Rias looked at Sorata with a hint of surprise. "I didn't expect Kanda-kun to be so talented, also a novelist and manga artist. We will definitely support you when your works are released." After speaking, Rias smiled again.
"These concerns of Kanda-kun are not a problem at all. Establishing the Occult Research Club was just my interest."
"The atmosphere within the club is very relaxed. There are no mandatory tasks or hierarchical relationships. I think you will come to like it here in the future."
Faced with Rias's implication that as long as he joined, he could do whatever else he wanted, Sorata smiled faintly. "Then, I'll be in your care from now on."
"Eh... we have a guest today." Just then, the door opened, and the handsome Kiba Yuuto and the petite, cute, and seemingly legal loli Toujou Koneko walked in together.
"Since everyone's here, let me introduce you," Rias clapped her hands. "This is Kanda Sorata, a new member of the research club, a second-year student in Class 1 of the General Department, and also an awakened being."
"This is Toujou Koneko, a first-year student in Class 5 of the General Department. She was originally supposed to be in her third year of the attached middle school, but Koneko insisted on skipping grades."
"This is Kiba Yuuto, a first-year student in Class 1 of the General Department. So, he's your junior, Kanda."
"An awakened being among humans." Upon hearing this, both Kiba Yuuto and Koneko couldn't help but take a closer look at Sorata. With a warm smile on his handsome face, Kiba Yuuto bowed slightly and politely. "Kanda-senpai, please take care of me from now on."
"You're too kind. Please take care of me too from now on." Saying this, Sorata also nodded to the other person. Koneko, who had a cold expression, only nodded back as a return greeting.
The sofa wasn't big. After the introductions, Koneko and Akeno sat across from them, while Kiba Yuuto sat down next to Sorata and then apologized to Rias. "Sorry, Buchou, I'm a bit late today because of some things."
"What happened?" Akeno asked curiously.
"Because there were many women in heat surrounding him," Koneko said faintly, holding her teacup.
"...Ara ara, coming to a new school, Yuuto, you're still so popular," Akeno covered her mouth and giggled. Rias's lips also curved into a slight smile, only Kiba Yuuto himself showing a wry smile.
Even Sorata had to admit that Kiba Yuuto, with his suave demeanor, polite manners, and handsome looks, was indeed very handsome, a complete pretty boy. Especially, Sorata could see that Kiba Yuuto's gentle nature wasn't an act. Apart from a bit of darkness hidden deep within his heart, he could be said to be a true gentleman.
As the two of them sat together, Sorata, whose looks could only be considered clean-cut and a little handsome, was overshadowed. This was after his body had been autonomously adjusted and optimized during his transformation into a Kryptonian bloodline. Of course, if someone looked closely, they would notice that Sorata's features were harmoniously perfect, with a kind of attractiveness that grew the more you looked. Especially the faint solar aura emanating from the origin of life within him gave him an inexplicable charm. However, all of this was very subtle because after Sorata's bloodline transformation was completely successful and he was familiar with his body, he adjusted his energy absorption ability and concealed his own aura. This was also the reason why Akeno and Rias later couldn't sense any power fluctuations from Sorata and then concluded that he had successfully awakened.
"Alright, now that Kanda-kun has agreed to join the Occult Research Club, please allow me to briefly explain the true face of this world to you." With her arms crossed and leaning against the desk, Rias smiled. "Let's start with the basics. The place where we are now is the human world, mainly inhabited by humans. Beneath the surface of a peaceful society, there are many people like you who possess extraordinary power."
"There are the orthodox clergy of the Church who cultivate holy power, mages who cultivate elements, knights, as well as the Eastern arts of immortality and Taoism, and the unique Onmyoji and ninja of the Japanese islands, among many other cultivation systems."
"Apart from orthodox cultivation, there are also many espers who suddenly gained special abilities, a few Sacred Gear wielders who possess powerful artifacts, and even rarer awakened beings."
