragments of myself you encounter… and the ability to call upon my army of Asuras. The force that made even Indra shiver in his britches HAHAHAHA!』

The dragon's hearty roar began to ring throughout the dark plane of existence, but the dragon came to stop once she sensed her meeting with her partner was coming to a close.

『It would seem our meeting has come to a close my dearest partner. Work hard so that you might meet me once more. You and I? We will have a long journey together… I'm sure of it.』

As Vritra said her parting words. Saji's vision turned into nothingness once more.

…

..

.

"What the hell kind of pawn did you recruit Sona…"

Rias spoke out to her childhood friend with bated breath.

"I…am not so sure myself…"

Sona replied, just as equally out of breath as her red-headed friend.

The room they were occupying was destroyed completely.

The ceilings. The magic inscriptions. The walls. The furniture. Everything.

Sona and everyone else failed to contain the energy, and the room collapsed on them all.

But just as they were about to brace for the impact, Saji's body moved.

『Asura Shresta: O' Demon, Cover All the Heaven and Earth』

In an instant, blackish-violet and whitish-violet snake-like lines appeared all across the rooms.

The whitish-violet snakes latched themselves onto the vestiges of the magic inscriptions. Absorbing their remaining magical power.

The blackish-violet snakes meanwhile attached themselves to any remaining support structures. Unmoving and unbreaking. The snakes formed a net that caught all the debris before anyone could get hurt.

"..."

Sona looked in curiosity once more at her pawn.

Saji continued to manifest the snakes which continued to hold the debris.

A pair of mechanical gauntlets manifested in his arms.

( i m a g e )

Sona could feel it… the presence of a dragon… an entity capable of striking fear throughout the three great factions.

Sona wasn't one for unfounded speculation, but she couldn't deny the feeling she was feeling from Saji.

'His aura… is that of a king's… a monarch's

…

..

.

Editor:

Editor-kun#4796

AN:

Thank you for reading this chapter.

I just want to say here that the update schedule of this fanfic will be significantly slower than my Danmachi fanfic.

I am making my way through the light novels, but it will still take a while before I finish.

I will simply write chapters once I feel that my knowledge is sufficient enough for me to do so.

Thank you again for reading. I hope you will be patient for the next chapter. May you have a nice day!