The red magic circle blazed to life, crimson light spilling across the clearing like liquid fire. The air itself seemed to warp and shimmer as Rias Gremory stepped through, her crimson hair catching the light and seeming to burn with its own inner radiance.
Her blue-green eyes swept the scene in an instant— three frozen corpses positioned around the clearing like grotesque ice sculptures, and the blonde nun kneeling beside Yuuto with trembling hands wreathed in gentle green light.
Then she saw the blood running down his arm.
"Yuuto!"
She crossed the distance in a heartbeat, dropping beside him with none of her usual composed grace. Her hand hovered over the wound, not quite touching, as if afraid she might hurt him worse.
"What happened?! Are you alright?" The concern in her voice was raw, genuine—this wasn't the composed heiress of House Gremory, this was someone who'd just seen family get hurt.
"I'm fine, President. Just a cut" Yuuto kept his voice steady, though he let exhaustion bleed through at the edges. The wound throbbed with each heartbeat, a dull burning that Asia's healing magic was slowly washing away. "Three Fallen Angels ambushed me during training. They had the barrier up and tried to kill me even before I could call you here."
Rias's head snapped toward the frozen statues. Her eyes tracked from Dohnaseek's gaunt features locked in agony, to Kalawarner's beautiful face twisted in shock, to Mittelt's small form caught mid-scream with one hand reaching desperately for escape that would never come.
Demonic power rolled off Rias in waves, making the air ripple like heat haze. Her hands clenched into fists, and for a moment red energy crackled around her fingertips—the Power of Destruction responding to her rage.
"They attacked you." Her voice came out quiet. Too quiet "In my territory. How dare they tried to kill my precious servant. This is unforgivable!"
She stood abruptly and stalked toward Mittelt's frozen corpse. Her movements were sharp, angry, each step crushing fallen leaves with more force than necessary.
"Yuuto, you did this?" She circled the statue slowly, examining it with analytical precision even through her fury. This was more of a question to herself rather than to me.
Pride and anger warred in her tone. Pride that her Knight was strong enough to survive. Anger that he'd been forced to fight at all.
"I didn't have much choice, but to give it my all to save myself" Yuuto said, flexing his healing arm experimentally. The skin was knitting back together, pink and tender but functional in embrace of ethereal green glow.
He gestured toward Asia, who flinched at the attention but kept her hands steady, kept the green light flowing into his wound.
"Buchou. She is Asia Argento, the nun I told you about. The one with Twilight Healing."
Rias's gaze snapped to Asia, sharp and assessing. The nun's hands trembled harder, but she didn't stop healing, didn't pull away as Rias eased around her, seeing her getting uncomfortable in her presence.
"Is this true?" Rias asked. Her voice was gentler now, but still carried seriousness within "Were you with them?"
"I—yes" Asia's voice came out barely above a whisper "They made me come. They said they needed someone to heal them if they got hurt" Her green eyes lifted for just a moment before dropping back down "I didn't knew they were going to kill Yuuto san"
'You're doing great, Asia'
The demonic power pressing against the clearing intensified, making Asia flinch that she might be blown to smithens, but a little nod of assurance from Yuuto, made her calm as he stood up next to her.
"They used you as a hostage..Forced you to support them while they tried to kill Yuuto."
Rias turned back to the frozen Fallen Angels. Her fist clenched tighter, and Yuuto saw red sparks dance across her knuckles. For a heartbeat, he thought she might blast the corpses into atoms just to have something to destroy.
*Perfect,* he thought, keeping his expression carefully neutral. *She's furious. Exactly as planned.*
This was what he'd counted on. Rias was kind and compassionate to her peerage—she treated them like family, not servants. And when someone threatened her family? She became dangerous.
"This can't be overlooked." Rias's voice was cold now, controlled fury wrapped in ice. "I need to contact my brother, immediately. He has to know Fallen Angels are operating in my territory, targeting my peerage."
"President, is that really necessary?" Yuuto tried to sound reluctant, like he didn't want to cause more trouble. "I handled it. They're dead. Maybe we don't need to escalate—"
"Yuuto." Rias turned to face him, and her expression softened just slightly. "This isn't about whether you handled it. You did—you're alive, and they're not. I'm proud of you for that." Her eyes hardened again. "But this is about principle. They attacked someone under my protection. That demands a response."
*There it is. The protective King defending her pieces.*
Yuuto nodded slowly, playing the dutiful servant who deferred to his King's judgment. "I understand, President."
"Good." Rias looked at Asia again, and her voice gentled. "You're coming with us. We'll talk more at the clubroom."
