The blue screen hovered before me in the early morning light, its familiar glow casting shadows across my room. I'd been staring at it for the past ten minutes, the notification from last night's hunt still displayed.
[1x Rank 2 Gacha Ticket]
"Alright," I muttered, sitting up in bed and stretching. "Time to see what kind of power this thing's going to give me."
I mentally selected the ticket, and the system responded with a more elaborate animation than my previous pulls. The screen flickered with golden light, spinning symbols that looked almost mystical in their complexity. It was still not overly flashy, but there was definitely more ceremony to it than a basic pull.
The light faded, revealing my reward in bold text:
[REWARD OBTAINED: Haetae as Charyeok - God of Highschool]
I blinked, reading the notification again. Then again. My mind went completely blank for a moment as the implications slowly sank in.
"Haetae," I whispered, the name rolling off my tongue like a prayer. "As in the mythical Korean lion-dog. The creature that devours nightmares and protects against evil."
The more I thought about it, the more my excitement grew. This wasn't just any random power—this was a Charyeok, a borrowed power from the gods themselves. In the God of Highschool universe, Charyeok users were among the most powerful beings in existence, capable of feats that bordered on the divine.
But with that excitement came a sobering realization. The power I'd just gained was beyond anything I'd imagined possible. It was the kind of ability that could reshape the balance of power in this world entirely. And with great power came great responsibility—and great danger.
I ran my hands through my hair, mind racing. "This changes everything," I said to myself. "I can't just go around hunting stray devils anymore. With power like this, I need to be smart about how I use it."
The weight of the decision pressed down on me. I could try to go it alone, keep my head down and use my abilities in secret. But that would be incredibly dangerous and ultimately pointless. Or I could find allies—people who could help me navigate this supernatural world while I learned to control my growing power.
The choice was obvious, really. I needed capable allies, people who understood the supernatural world better than I did. And I had a feeling that the devils at Kuoh Academy were exactly the kind of people I needed to get to know.
"Looks like I'm going to have to come out of the shadows sooner than I thought," I decided, dismissing the screen with a gesture. "Time to see what the devil princess and her crew are really made of"
. . .
The next morning at school, I could feel it the moment I walked into my classroom. Eyes on me. Whispers. The kind of attention that made my skin crawl but also confirmed what I'd already suspected—my little stray devil hunting expedition hadn't gone unnoticed.
I slid into my seat and tried to focus on the lesson, but the sensation of being watched was too strong to ignore. Every few minutes, I caught someone glancing in my direction before quickly looking away.
Then the classroom door slid open with a soft sound, and the room fell silent.
Akeno Himejima stood in the doorway, her usual cheerful, teasing smile in place. Her violet eyes scanned the room before settling on me with unmistakable intent.
"Akira-kun," she called out, her voice carrying that musical quality that could make grown men weep. "I'm here to take you to the Occult Research Club room."
The reaction was immediate and predictable. The perverted trio—Issei, Matsuda, and Motohama—practically fell out of their chairs.
"What the hell?!" Matsuda whispered loudly enough for half the class to hear. "Why is the school goddess talking to that guy?"
"This has to be some kind of mistake," Motohama added, his voice thick with disbelief and jealousy. "There's no way she'd be interested in him over cultured men like us"
Issei himself looked like he'd been physically struck. "But... but why him?!" he muttered, though I was probably the only one who could hear him clearly.
I couldn't help but smirk as I stood up, grabbing my bag. This moment was inevitable, and honestly, I'd been expecting it. The only surprise was that it had taken them this long to make their move.
"Lead the way, Akeno-san," I said calmly, ignoring the shocked stares and whispered comments from my classmates.
As we walked through the school hallways, I noticed how other students moved aside for Akeno, some with respect, others with barely concealed desire. She carried herself with the confidence of someone who knew exactly how much power she wielded.
"You're not curious why you're being taken to our club room, Akira-kun?" she asked, turning to look at me with a curious glint in her eyes. There was amusement in her voice, like she was enjoying some private joke.
I shrugged, keeping my expression neutral. "To meet Rias-san, I presume? Or is there more to it?" I paused, then added with deliberate casualness, "Perhaps she wants me to join her club to talk about manga stuff? She seemed pretty passionate about it when we met."
