[Mass Release: 4/7]
"Sigh~ this is troublesome." Takumi could understand Rias's frustration.
Even if she didn't want to target Mio Naruse personally, Mio's existence really did affect her.
If Takumi brought Mio to officially return to the Gremory family, the result might be offending the entire house.
"So, you want to get rid of Mio?"
"No!"
Rias immediately shook her head, revealing her true reason for coming here.
"I want to commission you to protect Mio Naruse. Don't let her be captured or killed by other devil factions—just let her live safely here."
"…"
Hearing this, Takumi gave her a complex look.
He had to admit, Rias was genuinely kind. If it were another devil in her place, they probably would have tried to eliminate Mio long ago, since she posed a direct threat to their status. The fact that Rias still wanted to protect her earned Takumi's respect.
"You think I can protect her?"
"I don't know… but I have no other choice. You're the only one I can trust."
Rias met Takumi's eyes, her tone deeply serious.
She had carefully investigated Takumi's past and was shocked by what she found. A descendant of the hero clan, yet also mixed with devil blood. Exiled and forced to wander, he'd spent his life doing exorcisms, hunting spirits, banishing monsters—every odd job imaginable.
Working since he was barely eleven or twelve years old, his résumé alone commanded respect.
And once she met him in person, Rias found him unfathomable. Even as an upper-class devil, she felt intense pressure from him.
Honestly, she wished she could make him her own devil servant, but she didn't dare say it outright—they weren't close enough for that.
Takumi, unaware of Rias's hidden thoughts, broke the silence.
"I can accept your commission—but we need to talk about payment."
"I'll give you as much money as you want!"
Rias lifted her crimson hair, responding with graceful nobility.
Even though the Gremory family was "only" a Duke House, it was still one of the seventy-two devil lineages. Their wealth in the human world alone could rival nations.
But Takumi shook his head.
"I'm not asking for money. I need a set of Devil's Pieces."
At this, Rias fell silent.
Devil's Pieces—were they valuable? They were priceless.
Only upper-class devils from the seventy-two noble families could receive them. One upper-class devil could only have one set, and once used, it couldn't be replaced.
Obtaining them required a lengthy, complicated process.
"You're trying to develop your own devil servants?"
Takumi nodded casually.
Rias bit her lip, then explained the problem.
"Only upper-class devils from the seventy-two houses can claim a set, right?"
"Yes, that's correct."
The next instant, Takumi let a fraction of his aura seep out.
Overwhelming pressure swept across the alley, making even Yuki—who'd been enjoying the show—suddenly hold her breath.
That terrifying presence vanished as quickly as it appeared, drawn back into Takumi.
There was no doubt. He was an upper-class devil—almost at the level of the highest class.
Rias's lips parted slightly, her gaze on Takumi growing complicated.
"You're actually an upper-class devil…"
"Practice enough and you get there eventually~"
His offhand remark left Rias speechless.
Devils relied heavily on bloodline. Low-class bloodlines could train for decades—or centuries—and never reach this level. Yet Takumi, who seemed two years younger than her, wasn't weaker than she was.
"Takumi, you must be the descendant of some extinct devil house."
"Ah… is that so?" Takumi glanced at his own traits guiltily
His [Devil Bloodline (Green)] was painfully average—nothing noble about it. But since Rias had misunderstood, he didn't bother correcting her.
After thinking for a long moment, Rias finally said seriously:
"I'll go back and try. I'll do my best to get you a set of Devil's Pieces."
She hadn't been sure before, but given Takumi's current conditions, she might be able to pull some strings.
An existing devil house doesn't want another heir. But an extinct one might welcome an inheritor.
Either way, this young upper-class devil was worth building ties with.
Rias activated a teleportation circle. A flash of red light later, she vanished—returning to the Occult Research Club at Kuoh Academy.
"Ara ara~ President, from your face, it looks like the talk didn't go so smoothly?"
"There was no real problem—just some complications at the end."
"Oh? What kind of complications?"
"Takumi… he's probably the scion of some extinct devil noble house."
"Eh!?"
"Ah!"
…
Watching her leave, Takumi brushed the dust off his clothes leisurely.
He cared about the Devil's Pieces, but not that much. If he could get them, great. If not, he'd manage.
With his [Master-Servant contracts], he wasn't exactly lacking in retainers (slaves). His real reason for wanting Devil's Pieces was to study them.
For someone like Anna, who had only average potential, he could use the pieces to reincarnate her. Without them, he'd have to rely on his own hard work to slowly raise her power at nights.
Exhaling softly, Takumi glanced at Yuki beside him.
"Enjoy your eavesdropping?"
"Uh… strictly speaking, I didn't really understand."
Yuki shook her head, completely lost about devil houses and Devil's Pieces.
But then her eyes lit up as she stared straight at Takumi.
"Even if I didn't understand, finding out you're some kind of devil noble scion—that's explosive news!"
"I'm a devil, you know. A big bad devil. You should at least pretend to be scared!"
Ignoring his grumbling, Yuki twisted her waist, eyes sparkling.
"Enemy yet ally, a devil-blooded man who fights to protect the heroine… what a perfect setup!!"
Her excitement peaked as she sidled closer, draping an arm over his shoulder like a buddy.
"So… who's this Mio Naruse girl anyway?"
"She's my little sister—at least in name."
As Takumi casually walked away, those few words made Yuki's voice shoot up several octaves.
"Ah! Damn it!! A little sister being protected by her big brother… a forbidden sibling romance… kyaaa!!!"
"This is bad, real bad. Does that mean I've lost my chance at being the main girl!?" (T/N: She's my favorite girl now haha)
Takumi was speechless, unable to refute her barrage of delusions.
And as if reading his mind, Yuki shouted. "You're not denying it—wow, you sis-con pervert!"
"Fine! To secure my place, starting now—I'm your little sister. Right, Onii-chan~~"
"…"
That final, sugary "Onii-chan" lodged all of Takumi's words in his throat.
He had to admit—he shamefully got hard.
...
Read 50+ chapters ahead on Patreon! [patreon.com/METARLN]
Use code FREE2ALL for 30% OFF!