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The park was already cloaked in dusk.
Rias stood before Jack's lifeless body, her beautiful face showing a flicker of surprise.
"…He actually managed to kill a Fallen Angel. That's unexpected. And that Sacred Gear of his… I've never heard of anything like it."
That single strike—so fast and powerful it had annihilated the Fallen instantly—had shocked even Rias, who'd been quietly observing from a distance.
If the full power of that Sacred Gear were unleashed, it would easily surpass most of the known artifacts.Maybe not quite at the level of the legendary God-Slaying Gears, but… it could probably put up a fight.
"With strength like that, you're more than qualified to be my Knight."
A smile curved across Rias's lips, softening her usual cool expression. She raised her hand, and a shimmering crystal chess piece materialized above her palm.
"At last, another fitting servant."
Murmuring to herself, she flicked the piece forward. It floated down and settled onto Jack's chest, then slowly sank into his body.
A vast surge of demonic power rippled through him, twisting his human flesh, reshaping it into that of a demon.
But then—something went wrong.
The energy inside him wasn't stabilizing; it was being devoured. Drawn in and swallowed like a bottomless pit.
"…What?"
Rias's brow furrowed. The connection to her summoning ritual was breaking apart—something was cutting her spell off.
Impossible. Was the transformation failing?
For the first time in a long while, Rias felt a spark of anxiety.
If the ritual failed, she'd lose a potential Knight forever. Unlike other Kings, she'd have to fight with one less servant—a huge disadvantage in future matches.
Was her magic being drained somehow?
No… think. Calm down. The ritual never fails without cause.
She steadied herself and examined Jack's condition closely. Then she realized the problem—her magic power wasn't enough.
Her frown deepened as a memory surfaced from her family's grimoires: If the candidate's potential is too strong, a single piece may not suffice. Multiple pieces might be required to complete the conversion.
Could this guy really be that powerful?
Rias drew a sharp breath, then pulled out another chess piece—this time a Pawn. She hesitated for only a second.
It would be her first time using two different types of Evil Pieces on the same person.A Knight and a Pawn… who knew what kind of side effects that could cause?
Still, she pressed on.
The Pawn piece sank into Jack's chest. Nothing unusual happened—except the pull of magic inside him grew stronger.
"…Seriously?"
Gritting her teeth, Rias took out another Pawn. Then another. And another.
But the hunger inside him only intensified. His body devoured her magic like a black hole, insatiable.
Finally, she clenched her jaw and threw in all the Pawns she had—every last one.
When it was over, she'd used eight Pawns and two Knights. Ten pieces in total.
The sheer cost of turning this one man would leave other Kings speechless.
But Rias wasn't dismayed—she was thrilled.
If it took that much power to convert him, his potential was monstrous.
When the ritual finally stabilized, she exhaled in relief. Jack's chest began to rise and fall again—he was breathing.
Now all that remained was to heal his wounds.
A faint smile played on her lips as she looked down at him. The more she looked, the more she liked what she saw. There was something precious about him now, something rare.
A magic circle bloomed beneath her feet, glowing with crimson light. With a flash, she teleported them both back to Jack's home.
She laid him gently on the bed in his room.
Then, after a pause, her eyes softened. Magic flickered faintly around her body as her clothes vanished, and she undid what remained of his torn garments. To transfer magic directly, skin contact was required.
He'd taken a fatal wound, even now not fully healed. Tonight, she had her work cut out for her.
A hazy consciousness stirred.
Jack opened his eyes slowly. The room looked familiar.
Wait… wasn't this his home?
Right—he remembered now. That black-winged bastard had killed him.
So why was he here again? Did he… reincarnate?
Was that his cheat—endless rebirth?
He touched his side instinctively. The gaping hole that had been there before was gone.
Still trying to process what was happening, he suddenly felt the mattress behind him shift. A slender arm slid around his waist, pulling him close.
Warm skin pressed against his back, smooth and soft enough to make his pulse quicken.
Jack froze. He was completely exposed—and so was whoever was behind him.
What the hell…? Who's—
He turned his head cautiously, and his breath caught.
A girl lay sleeping beside him, her long crimson hair spilling across the pillow. Her lips were slightly parted, her slow, steady breaths brushing against his skin.
He knew that face.
Rias Gremory.
The most beautiful girl at Kuoh Academy—often mentioned alongside Akeno Himejima as the school's top two goddesses.
…What the hell was going on?
Staring down at her, he felt both bewildered and completely overwhelmed. Her flawless body, her pale skin glowing faintly in the soft light—she was breathtaking.
His throat went dry as he swallowed hard.
Did he… die and somehow respawn into this?
And wait—did something already happen while he was out?
No way. I didn't even feel anything!
Rubbing his temple, he tried to recall any trace of memory from before he blacked out. Nothing. Not a damn thing.
…Great. I probably missed out on a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Suppressing a sigh, he glanced at Rias again. Curiosity got the better of him. He reached out hesitantly and poked her shoulder.
Her skin was impossibly soft.
Rias stirred, her body shifting slightly before her eyes fluttered open—slowly, lazily, like a cat waking from a dream.
"..."
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