Akeno's reaction was immediate and genuine. She let out a soft chuckle, her eyes widening slightly in what looked like pleasant surprise. "My, my, Akira-kun. You're quite direct, aren't you? And surprisingly perceptive." She gave me a cryptic smile. "Though I think you'll find that Rias-buchou's interests are... somewhat broader than just manga."
"I'm sure they are," I replied, though I kept my tone light. "Guess I'll find out soon enough."
We reached the old school building, and Akeno led me up to the third floor. She knocked on a door marked with a simple placard reading "Occult Research Club."
"Come in," came Rias's voice from within.
Akeno opened the door and gestured for me to enter. The room was larger than I'd expected, with comfortable furniture, bookshelves, and an overall atmosphere that screamed "secret supernatural headquarters" to anyone who knew what to look for.
Rias Gremory sat behind a large desk, her crimson hair catching the afternoon light streaming through the windows. She looked composed and regal, every inch the devil princess I knew her to be. Kiba Yuuto stood near the window, his usual pleasant expression in place, while Koneko Toujou sat in a chair, calmly eating what looked like a chocolate bar.
"Akira-kun," Rias greeted me with a warm smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Thank you for coming. Please, let me introduce you to my club members. This is Koneko Toujou, our first-year." She gestured to the white-haired girl, who looked up from her chocolate long enough to give me a small nod.
"And this is Kiba Yuuto, our second-year," Rias continued, indicating the blonde boy who stepped forward with a polite bow.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Akira-kun," Kiba said, his voice friendly but with an undertone I couldn't quite identify.
"And I'm Akeno Himejima," Akeno added with a graceful bow. "Vice-President of the Occult Research Club and Rias-buchou's Queen."
"Nice to meet you all," I replied, returning their bows. Then I looked directly at Rias, cutting straight to the chase. "So, why am I here?"
Rias's smile grew a bit more genuine. "Straight to the point. I appreciate that." She gestured to a chair across from her desk. "Please, have a seat."
I complied, settling into the comfortable chair. Almost immediately, Akeno appeared at my side with a delicate tea set, serving me tea and placing a small plate of cookies within reach.
"Thank you," I said politely, accepting the cup. The tea was actually quite good—probably expensive.
Rias leaned back in her chair, studying me with those piercing emerald eyes. "Akira-kun, do you believe in the existence of Gods, Devils, and Angels?"
I took a sip of my tea, using the moment to consider my response. "I haven't seen them with my own eyes," I said carefully, "but maybe they're out there. Who knows?" I kept my tone neutral, not dismissive but not overly enthusiastic either.
Rias's smile widened, and there was a hint of amusement in her voice when she spoke again. "And what about monsters in abandoned buildings, Akira-kun?"
I met her gaze directly, setting down my teacup with a soft clink. "Ah, that. Yes, I did see it. And I killed it, to save a girl's life."
The subtle reactions around the room were immediate. Kiba's eyebrows rose slightly, Koneko paused mid-bite of her chocolate, and even Akeno's perpetual smile flickered for just a moment. They'd expected me to deny it, to play dumb, to make this more difficult.
Rias cleared her throat, her amusement fading into serious intrigue. "And how, exactly, did you manage that?"
I crossed my arms, letting a hint of defiance creep into my posture. "Before I tell you that, how about you tell me how you know about me killing that monster? And why should I tell you anything?"
For a moment, the room was silent. Then Rias blinked, and a slow, confident smile spread across her face. "Fair enough, Akira-kun. Very well."
What happened next was exactly what I'd been expecting, but it was still breathtaking to witness in person. Rias allowed a pair of magnificent bat-like devil wings to unfurl from her back, the appendages spreading wide with a soft rustle of leather. The presence that emanated from her was overwhelming—ancient, powerful, and utterly inhuman.
Kiba, Koneko, and Akeno followed suit, their own sets of demonic wings manifesting in displays of supernatural power. The room filled with an otherworldly energy that made my skin tingle and my Leopard Devil Fruit abilities respond instinctively.
I stared at the fully revealed devils before me, taking in the sight of their wings, the power radiating from their forms, the sheer reality of what I was seeing. My face remained impassive for a moment as I processed the moment I'd been waiting for since I'd arrived in this world.
Then, finally, a single, concise word escaped my lips, uttered with a mix of awe, resignation, and pure anime-fan satisfaction:
"Damn."