Asia's eyes widened. "I—I don't want to cause trouble—"
"You're not causing trouble.." Rias extended a hand toward the frightened nun. "Come on. Let's get both of you,somewhere safe."
Asia stared at the offered hand like it might burn her, then slowly, hesitantly reached out and took it.
Rias helped her to her feet with surprising gentleness, then turned to Yuuto. "Head back to the clubroom first. I'll bring Asia and handle cleanup here."
The transportation circle formed beneath Yuuto's feet, red light enveloping him completely.
"Understood, President."
---
The Occult Research Club materialized around him—afternoon sunlight streaming through tall windows, the sweet scent of jasmine tea lingering in the air, comfortable furniture and shelves packed with old books creating an atmosphere of warmth and safety.
Koneko looked up from her manga on the couch. Her small nose twitched once.
"...Blood."
She set the manga aside and padded over with silent, cat-like grace. Her golden eyes fixed on the pink scar running down his forearm, still fresh enough that traces of blood clung to the surrounding skin.
"Senpai's hurt." Flat. Emotionless. But Yuuto had learned to read Koneko's subtle cues—the slight tension in her shoulders, the way her eyes lingered on the wound. She was worried.
*Koneko shows concern through actions, not words,* he reminded himself.
"Ara ara~"
Akeno emerged from the kitchenette, teacup in hand. Her violet eyes found his arm immediately, and her perpetual gentle smile froze on her face.
"My my, Yuuto-kun." Her voice still carried that sweet, musical quality, but something dangerous flickered beneath the surface. "Someone's made you bleed."
Purple lightning crackled faintly around her free hand.
"Who did this?" The sweetness in her voice didn't match the killing intent radiating from her frame.
"It's already taken care of, Akeno-san." Yuuto raised his hands placatingly, careful to project calm reassurance. "Really. The wound's healed, and—"
"That's not what I asked" The lightning intensified, dancing up her arm now like living serpents. "I want to know who hurt you."
"Fallen Angels." Yuuto said it simply, watching her reaction carefully. "Three of them ambushed me in the forest."
The temperature plummeted.
Akeno's smile never wavered, but her eyes went cold—absolutely, terrifyingly cold. The teacup in her hand cracked, hairline fractures spreading across the porcelain as her grip tightened unconsciously.
"Fallen Angels." She repeated the words like a curse. " I'll rip their wings off piece by piece. Pull out every feather one by one until they're screaming for mercy they won't—"
"Akeno, calm down."
Rias's voice cut through the mounting bloodlust as she arrived in the center of the room, Asia stumbling in behind her looking small and terrified.
"Yuuto already killed them. All three."
Akeno blinked. The lightning dissipated as surprise broke through her rage. "He... all three?"
"...Not surprising." Koneko's flat voice carried a hint of something that might have been pride. "Senpai's strong."
*If only you knew how strong,* Yuuto thought, suppressing the urge to laugh. *That fight should have lasted thirty seconds, not three minutes.*
But he kept his expression modest, almost embarrassed. "They were troublesome, but nothing I couldn't handle with the training I've been doing."
His gaze drifted to Akeno, who'd gone very still. The gentle smile was back on her face, but something haunted lurked in her eyes now. Her hands trembled slightly—so slightly most people wouldn't notice.
*She's thinking about it,* Yuuto realized with a sinking feeling. *About her fallen angel heritage. Wondering if I'd hate her if I knew.*
He watched her body language shift—the way she angled herself slightly away from him, the way her smile became just a fraction more fixed, more false. The self-loathing was there, buried deep but present.
*Damn it.*
He'd known this might happen. Fallen Angels attacking him would only deepen Akeno's hatred of that side of herself. Would push her further from accepting her past, from embracing both halves of her heritage.
*I can't have all the consequences work in my favor,* he thought grimly. *Something always has to give.*
He'd have to talk to her later. Carefully. Make sure she understood that nothing had changed between them, that he didn't blame her for what other Fallen Angels did.
But that was a problem for another time.
Right now, Asia was standing near Rias looking like she wanted to disappear into the floor, and everyone was staring at her with varying degrees of curiosity.
"Everyone," Rias said, gesturing for Asia to step forward. "This is Asia Argento. The nun Yuuto told us about."
Asia took the smallest step forward possible, hands clasped in front of her. "H-hello..." Her voice barely carried. "I'm sorry for intruding..."
*So shy,* Yuuto thought. *Poor girl's terrified.*
"The Fallen Angels forced her to come with them," he said, keeping his voice firm and confident. "Made her heal them during the fight. She didn't have a choice."
Rias nodded. "Which is why I'm going to ask her some questions. Asia, why were you with Fallen Angels to begin with?"
