Gasper's shoes touched the polished floor, a faint echo following each step. The corridor stretched ahead, flanked by heavy wooden doors and portraits of imposing figures staring in silence.
In the adjacent hall, Rias rose from the sofa the moment they entered. Her crimson gaze swept over Gasper's new look from head to toe, a shadow of satisfaction crossing her face.
"You look very good like this, Gasper… come in."
Her voice carried approval, but also a competitive spark as she cast a quick glance at Akeno, as though regretting not being part of his transformation. Still, she kept her smile as she extended the invitation.
Kiba glanced toward his friend, and for a moment, his lips almost curved into a discreet smile.
'Finally out of that sealed room… it was long overdue.'
Koneko broke the silence as she stood, stepping closer to Gasper. Her eyes moved up and down, pausing on his haircut and his clothes. The expression that began with surprise soon shifted into slight disappointment.
She circled him, examining every detail closely.
Gasper arched an eyebrow.
"Like what you see, kitty?"
Koneko's face flushed instantly, and she turned away without answering.
Rias stepped forward, reclaiming control of the scene.
"Come, Gasper. This is your home now."
"Thank you."
He crossed the hall, and the door shut behind him, sealing the start of a new routine.
The conversation carried on in the hall. Between glances and measured phrases, a few questions were clarified and minor tensions dissolved. The atmosphere grew lighter until Rias gestured toward Koneko.
Without hesitation, Koneko approached and led Gasper toward the corridor, accompanied by two maids carrying stacks of freshly bought clothes. The garments ranged from fine fabrics to modern cuts, neatly folded and aligned. The sound of soft footsteps echoed against the wide walls, broken only by the rustle of fabric in the maids' hands.
When they reached the guest room, the door was opened with a precise turn of the key. Inside, the space revealed itself wide, with light-colored walls and dark wooden furniture, contrasted by the impeccably stretched bedspread. The maids entered first, placing the clothes over a nearby armchair. Koneko lingered at the door, watching.
"Why did you change clothes? And your hair?"
"I wanted to look better for you."
Koneko's face turned crimson, and in a swift motion, she threw a handful of sweets at him.
THUD!
The door slammed shut.
Seconds later, the handle turned, and Koneko cracked the door open again—just enough to retrieve her sweets. Gasper kept his eyes on her, silent.
"Pervert."
THUD!
The door slammed again, sealing the room in silence. Gasper turned the key, locking it, and dropped onto the bed, sinking into the soft mattress.
Gasper PoV
This bed is too good. After so long locked away, it feels like a piece of paradise. My body finally relaxes, but my mind won't stop.
Today, I stopped being just me. Now I'm a Devil. I need to accept that, even if it stings. Serving Rias isn't exactly the future I wanted, but I don't have a choice. It's the price of this new life.
If I want to grow, I need to forge contracts with humans. That's the foundation of a Devil's power. Strange to think about… me, asking for favors in exchange for souls or desires. But it's what I have. My Dhampir side gives me an advantage, sure, but it's still not enough to stand equal with the others.
And then there's Issei. The protagonist of this world. He already has the Boosted Gear, his path is clear. Mine isn't. I don't have a system, no script. Just myself, and this silence.
So what's left is to accept it. Stay quiet, watch, and grow in silence. No one will notice, but every step will matter. That's my fate… for now.
Gasper PoV – End
The room remained silent, lit only by the soft reflection of moonlight through the window. Gasper's future was being carved there—caught between resignation and hidden determination.
___
Koneko returned to the hall with short, firm steps. Her cheeks were still red, and the sweets rattled in her clenched hand.
CRUNCH.
She bit into the first piece with force, the sharp sound cutting through the quiet room. Her gaze fixed on the floor, irritation plain but offering no invitation for questions.
Rias observed her carefully. The faint smile on her lips was not amusement, but calculation. Beside her, Akeno leaned back on the sofa, her serene expression veiling genuine interest.
Kiba stayed silent. Sitting with flawless posture, his eyes rested on the table before him, choosing not to interfere.
Rias broke the quiet.
"I've decided to call Grayfia to help Gasper evolve and train. Her experience will be essential."
Akeno raised a hand to her lips, thoughtful.
