"Huh? Sister?"
Sona, who knew her sister's voice all too well, tensed the moment she recognized the familiar sing-song tone calling from outside.
Turning toward the source of the sound, she spotted a familiar figure flying through the air, a magical girl in an elaborate pink costume, descending from the sky with theatrical flair.
"Sona-chan!~~" Serafall called out cheerfully as she flew directly toward her younger sister.
"Boom!"
Without hesitation, Sona pivoted and drove her elbow straight into Serafall's abdomen. Of course, with the vast power difference between them, the strike had absolutely no effect, it was purely symbolic, a physical manifestation of Sona's anger.
"Privately using my Evil Pieces to reincarnate Takeyo without my permission... Sister, how dare you show your face here!" Sona hissed, her violet eyes flashing behind her glasses.
This matter had crossed a line she couldn't ignore. Her Evil Pieces were her responsibility, her future peerage, and Serafall had taken them without asking, wasting them on a failed reincarnation attempt that had accomplished nothing except creating complications.
But Serafall, being exactly the type who could be detested by her sister and still cling on shamelessly, completely ignored the hostility. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Sona's waist and hugged her tightly.
"Wait... wait, Sister!" Sona's composure cracked as her face flushed with embarrassment. "Not here! Look at the occasion!"
Her sister was being affectionate with her in front of everyone, in the Occult Research Club, no less, with Rias and her entire peerage watching!
"But Sona-chan, your sister knows she did something wrong~~" Serafall said, her pink eyes shimmering with crocodile tears. "That's why I came to show my sincerity~~"
"Sincerity?" Sona asked suspiciously, adjusting her glasses with her free hand.
The reincarnation had already failed. What could Serafall possibly offer at this point?
"Yes! I went to find Ajuka!~~" Serafall announced proudly, puffing out her chest. "He can definitely solve Sona-chan's problem!~~"
"Wait, Lord Serafall?" Rias's eyes widened in genuine shock. "The Ajuka you're referring to... you mean Satan Ajuka Beelzebub?"
She'd known that powerful servants sometimes required multiple pieces for successful reincarnation, but going to another Satan for help with a single reincarnation seemed excessive. Then again, considering Takeyo had just absorbed her Evil Pieces without showing any signs of transformation either...
Actually, maybe it wasn't excessive at all. In fact, it might be absolutely necessary.
But wait, Serafall had approached Ajuka before knowing that Rias would also attempt to reincarnate Takeyo, hadn't she? That meant she'd gone to a fellow Satan immediately after learning that Sona's pieces alone hadn't been sufficient.
The level of favoritism Serafall showed toward her younger sister was genuinely staggering.
"That's right!~~ Rias-chan, come on out, Ajuka-kun!~~" Serafall called out cheerfully, waving her magic wand through the air.
Following her gesture, a green magic circle materialized on the floor of the Occult Research Club, pulsing with complex patterns that radiated immense power.
"Oh? This is the same magic that was embedded in that crystal orb," Takeyo observed quietly, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed the spell's structure.
Sorry, but I can replicate this simple projection magic too now, he thought with mild amusement.
Under everyone's watchful gaze, a man's phantom form appeared within the glowing circle, a projection rather than a physical presence.
The figure was strikingly handsome, appearing to be in his early twenties with distinctive green hair slicked back and light blue eyes that gleamed with profound intelligence. He possessed an almost otherworldly beauty, and his entire bearing radiated the mysterious aura of someone who dealt in secrets and forbidden knowledge.
As soon as the projection stabilized, Ajuka's gaze immediately focused on Takeyo.
"So you're the young man whom the next head of the House of Sitri values so highly?" Ajuka said with a gentle smile. "I am Ajuka Beelzebub. If you don't mind, you may call me teacher."
He'd deliberately chosen "teacher" rather than "master", the relationship between a master and disciple carried far more weight in Devil society, implying a depth of commitment and loyalty that didn't suit this situation. From what he'd observed of Takeyo's potential, the boy possessed the talent to easily reach his own level eventually. A more casual teaching relationship was more appropriate.
"Thank you, Ajuka-sensei," Takeyo replied with a slight nod. "What you've taught me through that crystal has indeed been very useful."
He understood the value of maintaining cordial relations with transcendent-level beings, especially while he was still relatively weak. Ajuka ranked among the top dozen combat powers in the entire world, after all. Moreover, the Satan had shown him genuine goodwill, and his teachings would undoubtedly prove invaluable for accelerating Takeyo's growth.
With his learning ability and the enormous spiritual power reserves required for advancement, mastering various techniques to strengthen himself was the most efficient path forward.
After exchanging greetings with Takeyo, Ajuka turned his attention to the two heiresses.
