Pleasantries concluded, Satoru stepped across the antique Persian rug and settled onto the plush red velvet sofa.
"Here you go," Akeno said.
She glided over with grace, placing a steaming porcelain teacup on the mahogany table before him.
"Thank you, Akeno-senpai," Satoru replied, lifting the cup by its delicate handle.
He inhaled the steam, took a slow, deliberate sip, and let the rich, earthy notes of roasted leaves wash over his palate.
"I've heard rumors about your tea. It genuinely lives up to the reputation."
"Oh my, thank you for the compliment."
Akeno purred, her lips curving into a faint, charming smile, as her purple eyes sparkled with amusement.
"Such a smooth-talking kohai~."
"Akeno, join me," Rias commanded softly, her voice cutting through the playful tension.
Akeno offered one last lingering glance at Satoru before returning to the red-haired heiress's side.
Rias folded her hands atop the desk, her piercing crimson gaze locking onto Satoru.
"Koneko filled me in on the details of your visit," Rias began, her tone level, though an undercurrent of curiosity bled through her words.
"You came here looking for opponents of comparable strength, didn't you?"
"That's an accurate summary," Satoru replied, setting his teacup down with a sharp clink.
"I can easily arrange those opponents for you," Rias said, leaning back into her leather chair.
"But forming a contract with a Devil always requires proper compensation."
"The compensation is already prepared."
Rolling his shoulders lightly, Satoru spoke with the confidence of someone who had thought this through.
"I'll act as your freelance vanguard. Any stray Cursed Spirits, wandering Fallen Angels, or rogue anomalies trespassing inside Kouh Town's territorial boundaries—I'll hunt them down."
Rias stared at him for a long moment, a slow, appreciative smile eventually breaking across her face.
"…You certainly have a good plan."
Rias murmured, her sapphire eyes glittering with sudden respect.
She had already seen through his intentions—by signing a contract, he'd gain access to battles against worthy foes, and by assisting them in hunting enemies, he'd profit from real combat experience.
It was a clever arrangement where he lost nothing.
Satoru raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong? Is my offer short of your expectations?"
"No, it's more than sufficient. But…" Rias leaned back, a flicker of amusement crossing her face. "I have a better suggestion."
Satoru tilted his head. "I'm listening."
"I'd like to invite you to join my Peerage."
With a graceful motion, Rias produced a crimson Devil chess piece, turning it over in her palm. The magic carved into the stone pulsed with a low, steady heartbeat.
The fact that Satoru had defeated Koneko—barehanded, after just over a week of training—spoke volumes.
His potential was undeniable. As a high-class Devil and heiress of the Gremory family, Rias would never let such talent slip away.
"There are many benefits," she said, her tone dropping into a familiar pitch.
"The most basic is a nearly endless lifespan. You'll also gain a territory in the Underworld, free of charge, completely deeded in your name."
"If you prefer to remain in the human world, you may join the Gremory Group's industries."
"Promotion would be guaranteed—you could reach executive level within a few years. Benefits, bonuses, treatment—all of the highest standard."
Satoru rubbed his chin, thoughtful. "That does sound good."
He didn't doubt her words.
As the sister of the current Lucifer and heiress to one of the Underworld's great houses, Rias Gremory had both status and credibility. And what she had said… was likely just the surface.
For someone who lived only to become stronger, this was a deal without real drawbacks.
"There's more," Rias leaned forward slightly, her tone warmer. "As a member of my Peerage, you'll gain free access to the Underworld."
"During summer break, we can travel there together. You'll be able to spar with the Gremory's best warriors—at no cost. And if that's not enough, I can arrange duels with other houses' experts."
"Done."
He didn't even blink.
For Satoru, it was too tempting to refuse.
Rias's expression broke into a wide, happy smile.
"Welcome to my family, Satoru-kun."
She reached into her velvet pouch, laying out a small row of carved crimson pieces across the polished wood of the coffee table.
The light caught the facets of the stones, casting red shadows against the room.
"These are the ones I have left. Do you have a preference?"
"Any is fine. I'll leave the choice to you."
"Then… the Rook."
It carried the weight of five pawns, second only to the Queen and King. For a brawler with his close-combat style, it fit him down to the bone.
Satoru didn't flinch as Rias pressed the crimson Rook piece against his chest.
A sharp, circle of demonic script flared to life on the floorboards, bathing the room in a bloody crimson hue.
But the moment the stone touched his chest, it hit an invisible wall, chiming like lead against iron before dropping straight down to land with a hollow clack on the rug.
Rias blinked, her composure cracking for the first time. "What...?"
Even Akeno stepped forward, her perpetual onee-sama smile vanishing as she stared down at the rejected piece.
"His potential..." Akeno whispered, her violet eyes narrowing. "It completely overwhelms the Rook's conversion Limit."
"It seems so." Rias' brows furrowed slightly. "Then you can only be a Pawn."
"Fine by me," Satoru said smiling faintly, as if expecting this. He quietly disabled his [Limitless Potential] passive trait.
The first Pawn piece sank into his chest.
Clack.
Before Rias could blink, the system's interface slammed into Satoru's vision.
[External demonic power detected. Convert energy signature to White-tier Entry?]
Without missing a beat, Satoru accepted.
The system immediately devoured the residual energy, absorbing the second Pawn piece as it merged.
[External demonic power detected. Convert energy signature to Green-tier entry?]
"…It can upgrade?"
Satoru's eyes gleamed. Without hesitation, he took the remaining Pawn pieces.
The fourth piece dissolved—[Blue-tier entry achieved].
The eighth piece collapsed into the cascade—[Purple-tier entry achieved].
"…Why hasn't it stabilized?"
Rias breathed, taking an involuntary step back. Her breath hitched as the magic circle beneath Satoru's boots flared blindingly bright.
"Eight Pawn pieces? That's the absolute maximum limit. Even reincarnating a Dragon-king class entity shouldn't demand this much Power. Why isn't the soul stabilizing?"
"Don't worry. It's just taking longer."
He slammed his mental confirmation down on the system prompt.
The magic circle shattered into brilliant shards of crimson light, forcing Rias and Akeno to shield their eyes as the eight compressed chess pieces fused into a singular, dense entity.
[System Notice]
[Pawn (Purple)]: Forged from the compressed essence of eight Peerage Pawns. Converts host race to 'Devil' and permanently scales baseline physical abilities.
"…Excellent."
The moment he equipped the trait, a violent, shockwave ripped through his physical system.
It wasn't the slow burn of training; it was an absolute structural rewrite of his biology.
•
[A Hot One]
•
******
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