At Kuoh Academy, there was a building surrounded by woods known as the Old School Building, rarely visited by students.
It used to serve as the school's main building, but its secluded location and eerie atmosphere had turned it into a hotspot for ghost stories—rumors of the school's "Seven Mysteries" frequently circulated about the place.
Despite its aged appearance, the wooden structure was actually in good condition—the windows were intact, and at first glance, nothing seemed obviously broken. Old, yes, but hardly run-down.
Yet this inconspicuous building hid a shocking secret.
On the second floor, at the far end of the corridor, stood a classroom marked with a sign: [Occult Research Club].
Not only was its name intimidatingly impressive, but the room's décor itself was bizarre: strange runes scribbled all over the floor, walls, and even the ceiling, accompanied by an enormous, blood-red magic circle covering half the room.
Kuoh Academy's most popular prince, Kiba Yuuto, was currently standing inside this room with its unsettling atmosphere.
"Sorry for bothering you, Buchou. Are you busy right now?"
"Not at all, Yuuto. I'm quite free at the moment. What's the matter—has something happened?"
Seated elegantly near the window, a young woman replied. Her bright crimson hair was even more striking than natural strawberry-blonde, and her impossibly perfect figure radiated a captivating allure.
Rias—Rias Gremory—was her name.
As Yuuto's respectful title implied, she was the president of the Occult Research Club.
Rias was a celebrity at Kuoh Academy, consistently ranked in the top three of the school's unofficial "Most Popular" list.
In fact, everyone currently gathered here was among the school's elite.
Seated on a sofa quietly munching yokan was a petite, white-haired girl named Toujou Koneko. Despite looking like an elementary schooler, she was Kuoh Academy's beloved mascot and resident "moe" character.
Across from Rias, separated by a small table, sat a smiling, raven-haired beauty whose gentle demeanor and graceful presence evoked the ideal of a Yamato Nadeshiko—Himejima Akeno. Together with Rias, they were affectionately called "the Two Onee-samas."
With Kiba Yuuto, Kuoh's beloved prince, present as well, the Occult Research Club was indeed a den of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.
Watching Rias clear the chessboard from their earlier match, Yuuto hesitated before speaking up.
"Something happened today that I find rather unsettling... but I wasn't sure how significant it really was, so I thought it best to inform you, Buchou."
His words immediately sparked Rias's curiosity.
"Oh? If it's something even my trusted knight can't decide, it must be serious. Let's hear it."
Akeno remained silent but watched Yuuto with gentle interest, while Koneko, who'd been wholly focused on her yokan, also turned her gaze curiously toward him.
Under their combined scrutiny, Yuuto began solemnly:
"Well, today we had a new transfer student in our year. She appears to have come from overseas."
Yuuto was a second-year student. Normally, a transfer student wouldn't warrant such attention—even if mid-year transfers were unusual—but Yuuto clearly had more to add.
The key point was…
"The new student introduced herself as 'Jeanne.'"
At those words, Rias and the others instantly became serious.
"When one hears the name Jeanne, the first person that comes to mind is naturally the Saint recognized by the Church."
"Yes. Moreover, she wrote her full name on the blackboard this morning—identical to that historical Saint Jeanne d'Arc—so it can't simply be a misunderstanding due to pronunciation."
Jeanne d'Arc—the Saint of the Church who'd become a legendary heroine during France's Hundred Years' War. As a woman, she'd led French troops from defeat to miraculous victories, reclaiming large swathes of land.
In this world, she was more than a historical figure—Jeanne d'Arc was a saint officially recognized by the Church, especially since angels and devils truly existed.
Yet the so-called Occult Research Club was merely a front. In truth, all its members were devils.
Rias Gremory was the heir of the House of Gremory, one of the 72 noble devil families. Kiba Yuuto, Toujou Koneko, and Himejima Akeno were all her trusted servants—her peerage.
"A saint of the Church, huh… but the real Jeanne d'Arc died long ago. It must be a successor or descendant?"
Rias grew thoughtful, mind racing. "But… I haven't sensed any intrusion into our territory."
Though situated in Japan, Kuoh Town was essentially devil territory, governed by Rias herself. The Academy was practically her personal domain, and its upper management was deeply connected to devils.
Rias maintained vigilant surveillance of Kuoh Town. Intruders like stray devils or rogue priests occasionally appeared, and she always swiftly dealt with them.
The barrier around Kuoh wasn't terribly sophisticated; someone slipping through unnoticed was possible, perhaps. But the Academy was different—it was their home base, protected by a far stronger detection barrier. How could this newcomer arrive undetected?
Yet more concerning than how this supposed church operative had gotten in was the question of her purpose.
Could it be the Church had discovered their identities and now intended to exterminate them?
After all, the Church—God's representatives on earth—and devils were eternal enemies. Though large-scale wars were long past, small conflicts still flared frequently.
While Rias racked her brain, Akeno noticed Yuuto's troubled look.
"Ara ara~ Yuuto seems to have something else he wants to say. Perhaps we should hear him out fully first, Buchou?"
Rias glanced at Yuuto, confirming Akeno's observation, and nodded firmly. "Go on, Yuuto. Anything else notable about this Jeanne?"
"Actually… Before coming here, I met her briefly," Yuuto bowed his head humbly, every inch the loyal knight. "What follows is purely my personal intuition—unsupported by evidence. I hesitated because I didn't want to influence your judgment..."
"It's fine, Yuuto. You're my servant—Rias Gremory's servant. If you feel something is off, speak freely," Rias reassured him gently. "Even unfounded instincts can often lead straight to the truth."
Yuuto felt reassured and continued without further hesitation:
"I don't think this transfer student belongs to the Church—or even the Fallen Angels. I didn't sense any hostility or discomfort from her. There was no trace of holy power."
Once-angels who indulged in sin fell from grace, becoming Fallen Angels. Although expelled from Heaven, they could still wield holy power—deadly poison to devils. Priests, church-aligned or rogue, often used it against devils, exuding an unmistakably loathsome aura.
"And…" Yuuto paused. "Rather than Church or Fallen Angel, she feels... more similar to us devils."
"A devil?"
Rias gasped softly, surprised. Beside her, Akeno and Koneko exchanged puzzled glances.
"Also, she seems deeply annoyed whenever anyone associates her with the historical Jeanne d'Arc," Yuuto added. "She even threatened that if someone confused her with the Saint, she'd skewer them and roast them alive."
"Hmm… Quite reminiscent of how the Church handles devils," Rias mused, her brow furrowed. "But her attitude toward Saint Jeanne d'Arc is troubling…"
"It almost sounds as though she's tired of being compared to that Saint," Akeno suggested gently. "So, what will you do, Buchou?"
Rias hesitated slightly.
"Could this student be on 'our side'?"
"I can't be sure."
"Then… could she just be an ordinary human?"
Rias sighed helplessly.
"Troublesome… We can't confront her openly if she's just an innocent civilian."
Though a devil herself, Rias deeply respected human lives and would never harm innocents willingly.
"However, we must investigate. Leaving a suspicious individual unchecked isn't an option," Rias resolved firmly. "If she has hostile intent, then as Rias Gremory, I'll personally send her flying!"
"And if she truly is just human?" Akeno asked, already knowing the answer.
Rias smiled slightly. "Then perhaps it's time we expanded our peerage."
---
Meanwhile, Jeanne Alter stared blankly at the soda in her hand.
"Wait, I'm a mage, aren't I? Can't I just cast a simple cooling spell to get a nice, cold soda?"
"Arghhh! Dumb brain! Dumb, dumb brain—!"
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T/N: LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO