The dust was beginning to settle, and silence reclaimed its dominion. Rian observed the inside of the cage, still guarded by the remnants of a fading seal.
The young woman inside remained unconscious, her breathing barely perceptible.
A faint movement caught his attention. From above, a small pink shadow descended gracefully, landing beside him. The bat fluttered its wings once and, in the blink of an eye, its form changed. Where a small round creature had been, now stood a young woman with tied red hair —clumsy-looking, yet charming in her own way.
Rian didn't take his eyes off the cage.
"Verify her race."
The familiar nodded without a word. A magic circle formed beneath them, its light spreading over the girl's body. The energy vibrated for an instant —recognizable, pure, untouched by any other lineage. When the glow faded, the answer was clear.
"She's a pure demon," she reported.
Rian exhaled slowly, showing no surprise.
"I see."
His fingers brushed the metal surface, still warm. The runes had been etched by demonic hands, not human. That meant someone, somewhere, had tried to hide her.
He said nothing for a while, weighing the information. Then he spoke in his usual calm but commanding tone.
"Open a channel with my brother."
The woman glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
"With Lucifer-sama?"
Rian nodded.
"There's something I want to confirm."
The communication circle began to take shape while he continued to watch the young woman inside the cage. The glow of magic reflected faintly on his face, coloring it with a dim red light.
"Lucifer-sama is busy. They ask that we wait," his familiar said moments later.
Rian nodded, still focused on the cage.
The Underworld was a land scarred by its own ruins. Since the Great War between the three biblical factions and the subsequent demonic civil war, nearly half of the original clans had vanished. Crocell had been one of them: a duchy erased from existence, without heirs or pure demons to claim its name. Their territories were absorbed by the Maou Council, and with time, distributed among allied houses or newly appointed nobles who needed land to support their status.
But if a pure-blooded demon from an extinct lineage appeared… everything would change.
Power in the Underworld always revolved around bloodline. It was the foundation of prestige, politics, and respect. Both the Four Satans and the followers of the Great King Bael understood this truth, though they interpreted it differently. For the former, it was a pillar of order; for the latter, a sacred inheritance. But in the end, both relied on it.
Rian, half Gremory and half Bael, had no desire to lean openly toward either side. If he could maintain a flawless image before both factions —and if he played his cards right— he could use every opportunity to move closer to the stability he sought.
He looked at the girl sleeping inside the cage. Her breathing was steady, her expression calm, and her bluish-white hair looked almost ethereal under the dim light. If she truly was a Crocell, the Underworld had just regained a lost duchy —and he would be the one credited for its discovery.
He recalled the story: Keroli Crocell, the girl who, despite being a pure demon, possessed the weakest demonic power in her family. A frailty that had driven her into depression until she realized something simple —her beauty was her greatest talent.
Rian exhaled softly and smiled with quiet irony.
"Maybe this is empathy born between beautiful people."
The comment eased the tension, but his mind had already settled on a clear direction.
If the Crocell bloodline was confirmed, he could claim guardianship of the new duchy. Not only would he gain political power, but real authority over a territory once managed by the Council. Restoring a lost house would make him visible among the ancient clans —but more importantly, it would place that duchy directly under his sphere of influence.
The Underworld needed leaders, not bureaucrats. And if reinforcing his position meant becoming the protector of a fragile noble, he would do it without hesitation.
"We'll wait," he said finally.
The familiar nodded silently, her gaze lingering on him before glancing around the area.
Rian, meanwhile, remained standing before the cage —no longer with simple curiosity, but with the sharp, calculating look of someone who had just found a chance too valuable to ignore.
The response from Lucifer-sama didn't take long, though the wait was enough to stretch the night. When communication was finally established, Rian explained his discovery and his reasoning in precise detail.
Sirzechs listened carefully, and after confirming the significance of the matter, he sent a trusted group to retrieve the girl and place her under the protection of the demonic government. He thanked his brother for acting so quickly… and then, without warning, kept him there.
Rian had planned to return immediately, but Sirzechs —wearing that ever-relaxed smile of his— insisted that he stay a little longer. Not to talk about politics or duty, but simply to catch up. It was clear he had missed him.
The conversation turned long. Between childhood stories, old jokes, and casual talk about life in Kuoh, time slipped away before either of them noticed.
When Rian finally left Lucifer's residence, the horizon was already tinted with a faint violet glow.