"Rias, Sona, I've already been informed of the situation," he said, his tone becoming more businesslike. "From this point forward, Takeyo will be considered a shared servant between you both. I can write this arrangement directly into the Evil Piece system itself."
"What?!" Rias's eyes widened in surprise.
"What?!" Sona's eyebrows shot up behind her glasses.
"Of course, if you're not satisfied with that arrangement, there is an alternative option," Ajuka continued, noting their reactions with a slight smile.
"What alternative?" Sona asked, her analytical mind already working through the implications.
"I could requisition unused Evil Pieces from other Devils throughout the Underworld," Ajuka explained. "By pooling sufficient pieces together, we should be able to complete Takeyo's reincarnation successfully, giving him considerable power from the very beginning. However..."
"However, Takeyo would no longer be our servant under that arrangement, correct?" Sona finished, pushing up her glasses. "I see. That option is unacceptable."
"Agreed," Rias said immediately, her tone firm. "I reject that alternative as well."
The reaction from both heiresses was exactly what Ajuka had predicted. He'd known they would refuse, their possessiveness over Takeyo was far too strong to allow him to belong to some neutral party or stranger.
"Then it's settled," Ajuka declared, his voice carrying the weight of official decree. "From this moment forward, Takeyo will be recognized as the shared servant of both Sona Sitri and Rias Gremory."
"Understood," Sona said, though her tone carried obvious dissatisfaction, not with Ajuka's ruling, but with the situation itself.
"Fine," Rias agreed, equally displeased.
Sona's internal frustration stemmed from a simple fact: if she'd known the reincarnation wouldn't succeed, she never would have agreed to let Rias attempt it in the first place! Takeyo should have been hers alone!
Meanwhile, Rias's irritation focused on what she considered Sona's shameless tactics. If you wanted him as a servant, you should have recruited him directly and openly like I did! she thought bitterly. Using your sister to secretly stuff Evil Pieces into his body while he slept? That's completely underhanded!
"Rias Gremory, Sona Sitri," Ajuka continued, his expression becoming serious, "you will both be remembered in the history of the Underworld because of this incompletely reincarnated servant."
"Huh? Ajuka-kun? Are you really that certain?" Serafall asked, tilting her head curiously.
"Indeed," Ajuka confirmed, his light blue eyes gleaming with confidence. "I reviewed the data from my teaching crystal just this morning. Takeyo managed to complete twenty-six lessons in a single night. With that level of learning capability, reaching Satan-class strength within a few years is virtually guaranteed."
He'd actually calculated that the timeline would be even shorter than that. If Takeyo accepted the arrangement he had in mind, the boy's strength could reach Satan-class within a few months. Transcendent-level wasn't outside the realm of possibility either.
However, he'd deliberately understated his projection. No need to reveal all his cards at once.
"A few years to reach Satan-class?!" Both Sona and Rias gasped simultaneously.
For Devils, whose perception of time differed drastically from humans, "a few years" was practically nothing, equivalent to perhaps a dozen days in their reckoning. The idea that someone could reach such overwhelming power in what they considered the blink of an eye was genuinely shocking.
"Well, I wouldn't know about that," Takeyo said modestly, his eyes drifting to the side.
Are you kidding me? he thought. A few years to become Satan-class? That's practically an insult.
Issei managed to fight at Satan-class level within a single year using his Boosted Gear and various Balance Breakers. And you're suggesting it'll take me several years to reach that level through actual training and growth?
Of course, the comparison wasn't entirely fair. Issei achieved those feats by overdrawing his Sacred Gear's power and pushing himself to the absolute limit with various temporary power-ups. Takeyo's path would involve developing genuine power that he could maintain indefinitely.
Still, the timeline seemed unnecessarily pessimistic.
"By the way, Takeyo," Ajuka said, his tone shifting slightly as he prepared to address his main purpose for appearing today. "As a promising unreincarnated servant, and yes, I know that term sounds strange, but it accurately describes your current situation, I have a question for you."
So here we go, Takeyo thought, maintaining his composed expression. I didn't expect Ajuka to move this quickly. My learning progress has already been exposed.
This is definitely Serafall's fault. If she hadn't come to my house and triggered that whole sequence of events, I'd have had more time to prepare before Ajuka decided to check my homework.
"Please, Ajuka-sensei, ask your question," Takeyo said respectfully.
Ajuka's gaze intensified slightly, a gleam of genuine interest sparking in those intelligent eyes.
"Takeyo, would you be willing to become my personal disciple? My only disciple, in fact."
Silence descended over the Occult Research Club like a physical weight.
"What?!" Serafall's twin tails practically stood straight up in shock, indicating her stunned emotional state.
"Ajuka? You want to take on a disciple?" she asked, genuinely bewildered.
