Such courage. Rias had to admit she didn't possess it herself. At least, not before Takeyo became her servant, "if he even counted as a proper servant given the circumstances.
"Well then, is something the matter, Rias?" Sona asked, meeting her gaze once more.
Unlike their earlier exchange, however, Rias found herself lacking the same confidence this time. The memory of their shared "acquisition" of Takeyo still stung, leaving both heiresses in an awkward position neither fully in control.
Takeyo observed them silently, his expression neutral.
It was almost as if he were sitting on a mountain watching tigers fight.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host for triggering a plot check-in! Sign-in level: Silver!]
[Sign-in location: Queen's Defeat (1)!]
[Sign-in plot: Defeat Rias Gremory's Queen, Akeno Himejima.]
[Sign-in time limit: 1 hour.]
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host for triggering a plot check-in! Sign-in level: Silver!]
[Sign-in location: Queen's Defeat (2)!]
[Sign-in plot: Defeat Sona Sitri's Queen, Tsubaki Shinra.]
[Sign-in time limit: 1 hour.]
"Oh? This works too..." Takeyo mused internally.
He appreciated quantity. More opportunities meant more rewards, after all.
Higher quality tasks were certainly valuable, but if the difficulty proved too extreme, he might not be able to complete them, "like that hypothetical sign-in involving the Maou or Seraphim. Whether "Maou" referred to the Devil Kings or something else entirely, he'd need considerable strength to even attempt such challenges.
Refocusing his attention, Takeyo watched as Sona and Rias continued their silent standoff.
"I made a deal with Ajuka-sama," Sona stated, adjusting her glasses with renewed confidence. "Is there a problem?"
Rias, if you think you can compete with me for Takeyo, wait for your next life!
Takeyo understood Sona's mindset perfectly.
It was like those gacha games he'd played in his previous life, "the more money and time you invested, the more attached you became to your account.
The more a mother sacrificed for her child, the more she cherished that child.
Sona had essentially bet the future of the Sitri family on Takeyo, "on his potential, his abilities, his promise. How could she possibly allow Rias to claim him now?
Of course, Rias faced a similar situation from the opposite perspective.
I offered my first nineteen pieces! she thought furiously. I made a promise to dedicate everything after I become the head of my House!
"Ahem... I still haven't successfully reincarnated as a Devil today," Takeyo interjected, feeling the need to diffuse the tension before these two close friends came to blows. "I feel somewhat sorry to both of you for that."
Hearing his words, Sona responded immediately.
"There's nothing for you to apologize for, Takeyo," she said, her tone softening slightly. "Your strength and potential have already been recognized by Ajuka-sama himself. That alone is the greatest reward I could ask for."
Despite the humility in her words, Sona's thoughts ran deeper.
What kind of existence requires thirty-three Evil Pieces to attempt reincarnation, yet still doesn't transform? Just how extraordinary is Takeyo?
"There's nothing for me to be sorry about either," Rias added, meeting Sona's eyes with renewed determination. "As long as you fight for me when needed as my servant."
Their gazes locked once more, an unspoken rivalry crackling between them.
Rias silently reminded herself of Sona's goal, "to build a Rating Game school in the Underworld. That dream shouldn't conflict with her own ambition to become the strongest in Rating Games, right?
So... you should let me have command during battles! she projected mentally, though the sentiment remained unvoiced.
"Well, I'll naturally do what needs to be done when the time comes," Takeyo replied diplomatically.
He stroked his chin thoughtfully, considering the situation.
Rias's arranged fiancé was Riser Phenex, "the so-called "roast chicken" with his immortal flames. With Takeyo's current strength, defeating Riser would require significant effort, but it wasn't impossible. The real question was whether he wanted to get involved in that particular drama.
"However," Takeyo continued, a slight smile playing at his lips, "before any of that, how about we have a friendly match? Let me prove that I'm worth those thirty-three pieces."
"Ara ara~~~ Takeyo-kun is certainly energetic~~~" Akeno commented, her voice carrying its characteristic teasing lilt. "You only fought yesterday, after all."
Despite the playful tone, her eyes held a calculating gleam.
If Rias's future truly depends on you, let me verify it myself.
Akeno couldn't forget her history with Rias. The Gremory heiress had taken her in, given her a home, and become her closest friend after the Himejima Clan cast her out. She'd do anything to protect Rias from harm.
And that included protecting her from unsuitable allies, "especially potential servants who might prove unreliable.
If Rias were truly forced to marry that arrogant Phenex heir, Akeno knew her own darker impulses might surface. Given Riser's temperament and treatment of women, she could easily imagine herself... taking measures. Violent measures against him and anyone who supported that union.
