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Rias could already tell—earning a place in someone like Jack's heart wasn't going to be easy.
He was the kind of guy who seemed easygoing on the surface but kept his real self locked behind walls no one could see.
Still, so what?
Personality could change. Given time, people could change.
And Rias had enough confidence in herself to make that happen.
The paperwork for joining the club went through without a hitch. She barely had to say a word before someone took care of it—apparently, she had a few friends in the student council.
And just like that, Jack officially joined the Occult Research Club—with Rias as its president.
When they arrived at the clubroom, two people were already waiting inside.
One of them was Himejima Akeno, Kuoh Academy's second most popular girl—beautiful, composed, and carrying that mature allure that drew eyes without even trying.
The other was someone Jack already knew: a petite girl from his class named Koneko Toujou.
Unlike the elegant Rias or the sultry Akeno, Koneko was the quiet, doll-like type—small, silver-haired, with golden eyes that made her look both fragile and untouchably cute.
Only, her face barely moved. She sat there still as porcelain, giving off the impression of a perfectly carved figure that might break if you breathed too loud.
When Rias entered with Jack, both girls looked up and gave polite nods of greeting.
"Jack, I believe you already know them," Rias said as she clapped her hands lightly and moved to sit down on the sofa.
"Yeah. We're in the same class," he replied.
"Good. That'll make things easier. From now on, they'll be your comrades too."
"Ara ara, pleased to be working with you~" Akeno's voice came out soft and teasing, her smile gentle yet full of mischief. The high ponytail, the tall frame, the calm grace—it all blended into a picture of irresistible maturity.
Koneko followed with a quiet, almost monotone, "Nice to meet you." It wasn't cold, exactly—just flat, emotionless, the way someone spoke when they didn't see much point in small talk.
"Now then," Rias went on, "Koneko is my [Rook]. She's incredibly skilled at close-quarters combat. Akeno here is my [Queen]—the only one of her kind. The three of you will be fighting side by side from now on, so it's important you get to know each other."
Jack tilted his head, curious. "And me, President? What piece am I supposed to be?"
Rias smiled faintly, remembering that strange scene during the reincarnation ritual.
"You're special, Jack. The most unique of all my servants. I tried making you a [Knight] at first, but it wasn't enough. In the end, I gave you two [Knight] pieces—and every single [Pawn]."
Akeno chuckled sweetly, eyes narrowing in amusement. "Which means, compared to other [Kings], Rias will have nine fewer servants in total. You're carrying quite the burden, Jack. Better not disappoint her~"
Jack's expression froze for a second.
So he gets killed, brought back to life, and now he's basically someone's underling—forced to fight her battles? And from the sound of it, he might have to take on ten enemies at once someday.
Yeah. Great deal.
But it's not like he had a choice anymore.
He sighed softly. "So… can we finally talk about all this? Angels, fallen angels, demons—how they fit into this world?"
"Of course."
Rias smiled again, settling comfortably on the sofa.
"Angels, fallen angels, demons, dragons, yokai, humans—they all exist in this world, each with their own realms. Most angels live in Heaven. Demons dwell in the Underworld."
It sounded almost exactly like the myths from his old world.
Could this place be connected to that one somehow? The thought flickered through Jack's mind, uneasy and curious at once.
"As for the fallen angels," Rias continued, "they were once angels too. But those who developed impure desires fell from grace and descended into the Underworld. Since ancient times, fallen angels have manipulated humans to wage war against demons—and Heaven's angels have done the same. That's how the Great War began."
She glanced at Jack. "I assume that much makes sense to you?"
"Yeah," he muttered, his tone dry. "Figures. Angels and fallen angels ending up as the bad guys again. Should've seen that coming."
Honestly, who was the idiot that decided to paint them as the 'good guys' in stories anyway?
After being stabbed to death by one, he wasn't feeling particularly charitable toward their kind.
Rias chuckled lightly. "Well, not all of them are bad." Her eyes flicked toward Akeno, who just smiled without saying a word.
Rias went on, "The three factions—angels, fallen angels, and demons—fought countless brutal wars through the ages. By the end, their numbers were so decimated that they were forced to sign a peace treaty. Even now, minor conflicts break out here and there, but full-scale wars are a thing of the past."
Jack nodded slowly. To him, it sounded just like human history: endless fighting until everyone's too exhausted to keep going.
"As for dragons and yokai," Rias added, "their populations were always small. Most of them avoid the affairs of others altogether, living quietly in hiding."
By now, Jack had a pretty good grasp of how this world worked—and why the fallen angel had tried to kill him.
So that was it. They'd seen him as a threat in the making.
He gave a cold little laugh to himself. Funny thing is, I never wanted trouble. But they came for me first. Fine. Now I'll make sure they regret it.
His thoughts drifted to the sword and shield that had appeared out of thin air before—his so-called Sacred Gear.
"What about Sacred Gears?" he asked. "How do they work, exactly?"
"They're said to be gifts from God," Rias explained, "but in truth, many of them are born naturally—choosing their own wielders. Their origins are mostly a mystery."
"And how do I summon mine?" Jack asked immediately. He had no intention of being caught helpless again if another enemy came for him.
"Once you've managed to summon it the first time," Rias said, shifting into a more relaxed posture, "it'll appear or vanish at will, depending on your intent. Try it."
She casually propped her legs up on the sofa, leaning back with easy confidence.
Jack stared for a moment, speechless.
That posture was… pretty much wide open.
But he stayed calm.
He'd already seen much more shocking things that morning. At this point, this was nothing.
No point making a fuss. Focus on what matters.
Summoning the Sacred Gear came first.
"..."
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