I seriously didn't know that so many people were reading my work. No it wasn't a bait or power stone gaining chapter at all.
Try to see from my perspective, I was simply in dark as I was getting no comments or power stones, so I thought most of you abandoned it.
Here is chapter as an apology for everyone, expected previous update as chapter.
Enjoy
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. . .
"Good morning, Yuuto-kun~"
The voice filtered through my consciousness like honey dripping through warm air—sweet, familiar, and entirely too close for comfort.
I cracked my eyes open, immediately met with a sight that my sleep-addled brain took several seconds to process.
Her eyes watching me with barely contained amusement. A face resting on one delicate arm, propped up on my pillow. That familiar teasing smirk that promised she knew exactly what kind of chaos she was causing.
Roygun Belphegor.
In my bed.
Naked!
My brain executed an emergency reboot sequence that would've made any computer jealous.
She lay on her side, the morning light filtering through my curtains painting her skin in warm golden tones. Her pink hair spread across my pillow like spilled sakura petals—the expensive kind you'd only see during peak bloom season. Those eyes sparkled with mischief, watching my reaction with the satisfaction of someone who'd just pulled off the perfect prank.
The blanket covered... some things. Not enough things. Definitely not enough things for my blood pressure's sake.
Her figure was—
—absolutely ridiculous. The kind of proportions that made you question whether the laws of physics applied to female Ultimate-class devils or if they'd negotiated separate terms.
I was definitely not thinking about how soft her skin looked in the morning light.
Or how close she was.
Or what the blanket was failing to cover.
"Enjoying the view?" Roygun's voice carried that teasing lilt that told me she could read every thought crossing my face.
"Yes" I admitted, because lying to Roygun Belphegor was like trying to hide a lighthouse—pointless and you'd only look stupid trying. "Though I'm wondering what you're doing in my bed. Naked?"
Her smile widened, clearly pleased with my honesty.
"I came to tell you about the Nine-Headed Hydra you asked me to find." She shifted slightly, and the blanket did things that made my heart rate spike. "The information you requested"
"That's great and all—really, I appreciate the intel." I kept my eyes firmly on her face. Mostly. "But that still doesn't explain the current situation"
I paused, a horrible thought occurring to me.
"We didn't... I mean, we didn't do that, right?"
The thought made something twist in my chest. Not because I wouldn't want to—she was gorgeous and we got along great—but because if we had and I didn't remember it, I'd be so incredibly disappointed. What kind of cosmic joke would that be? Finally getting to experience something amazing with someone like Roygun Belphegor and having zero memory of it?
That's worse than death. That's worse than becoming Riser's servant. That's just cruel.
Roygun laughed, the sound like bells chiming. "No, Yuuto-kun. We didn't. I arrived late last night to share the information, but you were already fast asleep. You looked so peaceful, I didn't want to wake you."
"So you got naked and climbed into bed with me?"
"Your bed is very comfortable," she said matter-of-factly, as if that explained everything, I couldn't deny that "And I was tired from searching for information all day. Besides, it's not like you minded."
Fair point. I really didn't mind. My body was making that extremely clear.
"Well, I appreciate you, for not taking advantage of my unconscious state," I said dryly.
"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it," she purred. "When something happens between us, Yuuto-kun, I want you fully awake"
When. Not if. When.
My brain filed that away for later panic.
"Right. Cool. Good to know." I cleared my throat, desperately trying to redirect this conversation before my body made my thoughts even more obvious. "So, the Nine-Headed Hydra?"
Her expression shifted, amusement giving way to something more serious. She sat up—the blanket dropping in ways that made me question my life choices—and reached for something on my nightstand.
A map.
"The Nine-Headed Hydra resides in the deepest part of the Familiar Forest," Roygun explained, unfolding the parchment across the bed between us. Her finger traced a route marked in red ink.
She pointed to an X marking on the map.
"The creature's lair is extensive—a cave that runs deep underground. But here's what you need to know." Her nail tapped a series of smaller marks around the X. "These indicate deposits of crystallized poison. They're formed from the Hydra's... excretions."
I blinked.
"I'm sorry, did you just say—"
"Excretions, yes." She didn't even have the decency to look embarrassed. "The Hydra's poison is so potent that when it... eliminates waste, the toxins crystallize on contact with air. These crystals contain concentrated venom in stable form."
