In a sense, he wasn’t lying. His heart had given out and he was unconscious. He had lost and had no input on what happened after.


    “W-wow…Dimori-kun. That was…are you alright?”


    “Alright?”


    Triumphantly, he beat his chest twice which made Shuri flinch.


    “I’m better than alright, aunty. That was the best fight of my life and I’m looking forward to a second one. Next time, I’ll definitely beat Atid.”


    .


    |DxD|


    .


    Gremory Estate, Underworld


    .


    “Ria-tan. I’m going to leave if you don’t hurry up!”


    “I’m coming, onii-chan!”


    In a posh dining room, Sirzechs sat opposite his parents on the dining table. Because his wife wasn’t present, there were only four of them including Rias for today’s breakfast. With Rias absent, the atmosphere between the three of them slowly became tense.


    “Son. Are you sure that what you’re doing is a good idea?”


    Venelana looked at her son with slight worry. Brown hair perfectly framed her face, her somber violet gaze replacing her usually serious personality.


    “I concur with my wife on this, Sirzechs. The repercussions should failure occur…”


    Zeoticus levelled a serious stare at Sirzech’s. Different from his casual yet playful normal moniker, his blue eyes held an unusual level of sternness in them. Like his son, Zeoticus also had crimson hair.


    “Father. Mother. We know what we’re doing and the risks have been assessed. Even after five-hundred years, our people still hold to the glory and mistakes of the past. This prevents us from realising our truest potential. But if this works, then we will evolve.”


    “You said ‘if’, Sirzechs. ‘IF’.”


    If it were not for her husband restraining her with his hand, Venelana would’ve shouted.


    “This is too much of a risk, son. You have to stop.”


    “...”


    Sigh…


    With a wave of his hand, Sirzechs produced the contract signed by all Four Satans.


    “I’m afraid I cannot, mother.”


    “...”


    Not just Zeoticus, even Venelana went silent when they observed the contract. It was completely clear that neither of them had any knowledge of this. But after seeing the terms, the completely and utterly dastardly terms, they-


    “Onii-chan! I’m here, I’m here, I’m here!”


    Rias ran into the dining room with heavy breaths. She carried a handbag almost half her size and from how it was bulging, many things were packed into it.


    “Ria-tan. I almost left without you.”


    Sirzechs couldn’t help but tease when he saw she was struggling to properly hold the bag.


    “Nooooo. Don’t be mean, onii-chan.”


    Rias carried the bag all the way to Sirzechs and then dropped it. Excitedly, she clasped onto his cloak.


    “Let’s go, nii-chan! Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!”


    “Hehe. Alright alright, Ria-tan.”


    Rubbing her head, he stood up and picked up her bag. As a magic circle formed underneath them, he looked at his parents once more.


    “Mother. Father. Trust me. Everything I do is for our people.”


    Vwong!


    ““...””


    As Sirzechs vanished Rias, Venelana and her husband were left alone at the dinner table. Due the the seriousness of the situation, none of the servants had come in to clear the table even after the food had long since been consumed.


    “Venelana. We have to trust in our son-”


    “Zeoticus Gremory! Do you-”


    “NO, Venelana! If Sirzechs asks for our trust, then we will trust him!”


    “...”


    Venelana was rendered mute by her husband’s stern reprimand.


    “I…alright…”


    If even her jovial jokester of a husband believed in their son, then she would place her faith in him as well.


    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    “I hope this doesn’t impact our people negatively.”


    “Hehehe. Who could’ve imagined, Venelana. The small town of Kuoh could hold a monster.”


    Frowning, she hit him lightly on the chest.


    “Don’t make light of this, Zeoticus. I’m worried for our son.”


    “He’ll be fine. He’s our son after all.”


    .


    |DxD|


    .


    Himejima Household, Kuoh Town, Japan


    .


    It was a bright Saturday morning in the town of Kuoh. As always, Igor was meditating underneath the tree in the yard. He didn’t get the time while he was in Mount Kailasa, but here, he had the time to review his fight with Atid.


    To date, it was his most strenuous battle, one he lost, but one he didn’t regret losing. With his coat neatly folded at his side, his baggy shirt was ruffled as the morning breeze blew by. Yet with a mind as calm as the sea, he remained serene.


    He relived his fight with Atid in its complete entirety, his focus leaning more on when he was in his berserk state.


    [Like I thought. Using my full-powered transformation makes me go mad with the desire to fight.]


    The transformation itself was strong, absurdly so. But it also came at the cost of enhancing his bloodthirst and killing intent. Still, Igor never expected that it would have further benefits.


    [To think that I could actually get stronger in battle. But I feel no different as it stands.]


    Now that he was calm, he was able to review all of his experiences with complete clarity. The increase in power caused by accumulating damage was a genuinely surprising phenomenon he never expected would happen.


    [No. I actually do feel my power has increased.]


    *Clenches Fists*


    [Even if it’s by a small margin.]


    It wasn’t even a ten percent increase, but power was power. The stronger his base power got, the more powerful his Kaioken and Demigod Transformation would be. Regardless, using this power wasn’t something he could do frivolously.


    [I’ll have to learn how to control…hm?]


    He opened his eyes the moment he felt the formation of mana a few metres from him. Without hesitation, he stretched out his finger and formed a ki blast at the tip. From experience, he knew someone was teleporting here. The problem was, he didn’t recognise this mana signature.


    Vwong!


    As the flash of light from the magic circle vanished, Igor lowered his hand just as Sirzechs glanced at him.


    “Lucifer. I didn’t think you’d come this soon.”


