The morning sunlight filtered through the windows of Isaiah's residence, casting long shadows across the living room. He sat on one of the leather couches, his posture relaxed but his mind alert. Rayne occupied the seat to his left, her presence a familiar comfort, while Ravel sat to his right, her hands folded neatly in her lap.
Across from them, seated on the opposite couch, was their unexpected visitor.
Latia Astaroth carried herself with a grace that spoke of careful upbringing and noble etiquettes. Her long blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, the tips dyed a distinctive blue that caught the light in a way that seemed almost deliberate. Brown eyes—sharp and intelligent—studied Isaiah with barely concealed curiosity. She wore an elegant dress that somehow managed to be both refined and practical, the kind of clothing that suggested someone who valued appearance but wouldn't let it hinder movement if necessary.
Isaiah found himself appreciating her presence for reasons that had nothing to do with politics or power. In the original timeline, Latia Astaroth had been one of those characters who deserved far more screen time than she'd received. Her intellect, her strategic mind, her genuine desire to forge her own path separate from her clan's shadow—all of it had been criminally underutilized.
At least I get to interact with her directly this time, he thought with satisfaction.
"Latia san" he said "Welcome to my home."
Latia returned the gesture with equal respect, though Isaiah noticed the way her eyes studied him with analytical precision. "Lord Isaiah. Thank you for receiving me on such short notice. I apologize for the early morning visit."
"There's no need for apologies," Isaiah replied smoothly. "Though I must admit, I'm curious about what brings you here."
Before Latia could respond, Rayne leaned forward slightly, her expression shifting to something more concerned. "Latia, is everything alright within the Astaroth Clan? For you to appear at Isaiah-sama's residence at this hour..."
Isaiah kept his expression neutral, but internally he was already connecting the dots. If it was good news, she wouldn't have shown up so early in the morning. Something significant has happened, and given recent events, I can guess what it might be.
Latia's composure remained intact, but Isaiah noticed the slight tightening around her eyes—the only sign of the weight she carried. She took a breath before speaking, her voice steady despite the gravity of her words.
"Lord Astaroth has stepped down as Head of the Astaroth Clan."
The silence that followed was absolute. Rayne's face went pale, her eyes widening with shock that she couldn't quite hide. Ravel's hand moved unconsciously to grip the edge of the couch.
Latia continued, her eyes fixed on Isaiah. "The reason for his resignation is Diodora's affiliation with the Khaos Brigade and his attempt on your life, Isaiah sama"
Rayne turned to Isaiah so quickly it was almost violent, her composure completely shattered. "Is this true?" Her voice cracked slightly on the last word. "Isaiah-sama, did Diodora really...?"
Isaiah sighed, the sound heavy with reluctant admission. I'd hoped to keep this from her a while longer. Rayne's connection to the Astaroth Clan runs deep—Lord Astaroth is her brother, after all. But I suppose it was a hopeless attempt to begin with.
"After the promotion ceremony," Isaiah began carefully, meeting Rayne's shocked gaze, "Diodora handed me a vial. Congratulations for my promotion, he said. It turned out to be a deadly poison."
"This can't be..." Rayne breathed, her hand moving to cover her mouth. "My brother wouldn't allow..."
"I'm sure it wasn't Lord Astaroth's fault," Isaiah said firmly, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
Latia's eyes sharpened with interest. "Why do you believe Lord Astaroth couldn't be behind it? He is the head of the clan, and Diodora is his son. Most would assume—"
"I just don't feel it" Isaiah interrupted.
Three pairs of female eyes stared at him with confusion.
"What do you mean by that, Isaiah-sama?" Ravel asked carefully.
Isaiah leaned back slightly, his expression thoughtful. "I had Grayfia-san's peerage members keep an eye on both Lord Astaroth and Diodora. We discovered that Diodora has been in contact with Khaos Brigade members—multiple times, in fact. But not once did Lord Astaroth show any signs of involvement. There were no suspicious conversations between him and Diodora about the vial, no coded messages, nothing that would suggest he approved or even knew about his son's actions."
He paused, letting that sink in before continuing. "Lord Astaroth may have his flaws, but orchestrating an assassination attempt on a newly promoted High-Class Devil? That would be monumentally stupid, and whatever else he might be, he isn't stupid. Diodora acted alone, driven by his own twisted motivations."
Rayne's expression shifted through several emotions—relief, grief, anger—before settling into a mask of controlled dignity. "I see. Thank you for clarifying, Isaiah-sama."
Isaiah's expression hardened, his voice taking on an edge that made the temperature in the room seem to drop. "But the Astaroth Clan better not expect me to show any mercy toward Diodora. What he tried to do crosses every line that matters."
Latia nodded, her response immediate and professional. "The higher-ups will not interfere. Diodora has brought nothing but shame upon the Astaroth Clan's reputation. Whatever fate awaits him is his own responsibility."
Good, Isaiah thought, even as another concern surfaced in his mind. But I need to keep a close eye on Asia. She would be the primary target of that bastard. His obsession with collecting nuns by pulling strings to get them excommunicated... just like he did to Asia.
His fist clenched unconsciously, the knuckles going white. I'll make sure he suffers worse than what Asia went through because of his deeds. Much worse.
Latia seemed to notice his reaction, but wisely chose not to comment on it. Instead, she shifted slightly in her seat, her expression becoming more neutral. "If I may make a request, Lord Isaiah... I would like to stay here for a time. I intend to explore the town that's managed by the sisters of the Satans. It would be beneficial for me to understand how things operate outside of traditional clan territories."
Isaiah considered the request for only a moment before nodding.
