1.2 To be a Devil

His conscience was heavy. No, even the slightest movement required an unimaginable degree of effort.

His translucent form floated in a deep darkness.

Fujiwara Seiji was convinced that he had died again. Although not as clearly as now, he remembered wandering through this space before he was reincarnated the first time.

"What a shame."

It seemed that his plan hadn't worked. Rias hadn't been interested in using his Evil Pieces on him and reincarnating Seiji into his peerage.

"Just when I've discovered something."

He held out his hand, looking at his form.

At the last moment, he sensed what he had sacrificed to energize his attack. With no magic in his body, Seiji gave away his vitality, which was already nearing its end. But even this small amount of vitality was able to create a devastating attack.

Will.

Wielding his Will in his blade, Seiji had climbed another step to the top of the world.

But now, there were no more chances to try.

At least he knew it.

The result of the accumulation of his efforts.

"You look pleased, for someone who's died for the second time."

The unknown voice sounded through the empty space.

Seiji looked around, searching for its source, but was unable to see anything.

Until a pair of eyes as red as blood opened in space. Its colossal size stared at Seiji, as if seeing an ant.

"Aren't you angry? If it weren't for Truck's curse, you'd have become a powerhouse by now, even in that world."

The voice continued, full of curiosity. Despite the youthful qualities in the voice, it also sounded incredibly old. The two combined to create a feeling of disconnection in those who heard it.

"Was there really a curse?"

It was a silly thing to think of to fake an answer, but who knew if he was right.

"Truck can be quite petty, even about simple things. A small mortal disrupting his isekai schedule must have been the worst thing to happen to him in decades."

There was amusement in the way he spoke. As if he were watching a child's tantrum.

"Now, I should introduce myself, but that won't be important until a long time in the future. So I'd rather extend my proposal to you."

Seiji tried to make a confused face at the bloodshot eyes, but he didn't know if he had succeeded, given that he didn't even have a flesh and blood body.

"Truck's curse only extended as far as your second life. In that case, you're already free of it."

Despite being full of unnecessary pettiness, not even Truck would curse a soul for eternity. To do so was to abuse his own capabilities and responsibilities.

And the Guild would charge him for it.

It always did.

"Rias Gremory is trying to resurrect you at the moment. But since your soul is with me, she's not having much luck."

So it worked.

It was good to know that his preparations had worked.

The assurance that he was no longer cursed was also excellent news.

"My proposal is simple. Let me patronize you. Join the Guild."

"It's been a while since I've seen a crazy bastard like you. Who agrees to die to achieve his ambitions."

"The last few recruits have been boring, so it's time for a change of pace."

The voice didn't bother to give many details, just saying the basics.

But Fujiwara Seiji understood.

As someone who sought the top of the world, he could recognize someone who was in that place and what was on offer.

"What's it like for you? The top?"

His voice traveled through space. There was no eagerness or desire. Just curiosity.

"Boring."

That was answer enough.

Seiji understood, even the unspoken words.

The goal and the journey.

The journey and the goal.

Sometimes it was hard to tell which was more important.

"I accept that."

He had heard enough.

Seiji wasn't afraid of being deceived.

The strongest don't need tricks to conquer something. He just takes it. Everything he wants.

Red Eyes proposal was as real as he said it was.

For Seiji, an opportunity. For him, a way to change the pace.

And it wasn't beyond Seiji to rely on the opportunities on offer to make his way to the top of the world. If he was willing to be reincarnated as a servant and become a devil to gain magic... he could do the same by accepting the offer.

And if it really was an attempt to trick him... working to overcome it would make Seiji even stronger.

"No hesitation. That's insane."

Even though he had expected something like this, Red Eyes still cursed. In the midst of a bunch of deviants, madmen, greedy people and the rare good ones, Seiji was a breath of fresh air.

Simple, but obsessed with pursuing something.

A goal that couldn't be defined as good or evil.

"What I'm about to grant you is called the Celestial System. I won't explain too much, since you can learn as you go."

The Celestial System was one of the new systems being tested by new Guild players. It was an evolution of Celestial Roulette, where there was both a roulette wheel and a simple status system.

There was a lot of potential, but it also depended on its users' ability to collect CP - Celestial Point - and their luck with the draws.

"That said, you now have two options. The first is to be reincarnated again, in a new world. The second is to return to your current world, accepting to be resurrected by Rias piece."

Whichever option he chose, it didn't matter. He was just curious about Seiji's choice.

What to choose...?

To be reborn again or to continue in the present world, but as a reincarnated devil.

It seemed difficult to choose.

"I'm staying."

And since it seemed difficult, Seiji made it simple.

Also as a petty way of repaying Truck-kun who had reincarnated him with a curse.

Now free, he would climb to the top of this world.

Completely erasing whatever satisfaction Truck-kun might have felt at his death.

"Good choice. That's a good world for harvesting CP quickly. I got my start in it myself."

