The rest of the school day passed in a blur of introductions and curious stares. Kazuki did his best to play the role of a normal transfer student, answering questions from classmates with carefully vague responses about his previous school and reasons for transferring.
"Health issues," he'd said when asked why he'd missed the first week. "Nothing serious, just needed some time to recover."
It wasn't entirely a lie. Dying and being reincarnated as a devil probably counted as a health issue.
Between classes, Kazuki found himself studying the other students, trying to determine who else might be supernatural. His senses weren't refined enough yet to distinguish clearly, but he was picking up faint traces here and there. Nothing as strong as Sona Sitri, but enough to suggest that Kuoh Academy had more than its share of secrets.
When the final bell rang, Kazuki gathered his things slowly, trying to calm his nerves. Sona had said to meet her after school. Where? She hadn't specified, but somehow he knew. The old school building—where he'd sensed the two strongest demonic presences.
As he made his way across campus, Kazuki noticed other students giving the old building a wide berth. It looked well-maintained despite its age, but there was an invisible barrier of sorts. Not magical, just social. That building belonged to someone, and everyone knew it.
The entrance was unlocked. Inside, the hallways were quiet, dim with afternoon light filtering through tall windows. Kazuki followed his senses up a flight of stairs and down a corridor until he reached a door marked "Occult Research Club."
He raised his hand to knock, then hesitated. Beyond this door, his life would change again. He'd be stepping fully into the supernatural world, no more pretending to be normal.
But I'm not normal anymore, Kazuki reminded himself. Haven't been since the moment I woke up in that alley.
He knocked.
"Enter," a female voice called from within.
Kazuki opened the door and stepped into what looked like a comfortable lounge. Plush couches, a tea table, bookshelves filled with occult texts, and windows draped with red curtains that gave the room a warm, intimate atmosphere.
Three people waited inside.
Sona Sitri sat in one of the chairs, looking composed and alert. Next to her stood a girl with short black hair and a serious expression—another devil, Kazuki sensed, though less powerful than Sona.
But it was the third person who commanded Kazuki's attention.
She sat on the central couch like a queen holding court. Long, crimson hair fell past her waist in luxurious waves, framing a face of breathtaking beauty. Her figure was statuesque, emphasized by the Kuoh Academy uniform that seemed almost inadequate to contain her presence. But what struck Kazuki most were her eyes—blue-green, intelligent, and currently studying him with intense interest.
The power radiating from her was immense. Easily twice what Sona possessed, controlled but undeniable. This was a devil of significant strength and, Kazuki suspected, significant status.
"Kazuki Ryōta," the crimson-haired girl said, her voice melodious and warm. "Please, come in and sit. I'm Rias Gremory, President of the Occult Research Club. Sona has told me some very interesting things about you."
Gremory. Even with his fragmented knowledge, Kazuki recognized that name. One of the most powerful and prestigious devil families in existence.
"Thank you for seeing me, Gremory-senpai," Kazuki said, bowing slightly before taking a seat on the couch opposite her.
"Just Rias is fine," she said with a smile that could have melted ice. "We're all devils here. No need for excessive formality."
"All devils?" Kazuki glanced at the short-haired girl standing beside Sona.
"Tsubaki Shinra, my Queen," Sona introduced. "And yes, everyone in this room is aware of the supernatural world."
Kazuki nodded slowly, trying to process the terminology. Queen—that was a chess piece, wasn't it? Something about the devil system of reincarnation used chess pieces as a framework.
"Sona tells me you're a rather unique case," Rias continued, leaning forward slightly. Her eyes never left his face, as if she could read his secrets in his expression. "A reincarnated devil whose master died, yet you continue to exist. That shouldn't be possible."
"So I've been told," Kazuki said. "But here I am, impossible or not."
"May I examine your energy more closely?" Rias asked. "I promise not to be invasive, but I need to understand what we're dealing with."
Kazuki considered the request. These devils could probably overwhelm him if they wanted to—he had power but no idea how to use it effectively. Cooperation seemed like the smart play.
"Go ahead," he said.
Rias closed her eyes, and Kazuki felt her power reach out toward him like invisible fingers. It was a strange sensation, not quite physical but not entirely mental either. Her energy brushed against his, and he felt her surprise ripple through the connection.
