"Do you believe in the supernatural?"
Issei blinked, looking between Rias and Kiba before scoffing. "What kind of question is that? Of course not! I mean, ghosts and monsters? That's just stuff from shows and books."
"No comment."
Rias smiled at her response. "I had a feeling you would say that. You must be an Awakened, yes? There aren't many here in Japan."
"Uhhh, something like that," Ryusei said a bit nervously.
Issei turned to her in shock. "You're an Awakened!? What rank are you?"
Ryusei shrugged. "Haven't gotten evaluated yet... I awakened just recently." It was a lie, of course. She had no intention of getting evaluated—hell, she wasn't even sure she counted as an Awakened Hunter in the traditional sense.
'Maybe I should at least check and see later on,' she thought to herself.
"Well Issei, the main reason I asked you that is because... you're no longer human. You're a Devil now."
Issei blinked in confusion. "Huh?!"
"You died," Rias stated bluntly. "And I brought you back to life as a devil. More specifically, you are my servant and a pawn in my peerage."
Issei stared at her, mouth hanging open. "Wait... wait, wait, wait—WHAT!? You're telling me I'm a devil now!?"
Rias nodded. "Yes. If I hadn't resurrected you, you would have stayed dead."
Issei's face twisted in disbelief, looking between Rias and the others in the room. Kiba remained neutral, Koneko barely reacted, and Akeno simply sipped her tea.
Rias crossed her legs and sighed. "The reason you died the first time, Issei, was because of your date with 'Yuuma' on Sunday. She wasn't who she claimed to be. Her real name is Raynare, a fallen angel."
Issei's face turned pale. "W-What!?"
Rias continued, unfazed by his reaction. "She lured you out under false pretenses and killed you. That's when I used a summoning circle to bring you back as my servant. But then, last night, another fallen angel, Dohnaseek, attacked you. If I hadn't intervened again, you would have died a second time—for good this time."
Issei swallowed hard, processing the information. "So... Yuuma—no, Raynare—really did try to kill me... and then another fallen angel came after me, too?"
Rias took a sip of her tea before continuing. "The reason the fallen angels targeted you, Issei, is because you possess a Sacred Gear a powerful ability that only humans can have."
Issei blinked in confusion. "A Sacred Gear? What the hell is that?"
Rias set her cup down. "Sacred Gears are special artifacts granted by the biblical God to certain humans. They hold immense power, and some of them are so dangerous that various factions. Angels, devils, and fallen angels keep an eye on those who wield them. The fallen angels saw you as a threat, and that's why they tried to eliminate you."
Issei looked down at his hands. "So, you're telling me I have some crazy power inside me, and that's why they wanted me dead?"
"Exactly," Rias nodded. "And if you learn to use it properly, you could become incredibly strong."
Ryusei crossed her arms and leaned back. "Alright, so why am I here?"
Rias smiled confidently. "I want you to join my peerage."
Ryusei raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"
"Usually, devils don't extend invitations to Hunters, but this is a special case," Rias explained. "Okkotsu Ryusei, I want you to become one of my servants. We treat everyone like family, and there are plenty of benefits—longer lifespan, power, money, women—"
"Nuh uh."
"Huh!?" Rias blinked, caught completely off guard by the immediate rejection.
Ryusei sighed, leaning back in her seat. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm not really looking to sell my soul today. I'd also rather not have a weakness to holy weapons, seems like a waste to be honest."
Rias, however, remained serious. "This isn't just about gaining another member. You're strong, Ryusei. And I can tell you're different from normal Hunters, I can tell just by looking at you, you're able to grow stronger while other Hunters can't. Whatever it is that makes you unique, I want to help you grow even stronger. You wouldn't just be some servant—you'd be part of my family."
Ryusei tapped her fingers against her arm, thinking. She wasn't interested in becoming a devil, but the benefits Rias mentioned didn't sound all that tempting.
Rias, not one to give up so easily, leaned forward slightly, her crimson hair cascading over her shoulders as she gave Ryusei a sultry smile.
"Are you sure you want to refuse?" she purred, stepping closer. "I take very good care of my servants... I can be quite generous to those who are loyal to me."
She traced a finger along Ryusei's arm, her deep blue eyes locking onto hers with an almost hypnotic allure. "Wouldn't you like to experience what it means to serve under me?"
Ryusei felt her face heat up slightly, but she quickly shook it off. "N-no...still no."
Rias pouted slightly, pressing just a bit closer. "Are you sure? You wouldn't regret it..."
Ryusei sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Listen, I get it. You're using the whole 'seductive devil' thing, but it's not gonna work on me." She glanced at Koneko, who was watching with an unimpressed look.
"Look Rias, I don't think you should get any closer—"
Rias ignored Ryusei's warning and took another step forward, and was able to sit on her lap.
But before she could get any closer, a dark aura erupted from Ryusei's ring.
BOOM!
Rika bursts out of the ring.
The massive, terrifying curse materialized behind Ryusei, wrapping her long arms around her possessively while glaring at Rias with her single, cycloptic eye.
"MINE!" Rika roared, her voice shaking the room. "You can't have Ryusei! She's mine! Mine, mine, mine!"
Rias staggered back in shock, the pressure in the room grew heavy, and Kiba instinctively summoned a sword.
Ryusei groaned, struggling slightly in Rika's tight grip. "Dammit, Rika! I told you not to come out like this!"
"But she was touching you!" Rika whined, squeezing Ryusei possessively and nuzzling her face into her shoulder. "No one but me can touch Ryusei!"
Rias regained her composure and let out a small chuckle. "Well, that was unexpected… but interesting." She tilted her head, studying Rika with fascination. "Just what are you?"
Rika's eye narrowed. "I'm Ryusei's! That's all you need to know!"
"Rika, let go," Ryusei sighed, patting the curse's arm. "She wasn't actually gonna do anything."
"But she was touching you!" Rika whined, squeezing tighter.
Rias let out a nervous chuckle. "I see… you're very well protected, Ryusei." She took a cautious step back. "I'll keep that in mind. But my offer still stands, just in case you change your mind."
"Uh, yeah...I'll keep that in mind.. (No I won't.)"
Rias nodded, "That's all I ask for now."
As soon as Rias finished speaking, a familiar chime echoed in Ryusei's mind, and a system notification popped up in front of her.
———————————————————
[New Quest: Stray Hunt]
[Target: Stray Devil – Viser]
[Reward: Viser's Soul]
———————————————————
Ryusei's blue eyes flickered over the notification, and a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. 'Looks like I've got work to do.'
She stretched her arms above her head. "Well, gotta run," she announced casually, already making her way toward the door. "Rika, you can go back in now."
Rika whined but obeyed, her monstrous form dissolving back into the ring.
As Ryusei stepped out, Rias watched her go, a thoughtful look on her face. 'Just who are you, Ryusei?'