Red Eyes rambled. Such old memories surfacing in his mind.

"A word of advice, take Grayfia. You won't regret it."

With the last words, the bloodshot eyes closed and Seiji felt himself being pulled away from the darkness.

^*^

Celestial System initiated.

10cp granted.

Feats Achieved: Change your Race (10cp). 10cp acquired.

The first thing he noticed when he woke up was the holographic screen in front of him. The gift from the being who invited him to the Guild. The second thing was feeling his body with extra weight, as well as extra warmth.

But the most important was the magic.

The feeling of those dark particles moving internally in his body. Just like what he felt when he was running through a field of flowers completely naked as part of his training in his previous life.

The magic seemed darker than he had imagined, but he figured it had something to do with his current race. There was no reason to complain either. Because what really mattered was that he had finally got his hands on magic. That was the beginning and the end of it. The process and other extra details didn't matter.

And to prove that no effort in training was wasted, he was immediately able to perceive the magic, feeling unusually aligned with it, like old friends. Like when he achieved enlightenment while fixed to a cross while naked... or when he repeatedly converted religions and danced in prayer while naked... Every bit of the training was paying off.

His magical reserves weren't the greatest. It was small, in fact. Even more so compared to the two naked girls lying on Seiji's chest.

But that didn't discourage him either.

Train, learn and fight.

That's how he got to his current level. And that's how he would climb even higher.

To the top of the world.

"Hmm~~ are you awake? Good morning, Seiji-kun~"

With a groggy voice, she stood up while rubbing her eyes and losing the protection of the blanket, displaying her bare breasts jutting out into the open air, her long dark hair falling down her back.

"Akeno...?"

Now that he had really focused on it, Seiji remembered that there were two people lying with him. And that wasn't his bed. This wasn't his room.

"Are you all right now?"

She asked with a small smile on her face, fully aware of her exposure and not at all embarrassed by it.

Seiji found it hard to look away.

"I've gotten better."

Now that his mind was working again, he understood better. Devils healed by sharing their demonic power through direct contact. Or something like that. Seiji couldn't remember all the details.

Since Rias had reincarnated him and his situation was very bad at the end of the fight against Dohnaseek, she must have chosen this method to speed up Seiji's healing process.

The addition of Akeno, however, was more inexplicable.

They were classmates, but Seiji couldn't think of a reason why she would think that sleeping naked with him would be a good idea.

They didn't have that kind of relationship.

Seiji wouldn't know, but Akeno shared why their situation was bad enough for only Rias to handle.

"Can you remember last night?"

Akeno asked as he stood up, fully displaying his body. Her milk-white skin, slim waist and full hips made her very impressive for someone her age. Then there was the way she swayed her hips, which would guarantee appreciative and lustful glances at her.

Seiji gave himself permission to enjoy the view, earning a chuckle from Akeno. He was usually more controlled about his thoughts, but it seemed different now. Whether it was because he had become a devil or because he had achieved magic. The few sensations he could feel beyond his ambition seemed to have been amplified. It wasn't so obvious, but when great sources of sensuality like Akeno were visible, lust presented itself more vigorously.

"Yes, very good."

It wasn't something he was going to forget any time soon, anyway.

He should try it again.

That technique.

This time, use his Will under his magic to recreate that same technique.

And apply his Will to his other techniques.

Seiji was sure that he would progress even further with this. The step to the next rung would be fully established and he could go even further.

He could hardly contain his desire to have another isolated training session.

"Rias will want to explain everything to you, so let's wait for her."

Seiji looked away.

The girl with the crimson-red hair was curled up next to him, her hair strewn across the bed, her bare breasts pressed to the side of Seiji's body, as well as her legs braided with his.

The same girl who had unwittingly been used in Seiji's attempt to gain magic.

He didn't regret using her. There was no guilt or remorse for that.

But he also thought of Rias as a good girl, so he didn't need to be mean to her.

Even his current status as a servant didn't bother him, because it belonged to Rias Gremory.

But of course... If her current status as a servant got in the way of Seiji achieving his ambition, he would crush her. It didn't matter whether or not it was possible to reverse the effects of the Evil Piece.

"For now... Tea or coffee?"

He took his eyes off the sleeping girl and looked at Akeno. She was standing, naked and facing him. There was a gentle smile on her lips, but her eyes sparkled with enjoyment.

His answer only came after he had gotten over the sensation of his blood rushing to the area around his waist.

"... Coffee."

Akeno pouted at her choice, but agreed. She left the room, swaying her waist seductively.

Seiji held her gaze for a few more seconds, finding himself unable to resist.

If Akeno is like this...

What would Grayfia, whom he had been advised to take, be like?

He still didn't understand why he had been advised to do this.

Was it a hint? Was Grayfia involved with the Guild in some way?

These were his thoughts.

Seiji had never considered that Red Eyes had advised him to do this only because he thought Grayfia was too hot to be left out.