Asia flinched like she'd been slapped. Her hands twisted together, knuckles going white.
"I... after the church exiled me, I had nowhere to go." The words came out haltingly, like each one hurt. "The Fallen Angels found me. They said they'd give me shelter, a place to stay. I thought... I thought they were being kind."
"Exiled?" Akeno's voice had gone soft, genuinely curious now. "Why would the church exile someone with a healing Sacred Gear?"
"Because I healed a devil."
The confession dropped into silence.
Asia's voice cracked, tears gathering in her eyes but not quite falling. "I didn't know who he was. I just saw someone dying, someone who needed help, and I..." She squeezed her eyes shut. "I couldn't let him die. But the church found out. They called me a heretic. Said I'd betrayed God by showing compassion to his enemy."
The room went very quiet.
"...Church is stupid," Koneko said flatly.
Akeno's expression softened, genuine sympathy replacing the earlier violence. "How cruel. To punish someone for simple kindness..." Something bitter flickered across her face. "How very like them."
Rias moved to stand directly in front of Asia. "So the Fallen Angels took you in. Used your Sacred Gear, forcing you to keep them healed while they tried to kill him."
Asia nodded miserably. "I'm so sorry. I never wanted anyone to get hurt because of me. If I'd just—"
"You didn't do anything wrong," Rias interrupted gently but firmly. "They manipulated you. Used your kindness against you." She paused, considering. "Which is why I want to make you an offer."
Asia's head snapped up, confusion and fear warring in her green eyes. "An offer?"
"Asia, Become a devil" Rias crossed her arms and she smiled as she was welcoming a new employee "Join my peerage."
"As a member of House Gremory, you'll have my protection," Rias continued, her voice warm but serious. "A purpose. People who won't throw you away for being compassionate. You'll have a real family here."
Asia's eyes couldn't believe what she was witnessing as she repeated what she just heard, "Really? A family"
Rias nodded "But I need to be honest with you. Once you become a devil, you won't be able to pray to God anymore. It'll hurt if you try. Can you accept that?"
Asia's gaze dropped. Her mind raced, thoughts tumbling over each other too fast to process.
*A devil. She wants me to become a devil.*
She looked at Yuuto, who smiled encouragingly. She looked at Koneko, who'd defended her without hesitation. At Akeno, whose eyes held understanding born of personal pain. At Rias, who was offering not pity, but belonging.
*They're devils. But they've shown me more kindness in one day than the church did in years.*
She thought about being alone again. Running. Hiding. Always afraid. Always waiting for the next person to use her and throw her away.
Or she could stay here. She could help. She could protect Yuuto-san and the others with her healing. She could actually be useful instead of just a burden.
*I can be helpful. I can make sure Yuuto-san doesn't get hurt again and I can be helpful to people, who consider me as a family*
Determination crystallized in her chest, hard and bright.
Asia lifted her head, meeting Rias's eyes directly for the first time. "I want to become a devil." Her voice was stronger now, steadier. "Please let me join your peerage. I want to help Yuuto-san and everyone."
Rias smiled—warm, welcoming, genuine. "Then welcome to House Gremory, Asia Argento."
She pulled a chess piece and held it outright.
"This is a Bishop piece. It'll enhance your magical power and make your Sacred Gear even stronger." She held it up for Asia to see, then gestured to the center of the room. "
Asia moved to the spot as she stood there, confused about what was going to happen next.
Rias placed the Bishop piece against Asia's chest. It pulsed with crimson light, demonic energy radiating outward in waves that made the air itself vibrate.
"I, Rias Gremory, command you." Her voice took on a ceremonial weight, resonating through the room with power. "In the name of the Duke of Hell, Gremory. You, Asia Argento, will be reborn as my servant. You will be reborn as a devil and live your second life for me."
The Bishop piece sank into Asia, dissolving into light that spread through her entire body like wildfire.
Asia gasped. Her back arched, eyes going wide as the transformation seized her. Blonde hair seemed to shine brighter, catching light that shouldn't be there. Green eyes flickered with hints of crimson. The gentle, holy aura that had clung to her since birth evaporated like morning dew, replaced by something darker, more complex—demonic power, raw and new and overwhelming.
When it finished, she slumped forward. Rias caught her with practiced ease.
"Easy now. The transformation can be disorienting. Just breathe."
Asia did, taking slow, shaky breaths until the world stopped spinning. When she looked up, her eyes were back to their normal green, but something fundamental had changed in them.
She was still Asia. Still kind. Still gentle.
But now she was also something more.
A devil.
"How do you feel?" Rias asked softly.