Her eyes snapped open, wide with shock.
"That's not demonic energy," Rias said, her voice tight. "At least, not entirely. It's something else. Something I've never encountered before."
"What do you mean?" Sona leaned forward, her academic interest clearly piqued.
"His energy is..." Rias struggled for words. "It's like looking at a shadow cast by a light source I can't see. Demonic energy is there, yes, but it's been... transformed. Merged with something primordial. Dark but not evil. Chaotic but not destructive."
"Chaos energy," Tsubaki murmured. "That's what the old texts call it. The power that existed before the biblical God, before the original Maou, before the current system of devils and angels."
"That's a myth," Sona said, but she didn't sound entirely convinced.
"Apparently not," Rias replied, still staring at Kazuki. "How is this possible? Who was your master? What ritual did they use to reincarnate you?"
"I don't know," Kazuki admitted. "I have fragments of memory, but nothing clear. A man with silver hair, kind eyes. He said he was giving me his power, that I was to be my own King. He died completing the reincarnation."
"Your own King," Rias repeated softly. "That would explain why you still exist. If the ritual somehow made you the King of your own peerage rather than a piece in someone else's..."
"But that's impossible," Sona interjected. "You can't reincarnate someone as a King. The Evil Pieces don't work that way. You need to already be a devil to receive a set of pieces."
"Under normal circumstances, yes," Tsubaki said thoughtfully. "But if we're dealing with chaos energy—true primordial power—the normal rules might not apply."
Kazuki's head was spinning. "Can someone explain this to me like I'm five? Or like I'm a newly reincarnated devil with massive gaps in his knowledge?"
Rias smiled, some of the tension leaving her expression. "Of course. I apologize—we sometimes forget not everyone grew up in devil society. Let me explain the basics."
Over the next hour, Rias and Sona took turns explaining the supernatural world to Kazuki. He learned about the three biblical factions—devils, angels, and fallen angels—and how they'd been locked in a three-way war for millennia until a fragile peace was established. He learned about the Evil Piece system, created by one of the current Maou to bolster devil numbers after the war had decimated their population.
Each high-class devil received a set of fifteen pieces—styled after chess—which they could use to reincarnate other beings as their servants. Pawns, Knights, Rooks, Bishops, and a Queen, each conferring different abilities and traits.
"The King piece isn't given," Sona explained. "The King is the high-class devil who performs the reincarnation. You can't be reincarnated as a King because that would imply you have the inherent power to create and maintain a peerage, which only pure-blooded or extremely powerful devils possess."
"And yet, I apparently am one," Kazuki said. "Somehow."
"Show me," Rias said suddenly. "If you're truly a King, you should be able to sense your Evil Pieces. Close your eyes and look inward. Tell me what you feel."
Kazuki did as instructed, closing his eyes and turning his attention to the power flowing through his body. He followed the currents of chaos energy as they moved through channels he was only beginning to understand.
And there, deep within his being, he found them.
Not red like normal Evil Pieces, but obsidian black with veins of purple light running through them. Sixteen pieces total—a full set, including the King piece that represented his own existence.
"I feel them," Kazuki whispered, awed by the sensation. "Fifteen pieces, plus myself. They're... different. Not red. Black with purple light."
The room fell silent. Kazuki opened his eyes to find all three devils staring at him with expressions ranging from shock to fascination.
"Chaos Evil Pieces," Tsubaki breathed. "The legends were true. I thought they were just myth—stories about the first devils before the current system was established."
"This changes everything," Sona said, her mind clearly racing through implications. "If Kazuki can create a peerage using chaos energy, he's not bound by the same limitations as normal devils. His pieces might even be able to reincarnate beings that regular Evil Pieces can't affect."
"It also makes you incredibly valuable," Rias added, her expression turning serious. "And potentially very dangerous, depending on who learns about you. The devil aristocracy won't know how to classify you. Some will see you as a threat to the established order."
"Great," Kazuki muttered. "So I'm a walking political incident."
"Potentially," Sona agreed. "Which is why we need to handle this carefully. Rias and I will need to report your existence to the proper authorities, but we can frame it in a way that emphasizes your desire for peaceful coexistence."
