The knock came as Algernon was still cataloging his newfound abilities, testing how demonic energy responded to his will.
"Lord Algernon?" A feminine voice, polite but carrying an edge of urgency, filtered through the door.
He blinked, the red motes of power dissipating from his fingertips. Right. He wasn't some isolated protagonist in a vacuum. This was the Gremory Branch House, and even a minor branch still maintained staff.
"Come in."
The door opened to reveal a young maid in a crisp black and white uniform, her brown hair pulled into a neat bun. She curtsied with practiced grace.
"My apologies for disturbing you, Lord Algernon. I've come to remind you of Lady Rias Gremory's birthday celebration this evening." Her eyes flickered to him with barely concealed concern. "As the head of the Branch House, your attendance is expected in the main hall."
Rias's birthday.
The information clicked into place—scattered memories from this body's childhood surfacing like fragments. His ten-year-old self had attended these gatherings before, back when his parents were alive. The grand parties, the political posturing disguised as celebration, the parade of noble families all vying for favor with the main Gremory line.
More importantly, this was his first opportunity to actually meet her. To begin the seemingly impossible side quest of winning the heart of a girl already promised to another.
"What time?" he asked.
"The celebration begins in two hours, my lord."
Algernon nodded. "I'll prepare myself. You're dismissed."
The maid curtsied again and departed, closing the door with a soft click.
Two hours. Not much time, but enough.
He made his way to the washroom—a lavish space of white marble and gold fixtures that would have seemed absurdly extravagant in his previous life. Now it was just... his bathroom. The perks of noble birth, even in a branch family.
Algernon caught sight of himself in the ornate mirror and paused.
Long crimson hair fell past his shoulders, the same blood-red shade as the main Gremory line. A clear marker of his heritage, even if he lacked their signature Power of Destruction. His face still held the softness of childhood—round cheeks, a gentle jawline that hadn't yet sharpened with adolescence. He looked exactly like what he was: a ten-year-old boy playing at nobility.
But his eyes...
Even he could see the difference there. The determination. The hunger. The weight of someone who had lived and died and refused to waste his second chance.
"Eight years," he muttered to his reflection. "Eight years to become someone worthy of standing beside her."
He bathed quickly, letting the hot water ease the lingering tension from his system awakening. The demonic energy thrummed beneath his skin, responding to his emotions, eager to be used. Low-Class Peak. It was a starting point, nothing more.
When he emerged, he dressed in a black tuxedo with gold accents—formal attire befitting his station. The jacket fit well despite his age, tailored to grow with him. Another reminder that this world operated on different rules than his old one.
Algernon adjusted his collar one final time and left his chambers.
The Gremory estate was a masterwork of demonic architecture. Vaulted ceilings stretched impossibly high, held aloft by pillars carved with ancient runes that pulsed with latent power. Stained glass windows depicted the history of the Gremory family—great battles, political triumphs, the faces of ancestors who had shaped the underworld.
His footsteps echoed through the corridors as he made his way toward the main hall. The sounds of celebration grew louder with each step—music, laughter, the murmur of dozens of conversations overlapping.
The grand doors stood open, warm light spilling out into the hallway.
Algernon took a breath, squared his shoulders, and walked inside.
The main hall was breathtaking. A massive chandelier dominated the ceiling, its crystals refracting light into rainbow patterns across the polished floor. Long tables groaned under the weight of delicacies—roasted meats, exotic fruits, pastries that looked almost too beautiful to eat. Demons in formal attire clustered in groups, wine glasses in hand, their conversations a carefully orchestrated dance of politics and pleasantry.
Several heads turned as he entered, but the attention was brief. He was, after all, just the young lord of a branch house. Noteworthy, but not important. Not yet.
"Algernon."
The voice cut through the ambient noise with absolute authority. Algernon turned to find himself face-to-face with Sirzechs Lucifer himself.
The current Satan was everything the legends suggested—tall and imposing, with crimson hair that seemed to shimmer with its own light. But it was his eyes that truly commanded attention, glowing with barely restrained power. This was someone who could erase him from existence with a thought.