Asia considered the question, taking inventory of her body. Everything felt... different. Sharper. Stronger. Like she'd been living her entire life wrapped in cotton and someone had finally pulled it away.
"Yuuto" Rias glanced at her knight and said "You should head home and get recovered"
*A day off sounds perfect right about now,* Yuuto thought.
"What about Asia?" he asked.
Rias smiled. "I'll explain the peerage system to her. Her duties as a devil. Everything she needs to know." She glanced at Asia with surprising gentleness. "Don't worry. I'll take good care of your friend."
Yuuto felt relief wash through him. "Thank you, President."
He gave Asia an encouraging smile, then nodded to Koneko and Akeno. "See you all later."
---
His apartment materialized around him—quiet, familiar, safe.
Yuuto made it three steps before his legs gave out. He dropped onto his bed face-first, not bothering with shoes or clothes or anything resembling proper sleep hygiene.
*It worked.*
The thought brought a wave of relief so intense it was almost painful.
*Asia's in the peerage. She's safe. Protected. Rias doesn't suspect anything. My real power is still secret.*
Nobody was watching him more closely. Nobody was asking uncomfortable questions about where his abilities came from or how he'd really defeated three Fallen Angels without breaking a sweat.
He'd pulled it off.
But the relief was tinged with something else. Something that tasted like ash.
*Guilt.*
He'd lied to them. Manipulated the situation. Used Asia as part of a cover story to hide his true capabilities.
Rias thought he'd been pushed to his limits. Akeno thought he'd been in genuine danger. Koneko thought he'd won through hard training and determination.
None of them knew the truth—that the fight had been completely one-sided, that he could have ended it in seconds if he'd wanted to, that the wound on his arm was self-inflicted theater designed to sell a story.
*But what choice did I have?*
If he'd told the truth, they'd want to know where the power came from. They'd want to know about the system, about the character cards, about everything he couldn't possibly explain.
They'd start watching him. Questioning him. Restricting what he could do, where he could go, who he could interact with.
*This was the only way. The only way to keep everyone safe and avoid complications, until I have no choice, but to reveal them*
The guilt didn't go away, but he shoved it down, locked it in a box in the back of his mind with all the other uncomfortable feelings he couldn't afford to examine too closely.
He had more important things to focus on.
Yuuto sat up and raised his hand. The familiar blue screen materialized in front of him, its glow casting sharp shadows across his face.
**[SYSTEM]**
**[Character Cards Available: 1]**
**[Use Card?]**
**[YES] / [NO]**
He selected YES.
The card materialized, spinning slowly in the air before settling to reveal its contents. Yuuto's eyes widened as he read the description.
**[Character Card: Kira Yoshikage]**
**[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable]**
**[Description: A perfectionist serial killer who desires nothing more than a quiet, peaceful life free from attention or suspicion. Possesses the Stand "Killer Queen," which grants him the power to turn anything he touches into a bomb. Highly intelligent, cautious, and methodical in his approach to murder. Will go to extreme lengths to maintain his ordinary lifestyle and eliminate anyone who threatens to expose his true nature.]**
**[Stand Ability: Killer Queen]**
**Primary Bomb:** Can turn any object or person into a bomb by touching them with Killer Queen's hands. Detonation occurs at the user's discretion. Explosions completely obliterate the target, leaving no trace behind.
**Sheer Heart Attack:** A heat-seeking automatic Stand that takes the form of a miniature tank. Pursues the hottest object in range with relentless determination. Nearly indestructible and operates independently of the main Stand.
**Bites the Dust:** (Third Bomb) When implanted into a non-Stand user, creates a temporal loop. If someone learns information about the user's identity from the host, they are killed by an explosion and time rewinds one hour. Requires the user to sacrifice direct control of Killer Queen.]**
**[Skills Acquired:**
**- Stand: Killer Queen (All Abilities Unlocked)**
**- Meticulous Planning**
**- Evidence Elimination**
**- Enhanced Situational Awareness**
**- Maintaining Normalcy Under Pressure]**
Yuuto stared at the screen for a long moment, his mind trying to process what he was seeing.
*Killer Queen.*
A Stand that turned things into bombs. That could eliminate targets without leaving a single trace of evidence. That could make problems disappear so completely it was like they'd never existed.
*And Bites the Dust...*
Insurance against exposure. A temporal loop that would protect his identity even if everything went wrong.
*This is...*
He didn't know whether to laugh or be disturbed.
The system had just given him the abilities of a serial killer. Someone who'd spent decades murdering people while maintaining the appearance of a perfectly ordinary, unremarkable life.
Someone who'd perfected the art of hiding in plain sight.
*How fitting.*
. . .
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