The teleportation circle activated with a brief flash, returning him to his home in Kuoh.
As he appeared in his room, he let out a tired sigh. The light of dawn filtered through the window, bathing the floor in gold.
"Good thing demons are nocturnal creatures," he murmured, unbuttoning his collar, "but that doesn't mean I enjoy skipping sleep."
He sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the ceiling with a neutral expression. The room was quiet —just as he had left it.
"What a night…" he muttered, closing his eyes for a moment before letting out a quiet snort. "I just hope it was worth it."
The exhaustion didn't show on his body, but it lingered in his tone. A part of him wanted to sleep; the other was already thinking about the new problems the morning would bring.
***
In the end, he decided to get ready early and head to the academy. There was no one home, and he had no reason to stay.
The morning air in Kuoh still carried the quiet of dawn, and by the time he arrived, the school building was nearly empty.
That morning, he chose to sit by the window —the seat that belonged to Akeno. The "protagonist's seat."
"Well… I can use it while she's not here," he murmured, setting his bag beside the desk.
He quickly pulled out some writing materials. Instead of reading a light novel, he decided to focus on the most important subject of the moment.
Kureli.
He still wasn't sure if she was truly a Crocell. He couldn't rely solely on what he remembered from the Iruma-kun world; circumstances were different here, and so were destinies. But he had learned that this world had a peculiar sense of humor when it came to fate. It wasn't immutable—but it was persistent.
The case of Hachiman from the other day was proof enough. The school might have changed, but Yukino Yukinoshita, Hachiman Hikigaya, and Yui Yuigahama were still there—existing alongside him as pieces of a rewritten story.
As he twirled his pen between his fingers, one thought became obvious: if he wanted the Crocell name to regain power, he would need more than bloodline. If Kureli had little demonic strength, she needed presence—social weight.
The idea came quickly.
Idol.
In the original story, Kureli had become an idol. And in this world, that wasn't absurd at all. Serafall Leviathan was living proof that even a Satan could wield a magic wand and appear on television without losing authority. In fact, the other three Satans weren't free from ridiculousness either—his own brother was obsessed with tokusatsu and ran a TV show where he played "Red Satan." Ajuka and Falbium, unfortunately, had been dragged into the cast as the Blue and Green ones.
Rian smiled faintly.
"A glorious example of leadership," he whispered as he began writing and sketching ideas on scattered sheets of paper.
One curious thing about his body was how easily it could reproduce what he remembered. Scenes, characters, visual details—it seemed to be one of his "inverted character traits." Unlike Rias, who had been an unabashed otaku, he was a creator—a developer of content.
"And obviously, I've made good use of it," he commented with a grin, turning his head slightly to the side and winking as if someone were watching him. "But we'll talk about that when the time comes."
As soon as he finished the sentence, his gaze met another's.
Someone was standing by the door. Kominami Asumi looked at him silently, expression blank.
"…."
Rian blinked, cleared his throat, and with all the dignity he could muster, lowered his eyes back to his papers. Kominami walked toward her seat and sat down unhurriedly. She opened her bag, took out a science book, and began organizing her materials with precision.
A quiet pff broke the silence, followed by a stifled laugh.
Rian closed his eyes and covered his face with both hands.
"…Don't say a word," he murmured tiredly.
Kominami raised a hand, feigning innocence.
"Sorry," she said with a light smile. "I didn't mean to interrupt your moment."
Rian didn't reply—he just sighed in resignation. She opened her science book and began to read, though the small smile never left her face.
He, on the other hand, gathered his notes, returned to his original seat beside her, and placed his bag down.
But before sitting, his eyes wandered to Kominami's book.
"All your answers are wrong," he said without thinking.
"Eh?" She frowned, but before she could say more, Rian was already pointing with his pen.
He listed the correct answers one after another, marking each mistake with surgical precision. Kominami tried to argue, but when she checked against the official material, a blush quickly crept up her cheeks.
By the end, her face was puffed and tinted red with a mix of frustration and embarrassment.
Rian smiled with quiet satisfaction, like a child who had just returned a prank.
She huffed and looked back at her notebook.
"You can ask me for lessons if you ever need them," he said casually.
Kominami looked up at him, still slightly flustered, and smiled faintly.
"Then, in return, I'll make sure no one finds out about your little hobby."
