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The next morning, the Gremory household was filled with the warm, comforting aroma of a fresh breakfast. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a golden glow over the table where everyone was gathered. The tense silence from the previous night was gone, replaced by the easy laughter of a family at peace.
Koneko, though still a little shy, sat between Rias and Kuroka, a soft smile on her face as she looked at them playfully bickering over the last pancake.
Algernon sat at the head of the table, savoring his tea, although he didn't require food for energy; the abundant mana swirling around him was more than enough to sustain his body.
"Honestly, Algernon," Rias said with a teasing laugh, "you're going to waste away if you don't eat anything."
Kuroka purred from her side. "Don't worry, Buchou. He's full of our love, isn't that right, my Dear?" she said with a wink, earning a giggle from Koneko and a faint blush from Rias.
Algernon simply smiled, his gaze full of warmth as he took in the joyful scene. "I have everything I need right here."
Just as Rias was about to pour him a second cup of tea, a brilliant flash of light filled the room. A shimmering teleportation circle, emblazoned with the Gremory crest, blossomed in the air. A moment later, Akeno Himejima stepped out, her usual serene and gentle smile on her face.
"Right on time, Akeno!" Rias said, her face lighting up with pure delight.
"Good morning, everyone," Akeno replied cheerfully, walking to an empty seat at the table. "You know I can't start my day without a breakfast here." She poured herself a cup of tea. "Are we all ready for school after this?"
Koneko nodded. The conversation continued, light and happy, a perfect moment of domestic tranquility before they all went about their day.
The conversation flowed easily, a natural rhythm of jokes and chatter. As they finished their breakfast and the plates were cleared, Algernon spoke up.
"I've cleared my schedule for the day," he said, his voice as calm and composed as ever. "I will be attending school with all of you."
A moment of surprised silence hung in the air, quickly broken by Rias's delighted smile. "You're coming to school? Really?"
Algernon nodded. "It's an experience I've yet to have, and it seems like a fitting way to begin our new normal. As for the procedures, Rias, you just need to tell Sona to arrange it. I trust she will handle it for both Kuroka and me."
Rias's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with excitement. Akeno chuckled, and Kuroka gave a mischievous grin, her tail swishing happily. The idea of Algernon in a high school classroom was a source of great amusement and anticipation for them all.
The group departed for school, a small, vibrant procession that walked under the clear morning sky. They had barely made it a few blocks before they were joined by a new, cheerful face. Asia Argento, her blond hair bouncing with every step, rushed to catch up with them, a bright, welcoming smile on her face.
Algernon walked beside Rias, a calm, contented expression on his face. He found himself looking at the small, mundane details of the human world: the crisp morning air, the sound of birds, the casual laughter of students walking by. He had no need for relaxation, his body and mind a bottomless well of energy.
But with the Rating Game just a day away, he had a different motivation for being here. This was a day for reminiscence, for a brief return to a fleeting, simpler time from a long-past life. It had been years since he had attended a school, and the thought of reliving those moments, however briefly, was a pleasant experience for him.
As they neared the school gates, they began to attract attention. It started with whispers, then outright stares. Algernon wasn't a new face, but he was surrounded by some of the most beautiful and popular girls in the entire school. Rias, Akeno, and Koneko were a known trio of unparalleled beauty, but with Kuroka and Asia now added to the mix, along with Algernon as the centerpiece, they were an awe-inspiring sight.
At the entrance, standing with an air of authority, was Sona Sitri, the Student Council President, a striking woman with short black hair and glasses. She was waiting for them. Their eyes met, and Rias, with a confident smile, gestured to Algernon.
"Sona," Rias said, her voice clear and bright. "I believe you've already been informed. Algernon will be joining us for the day."
Sona's expression remained professional, though a hint of curiosity flickered in her eyes as she adjusted her glasses. "This was quite out of the blue, Rias," she said calmly, her gaze moving from Algernon to her friend. "But as your fiancé, I took the liberty of expediting the process. All the necessary procedures have been completed."
She looked back at Algernon, her demeanor shifting slightly. "You'll be joining us in the third-year class, as an exchange student. Akeno, Rias, and I will be able to show you around." Her gaze then shifted to Kuroka, who was still standing beside Koneko. "And Kuroka, you will be in the first-grade class with Koneko. I've already prepared your schedules."
A soft, pleased smile touched Kuroka's lips.
The day at Kuoh Academy began. Algernon, Rias, and Akeno walked through the halls, a perfect trio that drew whispers and stares at every turn. Algernon felt it all—the curious glances, the envious stares from the boys, the open admiration from the girls—but he paid them no mind.
His classroom experience was both a surreal comedy and a test of his patience. The human world's lessons on history, literature, and mathematics were things he had not only lived through but had a hand in shaping.
He effortlessly answered every question posed to him, his responses so thorough and concise that they left both the teachers and his classmates in awe. He had to feign occasional thought to avoid seeming too inhuman.
During lunch, he sat on the rooftop with Rias and Akeno.
He continued to observe the human world's rituals. The loud conversations in the hallways, the competitive spirit during gym class, the simple joy of sharing a meal with friends. It was all a strange, beautiful tapestry he hadn't fully appreciated in years.
The final bell's shrill ring cut through the classroom, signaling the end of the school day. The students packed their bags with a relieved energy, and Algernon rose from his desk, with a knowing smile on his face he turned to Rias.
"The day was a pleasant diversion," he began, his voice low. "But the real work begins tomorrow. I have a Rating Game against Diodora Astaroth."
Rias's eyes widened in surprise. "Tomorrow? But I didn't hear anything about it."
"The details of this match are being controlled by the Demon Kings," he explained, "and it will be broadcast live across the Underworld. Given some complexities, they kept the information on a need-to-know basis."
