When I woke up, the first thing I felt was a bright light piercing through my eyes.
I winced, squinting in discomfort as the glow filled my vision. Everything was blurry at first, like looking through a fogged-up window. Slowly, things started to come into focus.
A face appeared in my view a soft, beautiful, and gentle. She had flowing green hair, piercing yellow eyes… and… cat ears?
She was holding me gently in her arms.
Another person nearby was carefully wiping my body, then wrapping me in a warm, soft cloth. Every touch felt huge and foreign.
I tried to move, but my limbs were stiff and weak. I couldn't even lift my head.
Right… I'd been reincarnated again. Judging from the size of my body and how helpless I felt, I must be a baby.
A cold breeze brushed against me.
Without thinking, I burst into tears.
The woman—my mother, I assumed held me tighter and rocked me gently, her warmth calming me.
"There, there… my sweet Leandros."
Leandros…? So that's my new name.
I tried to look around, but my neck couldn't support my head yet. Still, I managed to catch a glimpse of fancy gothic furniture and soft lighting this definitely wasn't a peasant's house. I was probably born into a noble family.
Then I heard footsteps approaching.
A group of people entered the room. Leading them was a tall, middle-aged man with long crimson hair tied loosely with a black band. His sharp blue eyes and short red beard gave him a dignified presence.
'He looks… kind of familiar,' I thought, but my mind was still hazy. Every time I reincarnate, my memory takes a while to adjust.
The green-haired woman, my mother looked up and smiled. "Yes. He was born safely. He's an adorable baby boy…"
She leaned down and affectionately nuzzled my cheek.
The man stepped closer, and the maids who followed him quietly started tidying up the room.
"May I hold him, my dear?" he asked, voice soft with warmth.
She nodded and gently handed me over.
"Oh my… he has your eyes," the man whispered as he rocked me slowly. My eyelids grew heavier under his comforting sway.
"My son… Leandros Gremory. My heir."
Wait? Gremory?
My thoughts tried to race, but everything felt slow and foggy. I was still putting the pieces together.
My mother looked a little hesitant. "Are you sure you want to name him heir, Zeo?"
"There's no problem," Zeo replied, brushing his fingers through my hair before planting a soft kiss on my forehead. "The council might complain, but I don't care if he's pure-blooded or half-blooded. He is my son."
Before she could respond, the door creaked open again.
A noble-looking woman in an elegant dress stepped in, smiling as she approached.
"Zeo… is that a baby?" she asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Zeo nodded and passed me into her arms.
"Aww, he's adorable! He even has your cat ears, Lanta and your beautiful eyes!"
She cradled me like I weighed nothing, cooing softly.
"M'lady," my mother said quickly, her tone nervous. "About the position of heir… I was thinking it might be better if he were trained as an attendant for your future child…"
Venelana frowned, clearly not pleased.
"Hmph. Lanta, what are you saying? Did you really think I'd be upset just because I haven't given Zeo an heir yet?"
Before Atalanta could reply, she cuts her off.
"I've already given birth to Sirzechs, and while now might not be the time, I do want another child with Zeo someday," Vena said brightly, gently poking my cheek as she smiled down at me. "You know how rare births are for us devils."
Her fingers squished my cheek with playful affection. I could only gurgle in protest.
"And besides, if we have another child, they could grow up playing with little Leandros. The house would be so lively!" She giggled. "Who knows? Maybe they'll even get married one day."
Wait what? Marriage talk already? I'm not even a week old!
"But my lady—" Atalanta tried to speak, voice laced with concern.
"No buts," Vena cut her off gently, waving her hand. "Leandros would make a fine heir. And after the news of your birth, the other harem members have been getting excited."
I don't think you should be saying all this in front of the baby...
Zeo scratched the back of his head, letting out a sheepish laugh. "Haha, I'll do my best, dear."
"Understood, M'lady," Atalanta replied politely, bowing slightly.