"So you're telling me," I said slowly, "that I need to collect magical monster shit."
"Crystallized magical monster shit," she corrected with a perfectly straight face. "There's a difference."
"But not enough, to make me happy"
I groaned, scrubbing a hand down my face.
Of course it was. Because nothing in my life could be simple. The universe looked at me asking for a reasonable way to develop poison resistance and said "you know what would be funny? Make him collect monster droppings."
Roygun's expression shifted, the teasing fading into something genuine. Concerned. She leaned forward, and I tried very hard not to notice how the movement affected her... everything.
"Yuuto-kun." Her voice carried weight now. "I need you to promise me something."
"What?"
"Don't fight the Hydra." Her eyes locked onto mine with intensity that made my breath catch. "I know how you are. I know you'll see it as a challenge, another opponent to test yourself against. But this creature isn't like the others you've faced."
"I wasn't planning on—"
"The Nine-Headed Hydra is classified as the Ultimate Class" she continued, cutting through my protest. "It's survived for over thousand years in that forest. Do you know why?"
I shook my head.
"Because Its regeneration makes a Phenex look like an amateur. Cut off one head, two grow back. And unlike Riser, it doesn't run out of stamina or demonic power. It just keeps growing one after another, with no end"
Well, that's terrifying.
"The poison alone can kill an High-class devil in minutes without treatment," Roygun added. "And it has nine heads, each one capable of independent thought and attack patterns. It's like you'd be facing nine different opponents simultaneously"
"So, don't engage in fighting with it, will you?"
The genuine worry in her expression caught me off guard.
Roygun Belphegor, the woman who treated most threats like amusing challenges—was genuinely concerned about me facing this thing.
That said a lot about how dangerous the Hydra actually was.
"Alright, I'll grab the crystals and leave. In and out, quick and clean."
As if it's ever that simple.
The universe clearly had it out for me.
What were the odds I could just walk into a Ultimate-class monster's lair, collect some crystallized poison shit, and walk out without incident?
Based on recent experience? Approximately zero.
But Roygun didn't need to hear that.
"I won't die" I added, because that seemed important to clarify.
Her expression softened, relief flooding those blue eyes.
A glance at my clock made my heart stop.
8:47 AM.
Shit.
Rias had specifically told everyone to meet at the mountain mansion by 9 AM sharp for Rating Game training.
"Oh no, I'm late." I started to sit up, then remembered Roygun was still very much naked and very much in my personal space. "I need to—Rias told everyone to be at the mansion by nine for training and I—"
"Don't worry about that," Roygun said with a smile that immediately made me suspicious "You focus on your Rating Game preparation. I'll see you on the day of the match."
"You're coming to watch?"
"Of course. I wouldn't miss your first Rating Game~" Her smile widened. "Besides, I'm curious to see what techniques you've been developing, other than breathing one. You've always secretive about your training"
Because if I told you half the things I've been attempting, you'd either laugh yourself till sunset or drag me to a psychiatrist.
"It's going to be a good one" I said, summoning a red magic circle beneath my feet. The familiar warmth of demonic power gathered around me, preparing for teleportation. "Thanks for the information, Roygun. And for... this morning."
"My pleasure, Yuuto-kun~"
She waved at me—still completely naked, still completely shameless—as the magic circle flared to life.
The last thing I saw before teleporting was her smile and absolutely nothing else because I was definitely not looking anywhere else.
Definitely not?
---
I stepped out of the magic circle, in front of a mansion that could only be described as "rich people flexing."
Traditional Japanese architecture mixed with modern Western, nestled in mountains that looked like they'd been pulled from a tourism poster. Multiple stories, sweeping roofs with elegant curves, surrounded by perfectly manicured gardens that probably cost more to maintain than most people's homes.
The kind of place that screamed "Gremory family vacation property" and "you can't afford this, hah, you can't"
I walked around to the backyard, following the familiar demonic energy signatures.
Rias stood in the center of an open training area, her crimson hair catching the morning sunlight. She wore practical training clothes—form-fitting but functional—that let her move freely. Her blue-green eyes surveyed the space with tactical assessment, clearly planning training regimens.