He was about to say his goodbyes when Rias stepped forward, her hand gently cupping his cheek. She leaned in and gave him a soft, lingering kiss on the lips. It was a bold, public display that took him by surprise. When she pulled away, her eyes were filled with fierce determination.
"I will be cheering for you," she whispered, her voice full of love and conviction.
From the side, Akeno's voice cut through the air with a mischievous lilt. "Ara ara, so bold of you, Rias."
The sound was like a detonator. The rest of the students, who had lingered in the classroom to pack their bags, exploded on the spot. Their quiet whispers turned into a collective gasp of disbelief and then a deafening roar of shocked reactions.
The roaring of the crowd was a distant memory. One moment, they were in the chaos of a school hallway, and the next, Algernon and Kuroka stood in the cold, opulent silence of his private castle in the Underworld. The air, heavy with mana, felt like a familiar blanket after the light atmosphere of the human world.
Algernon walked to a large window, his gaze fixed on the endless, swirling clouds of the Underworld. Kuroka glided silently to his side, her playful demeanor replaced by an air of professional focus.
Algernon turned to face Kuroka. "Prepare yourself for tomorrow's Rating Game, Kuroka. And contact Issei Hyoudou. He needs to prepare as well."
Kuroka's expression remained impassive, but she cocked her head slightly, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "And Vali-kun?" she asked.
"Vali won't be with us," Algernon replied, a ghost of a smile touching his lips. "His relationship with the Fallen Angels will be far more useful elsewhere. We will have him exposed at the most opportune moment."
He walked away, leaving Kuroka to ponder at his words.
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The very air of the Underworld was alive with an electric buzz. News of the Rating Game had spread like wildfire, "frying" the minds of every demon, devil, and creature. This wasn't just another match; it was a duel between the head of the Astaroth clan and the future heir to the house, Diodora Astaroth. The stakes were unfathomably high, and the entire event was being broadcast live to a captivated audience across the whole underworld.
As the designated time approached, a single, vast teleportation circle shimmered into existence, drawing the attention of the millions watching. In an instant, the audience was granted a view into a remote and barren dimension. The ground was cracked and desolate, a sea of lifeless rock that seemed to stretch into an infinite, starless void. This was to be the stage for a monumental battle.
Suddenly, a voice boomed out, reverberating across the empty plains with the force of a thunderclap. It was the voice of the host, grand and commanding.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the Underworld! Welcome! I am honored to be your host for this highly anticipated Rating Game!" the voice announced. "I must also inform you of a last-minute change to the broadcast team. We had invited our reigning champion, the great Diehauser Belial, to host this spectacular match, but he humbly refused. So, I will be host and commentator of this game, offering my insights into the unfolding battle."
"Now, it's time for our today's rating match to start." As the voice fell.
With two brilliant flashes of light, two groups were teleported onto the vast, barren stage.
On one side stood Diodora Astaroth, flanked by his peerage of grim-faced figures who radiated a strange, holy power—a clear indicator of their past as ex-saints. They stood in a tight formation, ready for battle.
On the other side stood a sight that sent a shockwave through the Underworld broadcast. There was Algernon, radiating immense power, a calm and confident smile on his face. Beside him was the infamous figure: Kuroka Toujou, the notorious "SS-class criminal". The sight of this impossible alliance caused an uproar among the commentators and the millions watching.
Kuroka, with a playful grin, surveyed the wide, empty plain. "My appearance must have made quite a ruckus in the Underworld by now," she purred, her tail swaying happily.
Algernon's smile widened. "Previously, it would have been quite the trouble, I'm sure," he replied, his voice a low hum. "But after this match, the entire situation will be overturned."
Algernon's attention shifted to the figures on the opposite side of the field. His eyes, sharp and analytical, settled on Diodora Astaroth.
A flicker of surprise crossed Algernon's face, a brief raise of his eyebrow that no one else would have noticed. He could feel it—an aura of an Ultimate-class being. It was a staggering leap, far beyond what Diodora should have been capable of.
A slow smile spread across Algernon's lips. He understood now. This wasn't Diodora's own power. It was a borrowed strength. The power of Ophis, the Ouroboros Dragon, which had been shared with the members of the Khaos Brigade.
A cold, pleasant smile settled on Diodora Astaroth's face. He stepped forward, his expression the picture of aristocratic composure. "I must say, Algernon. It is a great honor to face you. I am sure this match will be a fine display of our clan's strength."
Algernon's smile, however, was colder. He didn't return the pleasantries. "There's no need to talk about your pathetic strength. As for Asia whom you have gone through so much trouble for, you won't even be able to gaze upon her shadow."
Diodora's smile flickered, a momentary tremor in his carefully constructed facade. "I do not know what you are talking about," he said, his voice tightening ever so slightly. "With this victory, my strength will be undeniable."
"Victory?" Algernon's voice dripped with a mocking sweetness. "I won't even need to move from here to defeat the likes of you."
The facade shattered completely. Diodora's face twisted into a mask of pure hatred, his pleasant smile replaced by a venomous sneer. "You know nothing of my myself! With this victory, I will show how much of a genius I am, to everyone, and that pathetic little Asia Argento will finally be in her rightful place! A place where she will belong to me, her true savior!"
"You are sorely mistaken," Algernon said, his voice a low, dangerous rumble that echoed across the barren dimension. "The only thing you will achieve here is to prove how meaningless your pathetic desires are."
Suddenly, the host's voice boomed out, cutting through the standoff with the force of a divine decree.
"The time for words is over! The stage is set, and the participants are ready! Let the battle for honor, power, and legacy begin! On my mark... three... two... one... commence!"
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sorry guys! i was busy writing my harry potter fanfic so this novel was delayed for patreon update and i will be uploading 3 or 4 chapters a week from now on here!