Vena frowned. "Stop calling me M'lady. Just call me Vena. Veeenaa," she repeated, emphasizing the syllables like a teacher coaching a shy student.
"V-Vena-sama…" Atalanta stammered, clearly flustered.
"Hmm… good enough," Vena sighed with a smile before turning her attention back to me. She wiggled my little hand with her finger. "You're such a cutie, you know that?"
Then her eyes lit up. "Oh, right! Zeo, Sirzechs said he'll be visiting soon to meet his new little brother. He was practically bouncing over the call!"
Sirzechs?! No… no way. That has to be a coincidence… right?
"Is that so?" Zeo asked, standing up straighter. "Then I'll have to prepare a banquet to welcome him properly."
Vena gently placed me down beside my mother, who looked exhausted but content.
"You should rest, Lanta," she said kindly. "You'll need your strength in the coming days."
She lingered for a moment, then chuckled as she recalled, "Ah… I remember when Sirzechs was born. He was already radiating the Power of Destruction. Only I was allowed to touch him back then…"
She smiled fondly at the memory, then turned to Zeo. "I'll head out and handle the reception. Please stay with Atalanta for now."
With that, she gave one last affectionate look at me and then swept out of the room.
A few hours later, the doors creaked open with a soft sound.
"I'm home!" a cheerful voice rang out, full of energy.
Hurried footsteps followed as a tall man entered the room his signature long crimson hair flowing behind him, his arms overloaded with neatly wrapped gifts stacked precariously high.
"I brought presents!" he announced with pride, barely peeking over the tower of colorful packages.
Behind him was a graceful woman with silver hair tied into a long braid. Grayfia Lucifuge. She moved with the calm confidence of a noble, yet a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she followed her husband into the room.
Zeo chuckled as he stood to greet them. "You didn't have to bring that many, Sirzechs."
"But how could I not? I have a little brother now!" Sirzechs beamed as he gently unloaded the gifts onto a nearby table.
Grayfia offered a polite bow toward Atalanta and Zeo. "Congratulations on the birth of young Leandros. He is… quite adorable."
Oh great. More cheek-pinching incoming, I thought, bracing myself.
Sirzechs stepped over eagerly, leaning in with childlike excitement. His eyes sparkled as he looked at me.
"So this is Leandros… My little brother." He grinned. "Look at him! He's so cute!" Without hesitation, he whipped out a camera and began snapping photos.
Flash.
Flash.
Flash.
I flinched and then I cried.
Ah, how embarrassing…
Grayfia sighed and promptly smacked Sirzechs on the back of the head. Whap!
"Look what you did," she scolded. "You made him cry."
"Ah! What do I do?!" Sirzechs panicked, grabbing random toys from his bag and waving them in my face. He made all sorts of goofy expressions, trying to calm me down.
It had the opposite effect.
I cried louder.
Grayfia groaned, grabbed his ear, and began dragging him out of the room as he protested, "Wait—wait! I was just trying to help!"
Atalanta gently rocked me in her arms, whispering softly to soothe me. Eventually, the tears faded into hiccups.
A few minutes later, the door opened again. Sirzechs returned… this time with a few noticeable bumps on his head. Venelena followed, hiding a smirk behind her hand, while Grayfia walked in with an air of satisfied calm.
Atalanta chuckled quietly, still cradling me close.
Sirzechs's smile faded slightly as he looked at his father. "So… what do you plan for him, Father?" he asked, his voice steadier now. "Will you make him the heir?"
Zeo nodded without hesitation. "Yes. The Great King Faction might complain, but it doesn't matter. He's my son."
Sirzechs stepped forward and placed a hand firmly on his father's shoulder. "Then you'll have no objections from me. I'll support him however I can."
I blinked up at them slowly, letting it sink in.
So it's true… I was really born into the Gremory family. Into the world of High School DxD.
Well… at least I won't have to worry about being poor this time.