Akeno stood nearby in shorts and shirt, because apparently she trained in the same clothes she wore to school. Her long black hair was tied back in a ponytail, and violet lightning crackled around her fingers as she practiced control exercises.
Koneko stood next to her with a bag of cookies while watching Akeno's practice. Her white hair and gold eyes made her look like a doll, right up until you remembered she could punch through concrete without trying.
Asia stood next to Rias, dressed in simple training clothes that were probably borrowed. Her green eyes watched Akeno's lightning with a mix of fascination and nervousness.
"Sorry I'm late," I called out, walking across the grass. "I slept longer than intended."
Rias turned, her expression brightening when she saw me.
"It's alright, Yuuto. You arrived at the perfect time." She gestured for me to join the group. "We were just discussing strategy for defeating Riser and his peerage."
I stopped beside her, nodding to the others. Akeno gave me a knowing smile, while Koneko offered a small nod, still focused on her cookies. Asia waved cheerfully.
"So what's the plan, Buchou?" I asked, genuinely curious what she'd come up with.
We had numbers disadvantage—five versus fifteen. Power disadvantage—most of us were still low to mid-class devils while Riser's peerage had years of experience. And the ultimate disadvantage of facing someone with literally unkillable regeneration.
Good times.
"Your information made a significant difference in how I'm approaching this Rating Game," Rias said, her tactical mind clearly working overtime. "Knowing that Phenex regeneration has limits—that it can be overwhelmed through sustained damage and mental pressure—gives us an actual victory condition."
"His immortality isn't the only concern though," I pointed out. "His flames are troublesome. Phoenix fire burns hotter than normal flames and can't be easily extinguished. Plus, his entire peerage has access to Phoenix Tears, meaning they can recover from injuries that would take us out of the fight."
I held up three fingers.
"They have superior numbers. Superior healing. And their King is immortal with fire powers. We're fighting uphill on every metric."
Rias's expression tightened, frustration bleeding through her composed exterior.
"That was one of my main concerns," she admitted. "How exactly should we approach this? What strategy can overcome those advantages?"
Akeno glanced at me, and I recognized that look.
The "you clearly have something planned so why aren't you sharing" look.
All eyes turned to me expectantly.
The problem was, I did have a plan.
It just wasn't something I could explain without revealing things I'd rather keep hidden. Like the System. Like my side quests.
"I have no strategy, as of now" I said with my most convincing shrug. "But I have full trust in Buchou. She'll come up with something good."
Not technically a lie. I did trust Rias's tactical mind. She was brilliant when given time to plan. Even if it doesn't leads to fruition.
I just also happened to be working on my own supplementary strategies that she didn't need to know about.
Rias nodded, seeming satisfied with that answer.
"Let's get into training then. We don't have the luxury of wasting time." She started giving instructions with the confidence of someone who'd commanded others her entire life. "Akeno, help Asia develop her magic control. Her Sacred Gear is defensive, but we need her to be able to save herself without putting herself in danger."
"Ara ara, of course~" Akeno smiled, moving toward Asia with barely restrained excitement at having a student.
"Yuuto," Rias continued, "train with Koneko. Help her improve her reflexes and reaction speed. You're the fastest member of our peerage, so working with you will push her capabilities."
"...Okay," Koneko said simply, hopping off her bench with cookie still in hand.
"I'll be thinking through strategy and formations," Rias finished.
She headed toward the mansion with Akeno and Asia, leaving me alone with Koneko in the training yard.
The white-haired Rook looked at me with those expressionless gold eyes.
"Ready?" she asked.
I sighed internally.
What's the point of training here when the key to defeating Riser is in the depths of the Familiar Forest?
Improving Koneko's reflexes was good. Training was important. Building teamwork mattered.
But none of it addressed the core problem—Riser's regeneration and winning the Rating game.
And I knew exactly where the solution to both problems waited.
In lair of nine headed monstrosity.
In form of crystallized shit.
"Yeah," I told Koneko, pushing those thoughts aside for now. "Let's start with basic speed drills as usual*
"...Okay."
We began training, but my mind kept drifting to that map in my pocket.
To nine-headed monster with poison that could kill High-class devils.
First, let's get through today's training first.