"Akeno-senpai, consider this my way of being polite," Takeyo replied smoothly. "And don't worry about injuring me, "I've absorbed so many Devil pieces that I have considerable defensive capabilities now."
"Wait." Rias held up a hand, her eyes widening. "You want to challenge them all at once? Not one-on-one?"
Nearly everyone present felt their composure slip.
We thought you were going to challenge us individually, but you want to take on multiple opponents simultaneously? Don't you realize the difficulty scales geometrically?
"Well, I do want to see Takeyo's true strength," Sona admitted, adjusting her glasses with a thoughtful expression.
As Student Council President and master strategist, she needed to understand the full extent of Takeyo's capabilities.
"My sword is swung for Buchou," Yuuto Kiba announced with his characteristic pleasant smile. "Since Takeyo-kun wishes to become Buchou's sword as well, we should properly get acquainted."
A friendly match, Kiba emphasized mentally. Just a friendly match.
"Very well," Tsubaki said, her hand moving to adjust her own glasses in a gesture that mirrored her King's. "Since this is what you wish, Takeyo-kun, I can only agree."
The light reflecting off her lenses gave her an almost predatory appearance.
She hadn't expected this turn of events. Yesterday, she'd viewed Takeyo as just another Student Council member, someone who might advance toward High-Class Devil status gradually with the guild's support over time.
Then everything changed. Maou Ajuka himself had agreed to take Takeyo as a disciple. The implications were staggering.
Now she needed to recalibrate her understanding of Takeyo's potential entirely. This wasn't someone who would slowly climb the ranks. This was someone who'd ascended in a single leap, catching the attention of one of the Four Great Satans themselves.
"Since you insist on this, I can only agree," Rias said with a sigh, though excitement gleamed in her blue-green eyes.
Watching was one thing. Seeing the results of battles after they'd concluded provided some information. But witnessing Takeyo's capabilities firsthand would give her real insight into what he could accomplish.
"I have no objections," Sona confirmed with a slight nod.
As a master tactician, she understood the value of gathering intelligence. If Takeyo would soon be fighting alongside or for both their peerages, they needed to understand his combat style, his strengths, and his limitations.
"Tsubaki, summon one more peerage member," she added.
"Understood." Tsubaki's glasses flashed as she turned to comply.
She felt a mixture of anticipation and wariness. The boy she'd once thought of as a promising Student Council assistant had revealed himself as something far more extraordinary, "someone whose potential had attracted not just one, but two heiresses of prestigious Devil families, and even earned the personal tutelage of a Satan.
Just how far will you go, Takeyo Kagutsuchi?
Ten minutes later, an uninhabited mountain range lay before them, located in the wilderness outside Kuoh.
This would serve as their battleground.
"You should be familiar with my peerage members, Takeyo," Sona began, her analytical mind already formulating strategy, "but you don't know their specific abilities..."
"No, Kaichou," Takeyo interrupted politely. "Just tell me what chess pieces they represent. After all, if I face unknown enemies in the future, I won't have access to detailed intelligence either."
He smiled slightly, appreciating the challenge this represented.
I need to learn how to assess opponents on the fly, using only basic information.
Sona studied him for a moment before nodding approvingly. "Very well. That's a practical approach."
She gestured to her assembled peerage members. "Tsubaki is my Queen. The others represent various Rook, Knight, Bishop, and Pawn pieces. I assume you understand the basic traits each piece provides?"
"I do," Takeyo confirmed.
Knights gained supernatural speed. Rooks received enhanced strength and defense. Bishops specialized in magical power. Pawns could potentially promote to any other piece under specific conditions. And Queens combined all three traits of Knight, Rook, and Bishop, making them the most versatile and typically the strongest pieces besides the King.
"Ara~~~ As expected of Takeyo-kun~~~ So competent~~~" Akeno purred appreciatively.
Among Sona's peerage, a girl stared at Takeyo with obvious admiration shining in her eyes.
"Kaichou is amazing..." she murmured dreamily.
The fangirl's enthusiasm was almost palpable, though Takeyo couldn't quite remember her name from his knowledge of the original series. Perhaps she was one of the more minor members whose details he'd forgotten, or possibly someone who'd never appeared in the anime adaptation he'd watched.
Regardless, he had more immediate concerns.
[Sign-in time remaining: 52 minutes.]
Fifty-two minutes to defeat two Queens and prove his worth. The challenge energized him.
"Shall we begin?" Takeyo asked, rolling his shoulders as divine power stirred within him.
This would be an excellent test of how far he'd come, and how much further he still needed to go.
The Ten Incarnations of Vishnu hummed quietly in his soul, ready to be called upon. His Alpha Stigma eye itched with anticipation behind his closed eyelid. And somewhere deep in his spiritual sea, Est's presence radiated calm support.
Let's see what I can really do.