"Will they try to control me?" Kazuki asked bluntly. "Force me to join a faction or serve some noble house?"
Rias and Sona exchanged glances.
"They'll certainly try," Rias said honestly. "Your power makes you too valuable to ignore. But..." She smiled, and there was something fierce in her expression. "I'm the sister of one of the current Maou—the Lucifer. And Sona is the sister of another—the Leviathan. Between the two of us, we can provide you with some protection while you learn to control your abilities."
"Why would you help me?" Kazuki asked, suspicion creeping into his voice. "What do you get out of this?"
"Straightforward. I like that," Rias said. "Honestly? I'm curious. Your existence challenges everything we know about devil reincarnation. From a purely academic standpoint, I want to understand how you're possible. But also..." She paused, seeming to choose her words carefully. "I believe in freedom. In the right to choose one's own path. Your master gave his life to make you a King rather than a servant. I'd like to honor that sacrifice by helping you stay free."
Kazuki studied her face, searching for deception. But Rias's eyes held only sincerity.
"And you?" he asked, turning to Sona.
"Similar reasons, though perhaps more practical," Sona replied. "Kuoh Town is under the joint jurisdiction of the Gremory and Sitri families. You're living in our territory, attending our school. Your stability affects our stability. I'd rather have you as an ally than an unknown variable."
Fair enough. At least they were being honest about their motivations.
"What do I need to do?" Kazuki asked.
"For now? Learn," Rias said. "Learn about devil society, about your powers, about how to exist in the supernatural world without painting a target on your back. Sona and I will teach you. You can also observe our peerages in action, see how the system normally works."
"I can provide you with texts on devil history and magic theory," Sona added. "You'll need to understand the basics if you want to survive."
"And in return?" Kazuki prompted.
"Keep us informed of your development," Rias said. "Don't do anything reckless that might expose the supernatural world to humans. And if trouble comes to Kuoh—which it inevitably will—we'd appreciate your cooperation in defending our territory."
It was a reasonable deal. Protection and education in exchange for information and occasional assistance. Kazuki couldn't see a better option.
"Agreed," he said, extending his hand.
Rias shook it, her grip firm and warm. "Welcome to the strange world of Kuoh Academy, Kazuki Ryōta. I have a feeling your presence is going to make things very interesting."
As if on cue, there was a knock at the door.
"Buchou," a cheerful voice called from outside. "I brought the tea you asked for!"
"Come in, Asia," Rias called.
The door opened, and a petite blonde girl entered carrying a tea tray. She wore the Kuoh Academy uniform and had an air of innocent sweetness about her. But what caught Kazuki's attention was the faint holy energy clinging to her—residual power from someone who'd been in contact with divine forces.
Asia's eyes met Kazuki's, and she gasped, nearly dropping the tray.
"You..." she whispered, staring at him with wide green eyes. "Your energy... it's so sad. So lonely. Like you've lost everything."
Kazuki blinked, surprised by both her perception and her words.
"Asia is my Bishop," Rias explained gently. "She's very sensitive to the emotional resonance of people's energy. It's one of her gifts."
Asia set down the tea tray with shaking hands, unable to look away from Kazuki. "I'm sorry," she said softly. "I didn't mean to be rude. It's just... you feel like how I felt when I lost everything. I wanted you to know you're not alone anymore."
Something in Kazuki's chest tightened. This girl, barely knowing him, offering comfort because she understood loss. It was the first genuine kindness he'd received since waking in that alley.
"Thank you," he said quietly. "That... means a lot."
Asia smiled, and the room seemed a little brighter.
As Rias poured tea and the conversation turned to lighter topics, Kazuki felt something shift inside him. For the first time since his reincarnation, he didn't feel quite so lost.
He had allies now. Teachers. Maybe even friends, in time.
The path ahead was still uncertain, filled with political dangers and mysteries about his own nature. But he wouldn't be walking it alone.
"To new beginnings," Rias said, raising her teacup.
"To new beginnings," the others echoed.
Kazuki raised his own cup, meeting Asia's kind eyes across the table.
Yes, he thought. A new beginning. And this time, I'll forge my own destiny.