A brief silence fell between them. Even the air seemed to tense. Two subtle smiles crossed as their eyes met —a spark of mutual challenge flickering between them.
Finally, Rian sighed and leaned slightly toward her.
"Fine. But at least let me explain why the first one's wrong."
Kominami brushed a strand of hair from her face, pretending indifference.
"Only because you insist so much."
He began explaining, and the classroom once again filled with the quiet sound of their voices.
Soft footsteps interrupted the exchange. Rian looked up just as Akeno entered the classroom, her bag slung gracefully over her shoulder and a curious smile on her face.
"Oh… what do we have here?" she asked playfully, pausing by the door.
Rian and Kominami greeted her in unison, almost out of reflex. Akeno returned the gesture, though the smile that accompanied it had that teasing sparkle only she could pull off.
Rian took the opportunity to thank her.
"By the way, thanks for helping me last night. I'm sure it wasn't easy."
Akeno sighed dramatically, pressing a hand to her chest.
"Oh, don't remind me. I barely got any sleep… all because of you, Rein-sama."
The remark, paired with her perfectly measured smile, dropped into the air like a stone. Kominami froze, blinking between the two of them.
"…Don't say things that can be misunderstood."
Akeno tilted her head, feigning innocence.
"Misunderstood? Oh, whatever do you mean?"
Rian just gave her a weary look. She pouted playfully before letting the subject go and taking her seat, regaining her usual poise.
Kominami, still confused, blinked and looked back at her book. She decided not to comment and focused on her reading, while Rian closed his notebook with a quiet sigh.
The rest of the day passed without notable incidents —quiet classes, light conversations, the kind of routine that, for a moment, made him forget the supernatural side of his life.
***
When the final bell rang, Rian rose calmly. Akeno had already left quickly, and Kiba was nowhere to be seen, leaving him oddly alone at the end of the day.
Outside the building, he straightened his uniform and let out a short sigh. It didn't take long to notice a small figure waiting for him near the entrance.
Shirone.
The young girl looked up at him with a mix of timidity and determination, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
Rian chuckled softly —more amused than mocking.
"I see," he said, approaching her. "So, shall we go on our date?"
Shirone nodded, barely audible.
And so, with the afternoon light painting the sky in warm tones, the two of them walked side by side down the main street, surrounded by the quiet chatter of students heading home.
***
The sun had already dipped low enough to cast orange hues across the streets by the time Rian and Shirone finished wandering through the shops in the district. They walked at a leisurely pace, side by side. At that hour, the city grew quieter, the cool air threading softly between the buildings.
In moments like this, Rian couldn't help but think about the differences between them.
Going out with Akeno was a completely different experience. She was pure energy —she talked, laughed, moved with ease, never caring about the gazes of others. It was impossible to be bored around her. She had that glow of someone determined to savor every moment, as if afraid that tomorrow it might all vanish. And deep down, Rian knew part of that was his fault.
The Underworld was comfortable, yes, but not a place where someone like Akeno could ever feel truly free. Her past, split between two worlds, had left her with a lingering wish to live an ordinary human life —to go to class, eat sweets, laugh over meaningless things… little moments that to her were treasures.
Being with her was like holding a spark that never went out. Her laughter —provocative yet sincere— could brighten any space. She was a sensual beauty with the heart of a noble lady.
Shirone, on the other hand, was different. Quieter, more contained. She didn't talk much, but she wasn't passive either. She enjoyed company without needing to fill the silence, and she cherished the small things: sharing sweets, playing games, or simply walking together without a word.
With her, Rian had to take the initiative. Perhaps that was why he unconsciously acted with a certain tenderness —the kind that made it hard to resist the urge to pat her head or pull her into a gentle hug.
Being with Shirone felt comfortable. Natural.
Night finally fell, and the murmurs of the shops began to fade. That was when both received the same message: a short note from home, asking them to pick up a few ingredients for dinner.
Rian let out a small laugh.
"Guess even heirs aren't safe from errands," he said, glancing at the message.
In the Underworld, a mistake like that would've cost a servant their job. But here, in the human world, things were different —and truthfully, it wasn't so bad.
Besides, he was already out with Shirone.
It was a little past six when they stopped in front of a neighborhood supermarket. The sign above the entrance read, in large letters: "Hocky."
The rush of cool air conditioning greeted them as soon as they stepped inside. Among the bright aisles, they moved calmly, checking the list of ingredients they'd been sent. Bread, eggs, vegetables… nothing unusual.