Yet Sirzechs smiled warmly, as though greeting an old friend rather than a minor noble.
"Lord Lucifer." Algernon bowed his head respectfully, mind racing. Why would one of the Four Great Satans personally greet him? "The honor is mine. I hope this evening meets your expectations."
"Oh, I'm sure it will. Rias has been looking forward to it." Sirzechs's expression softened when he mentioned his sister. "It's good to see you attending, Algernon. Your parents would have been proud to see you carrying on their legacy."
The words should have stung—a reminder of what he'd lost. But Algernon barely remembered this body's parents beyond fragmented impressions. Still, he accepted the sentiment with a solemn nod.
"I do what I can to honor their memory."
Before Sirzechs could respond, a bell chimed—clear and resonant, cutting through every conversation in the hall.
The birthday girl had arrived.
The crowd parted like water, creating a clear path from the entrance to the center of the hall. Algernon found himself moved by the tide of bodies, ending up with a perfect view of the doorway.
And then she entered.
Rias Gremory was eleven years old, but already carried herself with the poise of someone twice her age. Her crimson hair—even more vibrant than his own—cascaded down her back in perfect waves. She wore a deep blue dress embroidered with silver thread, elegant without being ostentatious.
But it was her eyes that captivated him—blue-green and striking, holding a warmth that seemed at odds with the formality of the occasion.
She smiled as she walked into the hall, and Algernon understood immediately why she would become the heroine of this world. There was something magnetic about her, a charisma that drew people in without effort.
This is who I'm supposed to win over?
The challenge suddenly felt very real.
"Algernon?"
He blinked, tearing his gaze away from Rias to find another familiar face. A young girl stood before him, around Rias's age, with long black hair tied back with a violet ribbon. Her purple eyes studied him with an emotion he couldn't quite place—surprise? Sadness? Hope?
His memories supplied the name: Akeno Himejima.
They had played together as children, back when his parents were still alive. She'd been a friend during simpler times, before loss and responsibility had complicated everything. After his mother's death, he'd withdrawn from everyone, including her.
"Akeno." The name felt strange on his tongue—weighted with a past that technically wasn't his. "It's been a while."
"It has." She smiled, but there was something melancholic in it. "I wasn't sure if you'd remember me."
"Of course I remember." The lie came easily. "I apologize for... distancing myself. After everything happened, I needed time."
"I understand." Akeno's expression brightened slightly. "I'm glad you're here tonight. Rias has been hoping you'd attend."
Before he could question that statement, a soft laugh drew his attention. He'd been staring at Akeno without realizing it, taking in how much she'd changed from the childhood friend in this body's memories. The elegant purple and white dress she wore, the grace in how she carried herself—
"You're staring again, Lord Algernon," Akeno teased, a playful glint in her eyes.
Heat crept up his neck. "Sorry. I was just thinking how much you've grown."
"Is that your way of calling me beautiful?" She tilted her head, clearly enjoying his discomfort.
"I—yes. You look beautiful tonight, Akeno."
Her laugh was genuine this time, warm and unguarded. "Thank you. It's good to see you haven't changed completely."
A trumpet fanfare cut through their conversation, formal and commanding. The crowd's attention shifted fully to Rias as she took her place at the center of the hall, ready to officially begin the evening's festivities.
Algernon watched as various nobles approached to offer their birthday wishes, each interaction a careful dance of respect and political maneuvering. This was the world he'd have to navigate—not just gaining power, but understanding the intricate web of relationships and obligations that governed devil society.
Eight years to win her heart. Eight years to become someone she would choose over a political arrangement with Riser Phenex.
As Rias laughed at something Sirzechs whispered to her, looking every bit the beloved little sister rather than a future pawn in family politics, Algernon felt his resolve crystallize.
The Conqueror System wanted him to conquer the demon race. To claim a Supreme throne.
But right now, in this moment, his goal was simpler.
He needed to become someone worthy of standing beside that girl.
The party had only just begun, but so had his journey.
[Quest Progress Updated]
Side Quest: The Crimson Princess - Progress: 0.1%
First meeting established. Initial impression: Neutral.
(END OF CHAPTER)
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