Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains as Algernon finished his breakfast, mind already cataloging the day's training schedule. Six weeks of energy manipulation practice had yielded excellent results, but he still needed to—
"Young Master?"
One of the estate's maids appeared in the doorway, offering a respectful bow. "Lady Akeno has requested your presence on the lawn near the main manor."
Algernon paused, fork halfway to his mouth. Akeno? They'd seen each other at Rias's birthday party months ago, but she hadn't reached out since. Devils of her station didn't make casual social calls without purpose.
"Did she say why?" he asked.
The maid shook her head. "Only that it was important, and she hoped you could come soon."
Curiosity piqued, Algernon nodded. "Tell her I'll be there shortly."
After the maid departed, he glanced down at his training clothes—practical but hardly appropriate for a formal meeting. Whatever Akeno wanted, showing up looking like he'd just crawled out of a sparring session would be disrespectful.
He changed quickly, opting for a simple white shirt and dark jeans. Comfortable, but presentable. The mirror confirmed he looked more like a young noble and less like someone who spent his days beating himself into unconsciousness through magical depletion.
The walk to the main manor grounds took fifteen minutes. As he approached, Algernon noticed something unusual—the normally pristine but empty lawn had been decorated. Streamers hung between trees, flower arrangements dotted the grass, and a small table held an assortment of refreshments that looked far too elaborate for a casual meeting.
Two figures stood at the center of it all.
Akeno spotted him first, her face lighting up with that familiar, graceful smile. Beside her, Rias Gremory turned, her crimson hair catching the light like spun fire.
Understanding hit him like a physical blow.
'Oh.'
They began walking toward him, and Algernon's mind raced backward through the calendar. Days spent training, studying, pushing himself to the edge of collapse. When had he last checked the actual date? When had he last thought about anything beyond power and progress and—
"Happy Birthday, Algernon," Akeno said warmly as they reached him.
Rias's smile was gentler but no less sincere. "Congratulations on reaching another year. We hope this day brings you joy."
Algernon stood frozen, words catching in his throat. His birthday. Eleven years old today in this body, though his mind carried memories of a life that had ended at twenty-three.
In his previous existence, birthdays had been... perfunctory. A date on the calendar acknowledged by family obligation and perhaps a few friends on social media. Nothing special. Nothing like this.
But here, now, two people had taken the time to prepare this for him. For someone who was, by all rights, just a minor noble from a branch family. Someone with no political importance, no powerful connections, no value beyond potential friendship.
They'd done this simply because they cared.
The realization settled warm in his chest, melting something he hadn't realized had frozen solid.
"Thank you," he managed, and was surprised to find his voice steady despite the sudden tightness in his throat. "I... honestly forgot what day it was."
Akeno laughed softly. "That sounds like you. Always so focused on training that you forget to actually live."
"Come," Rias gestured toward the decorated area. "We prepared some things. Nothing too extravagant—I hope that's alright."
"It's perfect," Algernon said, and meant it.
They settled around the small table, conversation flowing naturally. Rias asked about his studies, genuinely interested in what texts he'd been reading. Akeno teased him about his training obsession while simultaneously expressing admiration for his dedication. They shared stories about recent events in the main Gremory household, the kind of casual gossip that made the underworld's nobility feel more human.
For someone who had spent months in near-isolation, pushing himself to inhuman limits, it was... nice. Unexpectedly so.
An hour passed like minutes. The sun climbed higher, casting dappled shadows through the trees. Algernon found himself laughing at one of Akeno's stories about a visiting noble who'd gotten thoroughly lost in the manor's corridors.
"You know," Rias said during a lull in conversation, "when Akeno first suggested this, I wasn't sure if you'd appreciate it. You always seem so... driven. Focused on larger goals."
"I am," Algernon admitted. "But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate this. Quite the opposite, actually."
Akeno's smile turned knowing. "Good. Because we have one more surprise."