He glanced at Rayne, who met his eyes and gave a slight nod of understanding. She would handle the arrangements, ensure their guest was properly accommodated.
Isaiah stood, straightening his uniform jacket. "If you'll excuse me, I have school to attend."
As he made his way toward the door, a thought crossed his mind that brought a slight smile to his lips. The plot keeps taking turns into unexpected directions. But I could care less at this point. I accepted long ago that my actions would alter things. No use fighting the inevitable.
---
[ Kuoh Academy ]
The rooftop of Kuoh Academy had become one of Isaiah's favorite spots during lunch. Away from the crowds, with a view of the town spreading out below, it offered a sense of peace that the busy hallways couldn't match.
Today, he sat with Asia and Koneko, a sandwich halfway to his mouth when Asia spoke. Koneko sat beside him, her petite frame and white hair distinctive as always. Her hazel eyes observed the conversation with her characteristic quiet intensity, the black cat-shaped hair clips on either side of her head catching the afternoon light.
"Isaiah-san..." Her voice was small, uncertain. "Is it true? Was Diodora really behind my excommunication?"
Isaiah finished chewing before answering, giving himself time to choose his words carefully. He nodded. "Yes. And he's not just crafty, Asia. He's genuinely evil. What he did to you... he's done to other nuns as well"
"Scum," Koneko said flatly, her usually expressionless face showing clear disgust. "If I see him, I'll punch him to death."
"It won't be that easy, Koneko-chan," Isaiah cautioned, his tone serious. "He's allied with the Khaos Brigade, which means he might have access to the same enhanced snakes that Katerea Leviathan used against me. If you encounter him, don't engage. Reach out for me immediately." He turned to Asia. "You too, Asia. Promise me."
Asia nodded quickly, her green eyes wide with concern. "I promise, Isaiah-san. But... what about the White Dragon Emperor accomplices? They could also harm us if they wanted to get to you..."
Isaiah's response was unexpected—he chuckled.
Both Asia and Koneko stared at him, confusion evident on their faces.
"You don't have to worry about them coming after you," Isaiah explained, still smiling. "They aren't like Diodora. They won't stoop so low as to attack one of you to get to me. Unlike that snake, they have pride and honor. They will challenge me directly rather than using underhanded methods. But I guess now they understand it's going to be useless either way"
He stood, stretching his arms above his head with a satisfied groan. The movement drew attention from both girls, who watched as he rotated his shoulders to work out some stiffness.
"Let's hang out after school," Isaiah suggested, turning to face them with a genuine smile. "It's been too long since we had some fun together."
Both girls brightened immediately, smiles spreading across their faces as they stood to join him.
"We should go to karaoke too," Isaiah added as they made their way back toward the door. "I've been practicing. My singing skills have improved a lot lately."
"No," Koneko said immediately, without hesitation.
Asia opened her mouth, clearly wanting to reject the idea but lacking the heart to do so. Her expression was a mixture of horror and desperate politeness that might have been comical under other circumstances.
They think my singing is still bad, Isaiah thought with mild amusement. If it's so bad, then maybe I should sing in the Dimensional Gap, Great Red would probably leave within minutes. But I know I've improved. They'll see.
---
[ Later That Evening ]
Isaiah walked through the quiet streets of Kuoh.
The devil contracts had gone smoothly—routine work at this point, though each one required careful attention to detail. The time spent with Asia and Koneko had been pleasant, their happiness at simply spending time together.
The karaoke, though... that had been an experience. Their expressions of barely concealed horror as he sang suggested that perhaps his self-assessment of his vocal improvements had been overly optimistic.
I definitely improved he thought stubbornly. They just don't appreciate my artistic growth.
He arrived home to find it empty—Rayne, Ravel, and Latia hadn't returned yet. The silence was both welcome and slightly unsettling. He'd grown used to having people around, to the constant presence of his peerage members.
Might as well make use of the time. The Infinity Castle is the perfect place for some training.
He moved through the familiar motions, channeling his demonic energy in the specific pattern required. The biwa's sound echoed through the space, and reality shifted.
The Infinity Castle materialized around him—an impossible architecture of platforms and stairs and doorways that defied conventional geometry. This was where he'd trained Issei to awaken his Scale Mail, where countless hours of practice had honed his abilities to their current level.
Isaiah was about to summon Yamato, preparing to activate his Devil Trigger for some practice sessions, when something made him pause.
A presence. Small but impossibly dense, like a singularity compressed into human form.
He turned, and there she was.
The power radiating from her told a very different story.
The girl floated in the air before him, completely motionless. She appeared to be around thirteen or fourteen years old, though something about her presence suggested that age was merely a joke—a chosen appearance rather than reality.
Long black hair fell straight down past her hips, flowing like shadows given physical form. Pointed ears peeked out from beneath her hair, subtle but noticeable once spotted. She wore a black Gothic Lolita dress, complete with frills and ribbons, and floated motionlessly in the air without any visible means of support—no wings, no magic circle, just effortless levitation as if gravity was merely a suggestion she chose to ignore.
Her expression was completely flat, emotionless. Not cold or hostile, just... empty. As if emotions were a foreign concept she'd never quite grasped.
She didn't blink, didn't shift her weight, didn't make any of the tiny unconscious movements that living things typically made. She simply existed, watching Isaiah with those empty eyes that seemed to look through him rather than at him.
They stared at each other.
"....."
"....."
The silence stretched, neither of them speaking. Isaiah kept his expression neutral, his body relaxed but ready to move at an instant's notice. This was possibly the one of the most dangerous being in existence, and she was floating in his training space without any warning or explanation.
'What the hell is this situation?'
. . .
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