"Actually, Kanda-kun, you awakened beings, in a way, are also espers. The only difference lies in the gap in the power you obtain."
"The abilities possessed by espers are generally not very strong. Even with extremely high talent and training up to the High Class or ultimate Class devil, that's the limit."
"But what makes awakened beings different is that the abilities you awaken represent the primal power of certain laws. The reason we can confirm that you are an awakened being is that we sensed the aura of incredibly pure light from you when you were awakening earlier."
Having said this, the probing gazes of everyone present fell on Sorata, but Sorata pretended not to notice and acted as if he were listening attentively.
Rias continued, "And beyond the human world, there are angels living in Heaven, gods and their servants in the divine realm, devils living in the underworld, devils in hell, the immortals and gods of the Eastern Heavenly Court, and the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the Buddhist Pure Land."
"These forces are extremely powerful. The immortals, gods, and Great Satan among them possess terrifying power capable of destroying the heavens and the earth. They silently controlled the world behind the scenes until the battle three hundred years ago ended their rule over the human world."
"Kanda-kun, you must be very curious why society is so peaceful now, and why those gods and devils have become legends on the surface," Rias said, smiling at Sorata.
Sorata nodded, his eyes narrowed slightly. "Yes, I am a bit curious, but if I'm not mistaken, it's because the human world has power that rivals those gods and devils, forcing them to compromise, right?"
"Kanda-kun, you are very clever," Rias praised. "That's right. The reason the human world is so peaceful on the surface now is because there are ten supreme powerhouses suppressing it. Each of these supreme powerhouses is a being even more terrifying than ordinary gods, and due to home-field advantage, even if a chief god descends, they may not necessarily be a match."
"Three hundred years ago, after one of the strongest, Human, in conjunction with the other four strongest at the time, successfully launched the God-Slaying War, it was decided that supernatural matters would be handled by the supernatural world, and interference with ordinary human society was prohibited."
"Furthermore, they each established supervisory agencies to monitor all cultivators, devils, ghosts, and otherworldly creatures with powerful strength within their respective spheres of influence."
"Although the defeat in that war was partly due to the long-term wars between various forces such as Heaven and the Underworld, which led to a significant loss of strength and population, the power of the strongest in the human world cannot be denied."
"Now, after hundreds of years of recuperation, only the middle and lower levels of various forces have recovered significantly, while there haven't been many breakthroughs at the level of gods and Great Satans."
"However, the number of the strongest in the human world has increased from five to the current ten. Coupled with many powerful cultivators and awakened beings at the heavenly level comparable to demon lords, the influence of various forces in the human world has actually become weaker, which is quite ironic."
"The strongest in the human world, three hundred years ago, supernatural supervisory agencies." A strange look appeared in Sorata's eyes. Combined with the post-modern history of this world, he couldn't help but think of something. Slightly feigning a look of shock, Sorata changed the subject and asked curiously, "Presumably, Buchou, your identity is also not simple, knowing so much."
"As expected of an awakened being, you accept this information very quickly," Rias said with a hint of admiration, then straightened up. "That's right. Including Yuuto and Koneko, we are all devils."
Red light flickered, her long hair danced, and as magic power shimmered, a pair of delicate black devil wings unfurled from Rias's back.
"Let me formally introduce myself. I am Rias Gremory, the next head of the Gremory dukedom, a high-ranking devil from the underworld."
"Rias Gremory's peerage member, Akeno Himejima, greets Kanda-kun."
"Rias Gremory's peerage member, Yuuto Kiba, greets Kanda-kun."
"Rias Gremory's peerage member, Koneko Toujou, greets Kanda-kun."
As Rias revealed her devil identity, Akeno, Yuuto, and Koneko also stood up. A pair of devil wings unfurled from behind them, and they re-introduced themselves with a very solemn atmosphere.
"Uh... you're being so formal, it's making me a bit uncomfortable," Sorata shrugged and also stood up to show respect.
"Because you are worth my serious attention, Kanda-kun," Rias smiled.
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