She produced a box from beneath the table—crimson wrapping with gold ribbon, the Gremory colors. The craftsmanship of the wrapping alone suggested something significant inside.
"This is from both of us," Akeno said, sliding it across the table.
Algernon accepted it carefully, aware of their expectant gazes. Whatever this was, it mattered to them that he received it properly.
He unwrapped it slowly, respectfully. The box beneath was polished wood, inlaid with intricate designs. And inside...
His breath caught.
Evil Pieces.
A complete set rested in velvet-lined compartments—eight pawns, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and a queen. Each piece gleamed with a subtle inner light, the mark of genuine Evil Pieces rather than decorative replicas.
"As the future head of the Gremory Branch House," Rias said formally, though her tone remained warm, "you're entitled to your own set of Evil Pieces. These will allow you to build your own peerage when you're ready."
Algernon stared at the pieces, mind racing through implications. Evil Pieces were more than just tools—they were a statement of status and trust. Only High-Class devils and above typically received them, and even then, the distribution was carefully controlled.
For a Mid-Class devil barely into his teens to receive a set...
"This is..." he started, then stopped, searching for adequate words. "This is an incredible honor. Thank you. Both of you."
"There's more to it than honor," Rias said, her expression growing serious. "These pieces represent responsibility, Algernon. Each person you reincarnate becomes bound to you—not just magically, but through trust and loyalty. Your peerage will be those who stand beside you, fight for you, potentially die for you. Choose wisely."
Akeno nodded in agreement. "A King is only as strong as their pieces. But a peerage isn't built on power alone—it's built on bonds. Remember that."
Their words carried weight, the kind that came from personal experience. Algernon knew Rias's peerage in canon would be small but fiercely loyal, each member chosen for more than just raw ability.
He carefully closed the box, meeting their gazes. "I understand. I won't take this lightly."
The formal moment passed, conversation returning to lighter topics, but Algernon's mind kept circling back to the box now sitting beside him. Evil Pieces. His own peerage. Another step toward the impossible goals the Conqueror System had set before him.
As the afternoon wore on and they finally prepared to part ways, Algernon felt something he hadn't experienced since arriving in this world—a sense of genuine connection. Not strategic networking or political maneuvering, but actual friendship.
"Thank you," he said again as they prepared to leave. "For this. For remembering. For... everything."
Rias's smile was radiant. "What are friends for?"
Akeno added with a playful wink, "Besides, now you owe us birthday presents when our turns come around."
They departed with waves and well-wishes, leaving Algernon alone on the decorated lawn. He stood there for a long moment, box in hand, feeling the weight of genuine emotion for the first time in months.
'Family,' he thought distantly. 'This is what having family feels like.'
He'd lost his parents in both lives. But maybe, just maybe, he was building something here that could fill that void.
With careful reverence, Algernon made his way back to his quarters, the box held securely against his chest.
The Evil Pieces sat on his desk, the box open to display their arrangement. Algernon had been studying them for several minutes, mind cataloging everything he knew about the system from his meta-knowledge.
Standard pieces. No mutations visible, no special properties beyond the baseline power they provided. Still incredibly valuable, but not the legendary mutation pieces that had made certain peerages in canon devastatingly powerful.
'Still,' he thought, 'the fact that I have them at all is—'
[System Notification: Inventory Function Unlocked]
Algernon jerked upright, the familiar voice of the Conqueror System echoing in his mind.
A new interface materialized before him—a grid of empty spaces, organized and ready to store items. The inventory function, one of the standard features he'd expected from the beginning but which had remained locked until now.
Before he could explore it further, another notification appeared.
[System Notification: Evil Pieces Detected]
[Initiating Mutation Process...]
The pieces began to glow.
Algernon watched, transfixed, as crimson-black energy erupted from each piece. The light was almost painful to look at directly, power radiating in waves that made his demon energy core resonate in response.