Taking on disciples was an extremely rare practice among the Satans. The commitment and responsibility involved were enormous, and the political implications could be significant. For Ajuka, who generally preferred to focus on his research and inventions rather than politics, to make such an offer was unprecedented.
"Indeed, Serafall," Ajuka replied calmly. "In Takeyo, I see infinite possibilities, the potential to fundamentally change this world. If he accepts my guidance, it will benefit both his growth and our interests in the Underworld."
"Becoming your disciple..." Takeyo said thoughtfully, his mind working through the implications.
Being the personal disciple of a Satan-class transcendent being would certainly have advantages. Access to Ajuka's knowledge, protection from various threats, elevated status within Devil society...
But there would be expectations as well. Obligations. Ajuka would naturally expect his disciple to contribute to the Underworld's development, to align himself with Devil faction interests. In others' eyes, accepting this offer would essentially declare himself to be "from the Underworld."
Not that I particularly care about such perceptions, Takeyo thought. I'm not truly "from the Underworld," but that doesn't mean the Underworld can't eventually become mine.
The political implications don't concern me. What matters is that I'm genuinely not comfortable with the title of "master" in this context.
"Ajuka-sensei," Takeyo said carefully, "I have tremendous respect for your knowledge and abilities. However, I'm not particularly fond of the formal master-disciple relationship you're proposing. Would you consider a different arrangement?"
He paused, gauging Ajuka's reaction before continuing.
"What if we maintained a teacher-student relationship instead? You could guide my development and teach me what you know, but without the formal obligations and expectations that come with being your official disciple. I think that would be more... comfortable for both of us."
Ajuka's eyes narrowed slightly, studying Takeyo with renewed interest. The boy was clever, he understood exactly what was being offered and was negotiating for terms that gave him more freedom while still maintaining access to Ajuka's teachings.
Interesting, Ajuka thought. Most would jump at the chance to become a Satan's personal disciple. But he's thinking strategically, considering the long-term implications.
He's right, of course. A more casual teaching relationship gives him flexibility while still providing most of the benefits. And it actually makes my job easier, I can share knowledge without the burden of formal responsibility for his every action.
A slight smile crossed Ajuka's handsome features.
"Very well," he said. "A teacher-student relationship it is. I'll provide guidance and instruction, and you'll pursue your own path while applying what you learn. Does that arrangement suit you better, Takeyo?"
"It does," Takeyo confirmed with a respectful nod. "Thank you, sensei."
Around them, the others were still processing what had just transpired.
Koneko quietly continued eating her snacks, though her golden eyes reflected surprise. Yuuto wore a wry smile, impressed by Takeyo's negotiating skills. Akeno watched with obvious fascination, wondering what other surprises this interesting boy might reveal. Tsubaki stood beside Sona, her expression thoughtful as she considered the implications for the Student Council.
As for Rias and Sona themselves...
Both heiresses realized simultaneously that they'd just witnessed something historically significant. Having Ajuka Beelzebub, one of the Four Great Satans, personally offer to teach their shared servant was an honor beyond measure. The benefits this would bring to both their peerages, and to their own standings within Devil society, were almost incalculable.
"Well then," Ajuka said, his projection beginning to fade slightly, "I'll be in touch soon, Takeyo, to arrange our first proper lesson. For now, I have other matters requiring my attention."
"Until next time, sensei," Takeyo said.
"Oh, and Rias, Sona?" Ajuka added before his projection could fully disappear. "Take good care of your shared servant. Something tells me he's going to surprise us all."
With those final words, the green magic circle dimmed, and Ajuka's phantom form vanished completely.
The moment he was gone, Serafall immediately glomped onto Sona again, rubbing her cheek against her younger sister's with obvious affection.
"See, Sona-chan?~~ Your big sister fixed everything!~~ Aren't you proud of me?~~"
"Sister..." Sona's eye twitched as she struggled to maintain her composure. "Please... let... go..."
Watching the scene unfold, Takeyo couldn't help but smile slightly.
His situation had become considerably more complicated than he'd originally planned, but the opportunities were undeniable. Access to Ajuka's knowledge, shared servant status with both Rias and Sona, and the political protection that came with such arrangements...
Not bad, he thought. Not bad at all.
Though he'd need to be careful. The more entangled he became with the Devils' political structure, the more attention he'd attract from other factions. And there were still so many other goals to accomplish, so many other sign-ins to complete...
One step at a time, Takeyo reminded himself. For now, I'll accept what's been offered and continue growing stronger. Everything else will fall into place eventually.
His hand unconsciously moved to where Est rested within him, the demon-slaying holy sword silent but present. Another secret, another source of power that he'd need to reveal carefully, or perhaps not at all.
The game was becoming more complex by the day.
But Takeyo had always enjoyed a good challenge.