"That could be good, Rias. But perhaps I can help as well. Contracts are an essential part, and Gasper isn't used to that kind of interaction. I could guide him in that area."
Rias nodded slowly, crimson gaze assessing the suggestion.
"You're right. Gasper needs more than martial discipline. He has to learn how to deal with humans, with desires, with bargains. If you take on that role, Akeno, he might adapt faster."
The priestess's smile widened, though her eyes held a restrained gleam.
"It'll be my pleasure. Gasper is peculiar, but that makes him interesting."
Rias turned her gaze toward the corridor door, her mind already decided.
"Then it's settled. Grayfia will guide his training, and you'll oversee his contracts. As for me, I'll speak to Gasper directly now."
The hall remained quiet after her words. Only the sound of Koneko's chewing filled the space—steady, insistent.
CRUNCH.
Akeno crossed her legs, relaxed on the sofa. Her tone remained light, though her posture betrayed amusement at the challenge.
"He might be surprised by the attention he's about to receive. Perhaps that's exactly what he needs to step out of that shadow still clinging to him."
Rias sighed softly, though without hesitation.
"That's my role as King. Gasper can't live as he has until now. If I must be strict, I will. But tonight, I just want to show him he's not alone."
Kiba lifted his eyes, wordless. His expression stayed serene, though a faint spark of agreement glimmered within.
Rias rose then. The motion was firm, natural, her presence filling the room. With one final look at her companions, she made her decision clear.
"I'll go to him now."
The sound of her heels faded down the corridor, carrying with it the central tension that had filled the space. The hall remained, lit by the warm flicker of candles dancing on the walls, reflecting in the eyes of those left behind.
Akeno let out a quiet laugh, crossing her legs slowly, savoring the silence. Her gaze fell on the small figure of Koneko, still crunching her sweets with thinly veiled anger.
"So… Gasper looked quite handsome, didn't he?"
CRUNCH.
The crack rang out, sharp against the calm. Koneko looked away, her cheeks flushed too deeply to hide.
Akeno tilted her head, her smile growing.
"But why do you seem so upset? You didn't like his new look?"
Koneko took another short step, leaning against the arm of a chair. The blush on her face deepened, but her voice came quick, almost defensive.
"I'm not upset. But he's a pervert."
CRUNCH.
Another sweet disappeared into her mouth, crushed between her small teeth.
Akeno lifted her fingers to her lips, stifling another laugh. The gleam in her eyes made clear she was enjoying every reaction.
"Pervert? He only said he wanted to look good for you. That's not exactly an insult, Koneko."
The small nekomata flushed even redder, clutching the candy box as if it were a weapon.
"He's a pervert."
CRUNCH.
The firm chewing became the rhythm of her resistance.
Kiba, nearby, remained silent. His gaze stayed on the table, though the corner of his mouth threatened a hidden smile. He didn't interfere—he only watched the exchange like a quiet spectator at a match.
Akeno leaned forward, resting her elbow on the sofa's arm, her face now just inches from Koneko's.
"So… if he did that for me instead, you'd have no problem?"
The question lingered in the air, sharp with provocation.
Koneko froze for a second, then bit down on the next sweet harder than necessary.
"I… wouldn't mind."
CRUNCH.
The sound was louder than before, almost like a declaration.
Akeno laughed openly this time, her soft laugh ringing through the hall.
"I see. So the problem isn't Gasper—it's you."
Koneko narrowed her eyes but gave no reply. Instead, she stuffed two more sweets into her mouth at once, as if ending the discussion by sheer force of chewing.
CRUNCH. CRUNCH.
The cadence was firm, determined, though her flushed ears betrayed her embarrassment.
Akeno leaned back again, satisfied.
"He's definitely caught your attention. No denying it."
Koneko turned her face away, staring at the floor, crimson spreading to her ears.
"He's still a pervert."
CRUNCH.
The last sweet vanished, the echo of her bite filling Rias's empty hall. The tension faded into a blend of laughter and chewing—a silent dance between Akeno's teasing and Koneko's obstinate resistance.
Meanwhile, Kiba simply held his calm, as though keeping to himself the quiet recognition that Gasper, without even trying, was already shifting the group's dynamics.
The night carried on in silence, the hall lit by flickering candles bearing witness to a simple yet revealing scene: Gasper, though absent, was already leaving his mark.
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