The mutation process lasted thirty seconds that felt like an eternity. When the light finally faded, the pieces looked... different. The same basic shapes remained, but each now carried an ominous gleam, their surfaces seeming to absorb and reflect light in impossible ways.
[Mutation Complete]
[All Evil Pieces Successfully Enhanced]
[Effect: Pieces will provide significantly enhanced base stats to all peerage members. Additionally, pieces carry latent ability to evolve based on member's ambitions and conquered challenges.]
Algernon slowly reached out and picked up one of the pawns. It felt heavier than before, dense with potential. The crimson-black glow pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat.
Mutation pieces. Legendary artifacts that maybe one in a thousand sets possessed. And the system had just granted him an entire set of them.
he thought, reading the description again. 'Enhanced stats and evolution based on ambition and conquest. Perfect for a system literally called the Conqueror System.'
This changed everything. Standard pieces could reincarnate beings and grant them devil powers. Mutation pieces could create monsters.
With trembling hands, Algernon willed open his status screen, needing to see his current standing.
_________________________________________
STATUS
Name: Algernon Azeroth
Age: 11
Race: Demon (Pure Demon Energy Core)
Lifespan: Infinite (Supreme Candidate)
Class: Tier 1 - Mid-Class (Low)
Title: King
Evil Pieces: Fully Mutated (Conqueror's Brand - Crimson-Black)
Main World: Draconic Deus
Skills:
Demon Physiology: Mid-Class (Physical enhancement, energy manipulation) Dimensional Awareness: Dormant Advanced Energy Manipulation: 13% Mastery
Talents: [LOCKED]
Dimensional Jump Gate Creation
Unlock Condition: Conquer Main World
_____________________________________________
MAIN QUEST: Conquer the Demon Race
Progress: 0.01%
SIDE QUEST: The Crimson Princess
Progress: 2.1%
Time Remaining: 7 years, 1 month
_______________________________________________
The status readout confirmed what he'd suspected—his progress was measurable but still painfully small. 13% energy manipulation mastery after months of dedicated practice. 2.1% progress on winning Rias's heart from a single friendly birthday celebration.
The scale of his goals was staggering.
But then a new notification appeared.
______________________________________________
[New Side Quest: The First Piece]
Objective: Recruit a being of exceptional potential as your first peerage member.
Reward: Information regarding location and timing of your next ideal peerage candidate.
Note: Quality over quantity. Choose wisely—your first piece sets the foundation for all that follows.
______________________________________________
Algernon leaned back in his chair, staring at the glowing Evil Pieces on his desk. The system was pushing him forward again, creating new objectives that aligned with his ultimate goals.
His first peerage member. It would need to be someone special—not just powerful, but someone whose ambitions and character fit with his own. Someone who could grow alongside him, evolve with those mutation pieces, become a cornerstone of his eventual conquest.
'No pressure,' he thought wryly.
With a mental command, he activated the inventory function. The Evil Pieces vanished from his desk, stored safely in their own dedicated slots within the system's dimensional space. Secure, accessible, and impossible for anyone else to steal or tamper with.
Algernon stood and walked to the window, gazing out at the underworld's perpetual twilight. Somewhere out there was his first peerage member. Someone waiting to be found, their potential unrealized, their ambitions unfulfilled.
He just had to find them.
"King," he murmured, testing the title on his tongue. It fit better than he'd expected.
The game was indeed beginning. Not just his personal journey toward power, but the formation of something greater—a peerage that would eventually stand beside him as he conquered worlds.
But first, more training. Always more training.
Tomorrow he'd resume his energy manipulation practice, continue building toward High-Class, work on the multitasking exercises that still gave him trouble.
Tonight, though, he allowed himself to simply sit with the weight of what had happened. A birthday celebrated by friends. Evil Pieces that represented trust and responsibility. Mutation that transformed them into legendary artifacts.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Algernon felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be.
The path forward was clear. Difficult, yes. Dangerous, certainly.
But clear.
(END OF CHAPTER)
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