sorry guy for this mistake
The clubroom felt different now. The initial shock had worn off, replaced by a simmering sense of purpose. Rias sat before me, her expression that of a teacher, not just a King.
"First, you must understand how our society functions," she began. "High-class Devils like myself support our households and peerages through a system of contracts. Humans summon us with desires, and we fulfill them for a price. It could be monetary, an object of power, or a portion of their life energy."
A magic circle, similar to the one that reincarnated me, flared to life in her palm. It dissolved into several ornate, black-and-red flyers that floated down onto the table between us.
"These are your assignments, Issei," Rias said. "As a new, low-class Devil, this is your primary duty and your best training. You will learn to manage your demonic power, navigate the human world from our perspective, and earn your keep."
I picked up one of the flyers. The text shifted, written in Japanese but humming with a faint magical energy.
**'Request: Find lost cat, Mittens. Reward: Home-baked cookies.'**
Another read, **'Request: Help move heavy furniture. Reward: 5,000 Yen.'**
It was… profoundly mundane. Yet, I understood. This was the grind. This was how you started.
"These seem simple," I noted.
"They are," Kiba, who was sitting nearby and tuning a sword—*a sword!*—in class, said with an understanding smile. "But they are essential. Every completed contract, no matter how small, strengthens your connection to the underworld's network and hones your control. It's how we all began."
My eyes met Koneko's from across the room where she was reading a manga. There was no "senpai" required; we were peers. She gave me a slow, deliberate blink, which I interpreted as a sign of… something. Not quite encouragement, but maybe acknowledgment.
"I understand," I said to Rias, gathering the flyers. "I'll get started."
**[ New Quest: 'The Devil's Due' ]**
**Objective:** Complete your first three Devil Contracts.
**Success Reward:** 1,000 Points, 'Minor Stamina Boost' passive skill.
**Failure:** Strained relationship with your peerage, loss of income.
---
My first contract took me to a modest suburban house. An elderly woman was weeping over a photo of a fluffy white cat. Using a tiny trickle of demonic energy to enhance my senses, I managed to track a faint, familiar feline scent to a nearby tree, where a very indignant Mittens was stuck on a high branch. A quick, nervous climb—my new body was slightly more agile, but not by much—and I retrieved the cat.
The joy on the woman's face was genuine. As she pressed a tin of cookies into my hands, a faint, almost invisible wisp of energy flowed from her to me. The payment. A tiny fragment of her life force. It was a strange, slightly invasive feeling, but it merged with my own demonic power, causing it to swell almost imperceptibly.
The second job, moving a grand piano for a retired musician, was a brutal reality check. The original Issei was not in good shape, and my soul, that of a modern-day geek, wasn't much better. I strained, my muscles screaming as I helped the moving crew, relying more on grit than any supernatural strength. By the end, I was drenched in sweat and my arms felt like jelly. The 5,000 yen in my pocket felt earned in a way no paycheck ever had before.
That evening, standing in the spacious gym of the Old School Building, I faced the third, most important task I had set for myself.
The system interface glowed before me. I had 3,300 Points. It was time to invest.
I navigated to the **Physique & Conditioning** section. The options were varied.
**> Peak Human Conditioning (Tier 1): 1,500 Points**
*[Enhances muscle density, cardiovascular efficiency, and recovery to the peak of natural human potential.]*
**> <｜place▁holder▁no▁278｜> Breathing Technique (Total Concentration): 2,500 Points**
*[Dramatically increases lung capacity and oxygenates the blood, allowing for sustained peak performance.]*
**> <｜place▁holder▁no▁284｜> Fist Foundation (Basic Striking Enhancement): 600 Points**
The choice was clear. Flashy techniques were useless if the foundation was rotten. I needed the basics.
"System, purchase **Peak Human Conditioning (Tier 1)**."
**[ Purchasing: Peak Human Conditioning (Tier 1) for 1,500 Points. ]**
**[ Balance: 1,800 Points. ]**
**[ Administering... ]**
A wave of heat, far more intense than when I became a Devil, washed over me. It felt like my very cells were being broken down and reforged. My muscles twitched and cramped, my bones ached, and for a moment, I saw stars. It was over in seconds, but I collapsed to one knee, breathing heavily.
When I stood up, the world felt different. Lighter. The slight paunch Issei had was gone, replaced by firm muscle. The persistent ache from moving the piano had vanished. I felt… capable.
I walked over to a weight rack. The barbell that had seemed impossibly heavy before now felt manageable. I lifted it, my form still untrained, but the raw strength was there. This was just Tier 1. The peak of *human* potential. It was a foundation I could build upon with demonic power and more advanced purchases.
I looked at my reflection in the gym's mirror. It was still Issei Hyodo's face. But the eyes held a new light—one of calculation and grim determination. The weak, perverted high school student was gone, his body and soul reshaped by a stranger from another world and a system that traded in cosmic power.
I had done my devil's work. I had earned my points. And now, I had taken the first concrete step to ensure I would never be as helpless as I was in that park again.