Everything was fine until, turning into the central aisle, Shirone tugged gently at Rian's sleeve.
"Rein-senpai?" she called softly, pointing toward the end of the row.
Rian followed her finger. A middle-aged clerk was placing red stickers on a set of bentos lined neatly on the shelf. The small labels read "50% OFF" in bold letters.
"You want one?" Rian asked with a smile.
Shirone nodded silently.
"In that case, let's grab a few. We'll share them with the others."
They approached the display just as the clerk finished labeling and walked away. But before taking another step, both of them stopped at once.
"Rian…"
"I know."
The air had changed. Hostility seeped from several points around the aisle, as if they had suddenly wandered into enemy territory.
Around them, the other customers —or what seemed to be customers— had lifted their heads, eyes sharp and intent.
What now…? Rian thought, watching as the clerk slipped quietly through the back door.
He didn't have time to ask. Two figures lunged toward them.
The first threw a punch straight at Rian's face; the second aimed a low strike at Shirone. Both attacks were stopped effortlessly.
Rian blocked with his forearm, unmoving, while Shirone deflected the other with a clean side kick.
But the tension didn't ease. It grew. More people began moving, slowly surrounding them.
Rian frowned, watching the attackers regroup —each staring at them like mortal enemies.
"Do you sense anything strange from them?" he asked quietly.
Shirone shook her head.
"In that case, avoid hurting them seriously. We don't know what's happening."
There was no more time for analysis. The blows came in waves. Rian and Shirone dodged with ease, countering fluidly, moving like two predators among amateurs.
Even so, the intensity of the assault was unnerving.
Just as Rian was considering subduing everyone to end the chaos, a female voice rang out from the adjacent aisle.
"What's going on here?!"
Rian turned his head. A girl with silver hair and red eyes stood at the end of the aisle, staring in confusion. She wore Kuoh Academy's uniform.
One of the attackers, a rough-looking delinquent, shouted upon seeing her:
"Another rookie! I won't let you get in my way!"
The man charged at her without hesitation. Rian moved instantly —appearing in front of the girl and delivering an upward kick. The assailant was launched into a shelf, crashing among stacks of rice packages and landing unconscious.
"W-What the hell is happening here?" the girl asked, stunned.
"Good question," Rian replied calmly. "I'd like to know that myself."
Internally, he was already analyzing the situation. Mind control? It doesn't feel like we're the targets. Maybe some kind of rage spell that makes them fight anyone nearby?
None of it made sense.
Then a new voice cut through the confusion —deep, steady, almost theatrical.
"Oh… so you're here without knowing why?"
Everyone turned. At the far end of the aisle, a young man with brown hair and eyes approached with slow, deliberate steps. He wore Kuoh's uniform beneath a long coat with a fur collar. His aura was completely different from the rest.
"We're here," he declared solemnly, raising a hand, "to compete for the half-price stickers!"
Rian blinked. He stared at the boy in silence for a long second.
"…Could you repeat that?"
The boy didn't flinch.
"It's simple. When half-price time begins—when the red stickers adorn the boxes—everyone who wants them enters the battlefield. That is the law of the discount bento!"
Shirone stared at him, eyes wide. The silver-haired girl too.
"They fight… over discounted food?" she asked, incredulous.
The boy scoffed in disdain.
"Those who are not wolves have no right to insult the bento."
"Wolves…?" Rian repeated.
The comment seemed to offend them. One of the men on the ground struggled to his feet. He had a black bandana and a small goatee.
"We 'wolves' are the ones who fight with pride to claim our right to the bento."
Another, bald and wearing an orange shirt, added solemnly:
"Unlike the pigs who break the rules or the pups who enter without knowing them, we maintain honor and respect."
Before Rian could reply, a girl with brown hair and generous curves —also bruised— continued:
"Rule number one: never bother the clerk. Rule number two: only one bento per person. Rule number three: don't attack anyone who's already secured theirs."
Rian stared at them, speechless, as one by one the "wolves" stood back up, ignoring their bruises, proclaiming their creed with absurd pride.
Finally, the young man in the coat raised his fist, and the rest followed.
"We are the wolves!"
Rian remained silent. He looked at all of them with a neutral expression before speaking again.
"…What?"
What the hell did I just witness…!?