    Standing up, Igor was somewhat unprepared for the red blur that rushed towards him. With unparalleled enthusiasm, Rias grabbed Igor’s leg and asked with bright eyes.


    “Nii-chan! Can you do the Kamehameha?”


    Rias was very quick to enquire about his capabilities. The moment she saw him, it instantly became something she must know at all costs.


    Ever since she heard from Akeno that Igor could do the Galick Gun, she had been anxious to meet him again ever since.


    “Hahaha. Ria-tan. Atleast greet Dimori-san before you ask him questions, alright?”


    “Oh!”


    Taking a step back, Rias calmed herself and bowed her head as a sign of greeting.


    “I, Rias Gremory, greet you, Sir Dimori.”


    She even went so far as to elegantly lift the fringes of her dress, which made Igor…


    “Pfft…pfft…”


    …struggle to contain his laughter.


    “...”


    Rias frowned when she heard him chuckle.


    “Hmph!”


    Annoyed, she folded her arms and turned her back to him…which only made Igor burst out with laughter.


    “Pwahahahahah!”


    He couldn’t help it. Igor could care less about her cute curtsy. What had him going was…


    “Sir? You called me ‘sir’? I’m the furthest thing from a ‘sir’!”


    Walking forward, he placed his hand on Rias’s shoulder.


    “Don’t call me sir, Rias. Call me nii-chan like you did earlier. Fancy titles don’t suit me.”


    “Maybe we have just yet to find a suitable one for you, Dimori-san.”


    Approaching with a light smile, Sirzechs extended his hand.


    “How are you? I heard you were gone for a week.”


    Reaching out to shake his hand, Igor replied.


    “I was in the Heavenly Realm this past week. So what brings you here, Lucifer?”


    Sirzechs didn’t immediately reply but meaningfully glanced at his sister for a brief moment.


    “My sister has been wanting to see you for quite a while. Other than that, I also have some business with Serafall. I assume you know she’s here?”


    “I did sense her when I arrived.”


    Igor was not oblivious to Sirzech’s true intentions. The satan wanted to see him but the subject was something that couldn’t be discussed in front of Rias.


    Just as Igor was about to speak further, Aurelia walked out of the house with Asia and Akeno in tow.


    “RIAS!”


    Excitable as always, Asia rushed forward and gave her new friend a hug.


    “Hihihi~. Hello, Asia-chan!”


    Rias was especially happy to see Asia. Alongside her and Akeno, Asia was the youngest amongst the trio, making her the little sister of the group.


    “Akeno-chan. Today, I want to play tag. This time, I will win!”


    Approaching rather slowly, Akeno scoffed.


    “Hmph! Just admit I’m better than you, Rias.”


    With her nose pointing directly to the sky, Akeno displayed her superiority-


    “Tag! You’re it!”


    While Akeno was embellishing herself, Rias quickly tagged her before flying away.


    “...”


    Asia looked at Rias who had disappeared into the forest and Akeno who stood ramrod in confusion.


    “Um…”


    With her finger placed between her lips, indecision gripped her before she made a choice.


    “Bye!”


    Su!


    In an impressive display of speed, she vanished into the forest, leaving Akeno who was growing increasingly miffed.


    “Mouu!”


    Revealing her wings, Akeno charged into the forest.


    “You can’t run from me!”


    “...”


    Sirzechs watched helplessly as his body sagged under the weight of the bag filled with anime dvds. Regardless, now that the children weren’t here, they could get to business.


    “Dimori-san. I won’t waste your time so I’ll be brief.”


    Letting the bag vanish, a dossier appeared in its place.


    “We are hoping that you and Aurelia-san can make an appearance tomorrow in the Underworld.”


    In place of Igor, Aurelia took the dossier and opened it.


    “What might this be, Lucifer-san?”


    “Names and pictures of all the elders we are prepared to…lose.”


    “Oh?”


    Igor was now also curious. Looking over Aurelia’s shoulder, he could see a few middle-aged men with their names, clan affiliation, and more. But what caught Igor’s eyes was…


    “Eunice Gremory?”


    Without batting an eye, Sirzech’s nodded.


    “Yes. She’s risen to the position of elder almost three-hundred years ago. Unfortunately, she lost her husband to your people and…I believe it’s time she reunites with her husband.”


    “??”


    Not just Aurelia, even Igor looked up in surprise. Sirzechs was oddly…blunt about this. From the little that he, Sirzechs was the type to honey his words. This? This was as blunt as he could get.


    “Hehehe. Way to respectfully insinuate someone should die, Lucifer. I didn’t think you had it in you.”


    “Don’t make fun of me, Dimori-san. But it is true. Ever since her husband met his unfortunate end, she had been the lead in trying to introduce some distasteful policies inspired by her hatred for humans.”


    “In other words…”


    Aurelia began.


    “...because her husband was killed by Aryans, she now harbours a hatred for humanity and this extends to reincarnated devils, correct?”


    “An impressive deduction, Aurelia-san. But yes. It is indeed the case.”


    “It is indeed, Lucifer-san. But that isn’t enough for you to turn on your relative, no?”


    “...”


    The light smile Sirzechs had gradually faded as the tiniest hint of murderous intent emanated from him.


    “You are once again correct, Aurelia-san. My…aunt, wanted to sell my sister.”


    .


    |DxD|


    .


    Things are getting out of hand now and slowly, we’re seeing the true Sirzechs. I don’t think he’s bad, but he’s definitely frustrated. Maybe Eunice will live. Who knows? I still don’t understand this whole arrangement but hopefully in the following chapters, things will be cleared up more and more.