"Sorry, I know you're interested in me—but I have zero interest in joining your peerage. I'm not planning to affiliate myself with any faction, and I definitely don't intend to change my race."
Izumi said this without the slightest hesitation.
"So, it's impossible. I'm the kind of man you can never have in your entire life. Just give up already!"
Rias froze on the spot, stunned by his shameless declaration.
The surrounding students also went completely blank.
He… rejected that invitation?
That invitation—from Rias Gremory, sister to one of the Four Great Maou, princess of a prestigious Devil clan. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Any normal person would drop to their knees from excitement.
Yet Izumi refused instantly.
Without blinking.
Everyone felt as if their worldview had just been punched in the face.
Rias herself hadn't expected such a blunt refusal. But after a moment, she relaxed and gave a gentle smile.
"I see… If you ever change your mind, feel free to contact me."
She handed him a small, elegant business card.
"This is my contact. You can reach me anytime."
Izumi didn't reject the card. He slipped it into his pocket casually.
To tell the truth… Izumi just wanted Rias's body. Having her contact info would make future "arrangements" much easier.
The moment Rias left, a crowd of classmates swarmed Izumi.
"Woooaaah, Izumi-kun! Why didn't you say yes?!"
"That was Rias-senpai! The princess of a Maou household!"
"Yeah! If you joined their peerage, you'd rise to the top instantly!"
"You'd get to learn high-tier devil magic too!"
Chirping voices surrounded him like a swarm of birds.
Izumi sighed.
"Alright, alright. I have my own plans, so stop lecturing me. If any of you want to join her peerage so badly, go do it yourselves."
Leaving them speechless, he turned away and walked back to Megumi Kato.
Megumi looked at him with mild curiosity.
"Izumi-kun… why didn't you accept? You don't want to join a strong faction?"
Izumi shook his head, a helpless smile on his face.
"You guys only ever think about joining other people's forces. Has it never occurred to you… to create your own?"
Megumi immediately gave him the kind of deadpan look reserved for idiots.
"That's impossible."
"You're not some legendary powerhouse or renowned hero. You don't have the resources or the influence. How is anyone supposed to join a faction you create?"
Izumi scowled.
"Oi, Megumi—are you looking down on me?"
"I swear, you're asking to get punched."
He raised a fist dramatically, staring her down.
Megumi sighed, completely unphased.
"I'm just telling the truth. Even if you're strong, you're nowhere near the level required to found a proper organization. It's not like starting a school club."
"Building a force requires planning, preparation, funding, manpower—everything."
"If you just randomly declare 'I'll make my own faction!' that's basically the same as playing club activities."
Izumi knew she wasn't wrong, but he didn't seem worried.
Watching the other students continue their ability tests, Izumi smiled faintly.
"I get all that."
"You don't need to worry about it."
"Megumi, if I really create my own mercenary group someday… would you join me? I might even teach you magic."
Megumi gave him a small, amused smile.
"If you actually reach that level someday, I wouldn't mind joining you."
"Besides, it's not like anyone else would want me. Rias-senpai didn't even glance at me earlier."
"To people like her, I probably don't even qualify to enter their field of view."
In this world, everything was dictated by strength and potential.
Izumi was exceptional—of course he would be scouted. Even the student council president was obviously checking him out earlier, Megumi noted.
Rias beat her to it, so she held back.
Izumi didn't deny it. That was simply how things worked in this world.
But as for Megumi saying no one would want her—Izumi didn't believe that at all.
If people knew she possessed an EX-rank Presence Concealment potential, half the city would try to recruit her.
Unfortunately, that very concealment made her practically invisible, so no one noticed her existence at all.
A truly tragic fate.
Feeling a wave of pity, Izumi reached over and gently patted her head.
"When I'm strong enough, I'll build my mercenary group and form my own faction."
"And when that day comes—remember what you promised. Don't you dare turn me down."
Megumi frowned.
"…Your hand touched the floor earlier. And now you're touching my head. You definitely did that on purpose."
"So annoying."
"But… I'll keep my word. If you really manage to do all that someday…"
She didn't say more.
Izumi's potential was real. If he truly became strong enough to build his own faction, and invited her…
Why would she refuse?
He was one of the few people who could talk to her normally. One of the few who always noticed her. Probably her only male friend.
When that time came, she'd join without hesitation.
Izumi laughed in satisfaction.
Good. He'd surprise her someday—so completely she'd have no chance to back out.
The two of them chatted for the rest of the afternoon.
But Izumi eventually noticed something strange.
The testing was almost over.
Yet…
"No one has called Megumi's name."
Izumi turned to her slowly… with a look of pure sympathy.
"I think… you got forgotten again."
Megumi froze.
Those words stabbed straight through her heart like a divine punishment.