Once I realized where I was, I decided to think about the situation. And when I say think about the situation, I mean trying to find out what I wanted to do.
I had some knowledge about this world to a certain point. I did remember a lot of things, like events happening, name of important characters, location and the like.
With all of that, I could do a lot of things, so the question was, what do I want of this life ?
I could realistically create one of the most powerful peerage with that knowledge, and become a rating game champion.
I could also chose to become some kind of diplomat, or problem solver. Heck, I could probably easily become a harem king instead of Issei.
But what do I really wanted ? In the end, I decided I wanted nothing with the plot. I already had everything one needed. I was wealthy, even if I didn't become the heir (I wasn't really sure how the heir was decided, and there was a possibility for Milicas to be choosen I think. I mean, he was the eldest son of the eldest son). I was politically powerful as a member of the main branch of the Grimory. And while I wasn't sure about my personal power, taking Rias and Sirzechs as a base, I had at least nice genetics.
And so I decided I was going to find a wife. Fund a little business so as to not be considered a parasitic leech by the family. And after that ? Indulge into life pleasures.
That was the plan at least.
And boy, did thing go wrong.
The first problem ? It seem like devil genetics did not like me. I learned during my sixth year that I had neither the Bael power of destruction, or the Gremory power of luck. That in itself made it clear I would NOT became the heir.
Honestly, when we found out, I didn't care that much. I had no intention to fight anyone, so I thought at least I'll have an excuse to hide in the back. And not being the heir did not bother me either. From what I could see from my father, dealing with paperwork seemed boring and a huge task. And from what I heard, the meetings with the devil council were a waste of time with backstabbing bastards all around you.
So honestly ? I felt relieved. Better Rias or Milicas than me.
The problem was that the family did not see it that way. My father stopped to care for me right when he got the news. My elder brother started to look at me with pity at first. But it changed from pity to indifference during the years. In the end, he simply stopped talking to me unless directly addressed. And when I did, his annoying wife/maid/queen would ALWAY interrupt saying he was busy at the moment. Damn did I hate her. She was the worst. The way she looked at me like I was a cockroach was disheartening.
And wasn't that a reality check for me. I mean, I got it really, I don't have a special power, but come on, my magical power was still extremely large for a kid my age. I just didn't get why it was that much of a problem.
When I asked Venelana, my mother, her answer ? She told me frankly that a member of a family that didn't have the family magic was a blight on the family. The reason ? The consensus is that the mother cheated with an inferior being, diluting the noble blood of a great house. Lucky for my mother, Rias could use the power of destruction, and since she was my twin, it was obvious she didn't cheat. So she was in the clear. But because of that I was considered even more worthless since my sister could use both power, and me none.
My mother still loved me... I think. It was hard to tell because she was clearly a master manipulator. When I was a kid she wasn't wary enough of me so I saw a few of the things she did and Satan be damned, my father was completely dancing to her tune like a finely crafted puppet when she wanted. It was scary.
The worst ? Rias.
In the beginning we had a very good relationship. But when the servants started to threat her much better than me, or simply outright ignoring me, things changed. She realized she was more important than me. At first the change wasn't much. But as time passed by she became less warm toward me, more haughty, and I realized that pride was really a wicked sin.
You need you to understand than at first I was considered a genius. I didn't hide that I understood things quickly. I thought it would be an excuse to have access to more books. Since I already had a good education, I didn't want to spend my days learning the same things.
And especially when I realized that I was learning things so much faster. Was it because I was a devil ? Because I was a kid ? Because I was a reincarnator ? I didn't know, and didn't care. All I knew was that I had an opportunity, and I took it. And so I learned.
Science, Literature, History, but most of all ? Magic and crafting. I was told I had an average talent for magic but I was a gifted crafter. I had inspiration, a lot of it. So i learned to paint, to sculpt, to create music sheet and so much more. Art was something great.
As for magic ? Of course I learned everything I could. Even if I was told I was average, who cares. It was MAGIC. But that was also when I realized something with devils. Hard work was barely valued, but talent ? Talent was everything.