---
The red magic circle flared to life in the wilderness of the Familiar Forest, depositing me in a clearing that immediately triggered unpleasant memories.
Trees that looked like they could eat you. Shadows that moved independently of light sources. The distant sounds of creatures that definitely weren't on any nature documentary.
I'd been here before.
Last time, I accidentally wandered into Tiamat's lair and nearly gotten myself killed by a Dragon King who was having a afternoon nap.
Good times. Great memories. Definitely wanted to repeat that experience.
At least this time I know what I'm walking into, I thought, pulling out Roygun's map. Ultimate-class Hydra. Poisonous crystallized shit, wrapped up in a doom packaging
The map showed a clear route from this clearing to the Hydra's lair—about three kilometers northeast through increasingly dangerous territory. Roygun had marked several points along the way with warnings.
I started moving, keeping my steps light and senses alert. The forest grew denser as strange flowers bloomed in impossible colors—blues that hurt to look at, reds that pulsed like heartbeats, yellows that seemed to glow from within.
Following Roygun's advice, I didn't touch any of them, and it kept me alive.
Not sure, for how long.
The air grew heavier the deeper I went. Not physically heavy, but magically dense. Like walking through water that wasn't actually there. My skin prickled with residual energy from the creatures that called this place home.
Thirty minutes of careful navigation brought me to a rock formation that matched Roygun's map.
A massive cave entrance carved into the mountainside, easily twenty meters wide and fifteen tall. Darkness spilled out of it like liquid shadow, so thick and absolute that even my devil night vision struggled to penetrate it.
The ground around the entrance was bare rock, scorched and melted in places. Nothing grew within fifty meters of the cave—no plants, no grass, no life of any kind.
The air reeked of sulfur and something else. Something organic and rotten that made my stomach turn.
Someone needs to be banished from cooking
I took a breath, centering myself.
The plan was simple: Get in, locate the crystallized poison deposits, collect as much as I could carry, get out. Don't engage the Hydra. Don't do anything stupid.
Just a quick smash-and-grab operation.
But Nothing ever goes according to plan, my brain helpfully reminded me. Remember Tiamat? Remember how that was supposed to be a simple familiar contract mission?
Yeah. I remembered.
But I was doing this anyway, because the System had led me here and my luck with System quests was actually pretty good, all things considered, when I voluntarily look for my ass getting kicked.
I formed a sword in my hand—Sword Birth responding instantly to my will, silver light coalescing into steel. The familiar weight settled in my grip, comforting despite the situation.
Just in case.
I stepped toward the cave entrance.
The attack came from my right—fast, silent, absolutely lethal.
My body moved before conscious thought caught up. I pivoted, blade sweeping up in an arc that deflected the strike with a shower of sparks and the screech of metal on scales.
Something massive retreated back into the darkness, and I got my first clear look at what I was dealing with.
The Nine-Headed Hydra.
Each head was the size of a tower, serpentine and covered in scales that looked like polished obsidian. They rose from a body that defied reasonable size categories—easily as large as a mansion, coiled muscle and armored scales that reflected no light. Each head moved independently, with eyes that glowed a sickly yellow-green and fangs that dripped with venom that hissed when it hit stone.
One head had attacked. Eight more swayed above it, all focused on me with playful glint.
The creature's body blocked the cave entrance completely. There was no getting past it. No sneaking around.
"You hiding your dirty little secrets in there?
At that moment, The sky above began to change.
Colors shifted to deep blue like someone had thrown a filter over reality. A massive magic circle blazed to life in the air—intricate patterns of demonic energy that spread across the entire area.
A barrier.
The kind that trapped everything inside until one side died.
Best way to spend the evening.
I was sealed in a magical cage with a Disaster-class monster that Roygun had specifically warned me not to fight.
The Hydra's heads swayed, almost hypnotic in their movement. All nine mouths opened, revealing rows of teeth and the faint purple glow of poison gathering in their mouth.
"Worst heist ever"
I tightened my grip on my sword, feeling that familiar calm settle over me. The detachment that came when violence was the answer.
A blue screen materialized in my vision—the System's cheerful contribution to my impending doom.
---
*Quest: Slay the Immortal Monster*
*Objective:* Kill the Nine-Headed Hydra
*Reward:* 1 Character Card
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