The door opened with a soft creak.
Yuto stepped out behind Rias, the unfamiliar weight of the Underworld settling around him like a second atmosphere as he looked out the windows of the Gremory mansion. Unlike the quiet room he had just left, the world outside felt… alive. Energy lingered in the air. Invisible, yet unmistakable. If he was just a human, he felt like the gravity here would crush him.
Rias walked ahead of him, her posture calm and composed.
They passed by several maids looking at them in curiosity. Once they made it to the entrance of the mansion, servants opened the massive fancy doors before them. They walked outside and Rias gestured for Yuto to climb into the limo. He climbed in and Rias got in after him. She signaled to the driver to start driving.
He had no idea where they would going, but he didn't want to look like a dumbass and ask again. He also had more questions about his system and how he died, but he decided this was not the right time to ask about either of them.
The limo drove for a while across the road and rough terrain of the Underworld. They came to a stop as Rias gestured for Yuto to follow her. He got out of the car and looked in the direction Rias was pointing at. Yuto's eyes widened at the sight.
A massive structure came into view.
Celestial Academy.
It stood like a fortress of learning and diplomacy, its architecture blending elegance with strength. Towers rose in balanced symmetry, surrounded by large open courtyards, training fields, and interconnected buildings that seemed designed to accommodate a wide variety of beings.
Even from afar, Yuto could feel it.
Power. A power he was not sure he could handle right now.
"What is that?" Yuto said quietly.
"Celestial Academy," she said. "A place where the three factions send their youth to study, train, and ideally, learn to coexist. You must be curious about what those factions are."
She folded her arms, her gaze fixed on the academy.
"It was established after years of conflict between Devils, Fallen Angels, and Angels. The goal was simple: prevent another large-scale war between them. During the last war, the casualties were too extreme."
Yuto observed the structure carefully.
"This academy made it work?"
Rias's expression didn't change, but her tone carried a subtle sad edge to it. "Relatively."
She turned her head slightly toward him.
"Peace is never absolute in a world like this."
Yuto nodded slowly. That much made sense.
He had already seen enough in his short time here to understand that beneath the surface of the Underworld, not everything was what it seemed like. Well, not even in the Overworld not everything was what it seemed like. A lack of honesty was very much present. Trust was something earned, not expected.
Rias began walking again, motioning for him to follow.
"Celestial Academy is similar to Kuoh Academy in the human world," she continued.
Yuto's eyes flickered at that. Kuoh Academy. A place he now realized was only one layer of reality. The place he spent many of his years growing up as a human. The place he died at.
"Students attend classes, train their abilities, and interact with others from different factions," Rias explained. "On the surface, it looks like a normal educational institution for beings like us."
She glanced back at him. "But in reality… it's also where alliances are formed, reputations are built, and power is quietly measured. The most talented of the youth from each faction are raised and trained here. Violence could be present at any moment."
Yuto let out a small breath. "…Sounds less like a school and more like a battlefield with textbooks."
Rias gave a faint smile. "That's not far from the truth."
Rias started walking down a path and Yuto followed her. The academy grew clearer in the distance with each step they took. After a moment, Rias slowed again. Her voice turned serious as she paused to look at him.
"Yuto."
He looked at her with curiosity. "Yes?"
"I want you to enroll in Celestial Academy with me."
That caught his attention.
"…With you?"
"Yes."
She met his gaze directly.
"There are multiple reasons."
A brief pause.
"The first is training. You need experience interacting with other factions. Your system, whatever it truly becomes, will grow faster if exposed to different types of opponents and allies."
Yuto nodded, listening carefully.
"The second…" Rias continued, her tone lowering slightly, "is visibility."
"…Visibility?"
"You've already drawn attention," she said. "A Devil with an SSS-potential system is not something that goes unnoticed for long. Plus, if our enemies find out you are E-Rank and are not knowledgable about the combat of this world, you'll be an easy target to kill."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"There are those who will want to study you, control you, or eliminate you."
Yuto's expression remained calm, but his eyes sharpened. "The Academy will help me become stronger?"
"In a way," Rias replied. "It provides structure. Rules. Protection, at least to a degree."
She turned fully toward him now. "But more importantly, it places you in the center of everything. You'll have me for protection when you need it and there are others I want to introduce to you who will look out for you as well."
Her words carried weight.
"Information. Power. Influence. All factions interact there under a fragile balance."
Yuto exhaled slowly. "So instead of hiding me…"
"We bring you forward," Rias finished. "Carefully."
Silence settled between them for a moment.
Yuto looked back at the academy in the distance. A place where Devils, Angels, and Fallen Angels all gathered. A place built for peace, but bred for war. He knew by his gut feeling that he was weak right now. He was an E-Rank after all. However, his potential was near limitless. He wanted to reach closer to that potential before larger threats came to him. He wanted to learn everything and become stronger.
"I will agree to join only," Yuto started saying to her. "If you agree to tell me as much as about my system as possible beforehand and promise that you'll back me up always as an ally."
"Deal," Rias said with a smile as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.
"We can be much more than just allies though."
Rias stopped teasing Yuto and gestured for him to follow her down the path more toward Celestial Academy. He was curious why they were approaching and entering the campus of Celestial Academy now. He got his answer right away.
"We are going to meet the Principal of Celestial Academy! He's a demon!" Rias smiled.
This is going to be a nightmare, he thought to himself.