Under the watchful gaze of the three beautiful girls, Ryuya quickly calmed his mind, focusing his spirit as he attempted to summon the sword and shield that had once appeared before him.
He felt as if something was calling to him. In the next instant, his consciousness was pulled into an endless void.
Though he could still faintly sense his body, everything before his eyes was nothing but boundless emptiness.
That mysterious call grew clearer, echoing through the void. Ryuya turned toward its source and finally spotted a faint white glow in the far distance.
The moment he willed it, the white light responded—rushing toward him, growing larger and larger as it drew near.
What is this…?
When the radiance came close enough for him to see what lay hidden within the darkness, Ryuya's eyes widened in shock.
Before him stood an enormous black fortress, towering and magnificent. Its walls, forged seemingly from pure steel, loomed a hundred meters high—stretching endlessly beyond sight.
Upon the black iron walls were countless engraved beasts and ancient runes, exuding an overwhelming, awe-inspiring presence.
And atop those walls stood rows upon rows of soldiers clad in pitch-black armor, motionless like statues carved from stone.
Where… is this place?
Ryuya couldn't comprehend it. The city before him was grand beyond imagination, yet it radiated the eerie stillness of death—a necropolis frozen in eternal silence.
His gaze was soon drawn to the colossal gate at the city's center. Above that gate stood a massive statue.
It was a faceless man astride a tall warhorse—its rearing stance full of pride and power. The horse's mane flowed like waves, highlighting the valor of its rider, whose presence seemed to command the heavens themselves.
In the statue's hands rested a silver longsword and a matching silver shield—the very same set of weapons that had once appeared before Ryuya out of thin air.
Against the black-and-gold hue of the city, that pair of silver armaments shone with a brilliance that pierced the darkness.
So the light he'd seen—the beacon that had guided him here—had been the glow of that sword and shield all along.
Ryuya's consciousness drifted closer, stopping before the statue. As his eyes fell upon the divine weapons, his vision suddenly blurred.
Within his mind, scenes surged like waves.
He saw endless armies charging across vast plains, and at their head—one man, gripping that same sword and shield, leading his soldiers to victory after victory.
Then the vision shifted.
The banners of triumph fluttered high in the wind; countless soldiers knelt in reverence, shouting in unison—"Our King!"
The people he had saved bowed to him in gratitude and devotion.
But after countless battles, after shedding blood to defend his people, the great king grew weary. One fateful day, he was ambushed and slain. His blood stained the silver shield crimson, and his sacred sword was shattered in his grasp.
On that day, the heavens wept.
Winds howled, and blood rained from the skies—as if even the gods mourned his fall.
Yet, bathed in their master's blood, the sword and shield were reborn—imbued with miraculous power beyond comprehension.
—The Sword and Shield of the Benevolent King.
The name surfaced in Ryuya's mind as if whispered by a gentle goddess beside his ear, telling him that these weapons had once belonged to a righteous monarch—
A true human king, a benevolent ruler.
Thus, they came to bear his title: The Benevolent King's Sword and Shield.
Ryuya's awareness snapped back. He gasped and opened his eyes wide—before him floated the same silver sword and shield, gleaming softly in the air.
"Ara ara~ such a strong surge of energy," Akeno murmured in admiration, her lips curling into a faint smile. "There's a powerful aura sealed within that artifact."
Ryuya slowly reached out, his hand closing around the sword's hilt. With a smooth motion, he drew it free from the sheath embedded into the shield. The silver shield, as if alive, hovered beside him, circling gracefully around his body.
"Hehe, a sword and shield, huh? You really do look like a knight now," Rias Gremory said with a teasing smile, her eyes glimmering with satisfaction as she studied him.
Ryuya, however, felt something stirring deep within his heart…
He felt as though his power could extend far beyond this…
That massive black fortress—perhaps even that could be summoned!
Just as he was about to give it a try, Rias's voice pulled him back to reality:
"But Sacred Gears aren't so easy to control. You'll have to keep improving yourself, Ryuya. Forcing out a Sacred Gear's full power recklessly could seriously injure you."
Her words instantly sobered him up.
Indeed, that black citadel was clearly not something his current self could handle. If he recklessly tried to summon it now and accidentally wrecked his own body in the process… yeah, that would be the very definition of "crying with no tears left."
After experimenting a few more times to fully grasp how to summon and dismiss his Sacred Gear, Ryuya finally felt satisfied.
Rias, meanwhile, smiled lightly and said,
"Alright then, you can do whatever you like for the rest of the day. I spent all last night healing your wounds, so now I'm going to take a bath."
"Thanks for the hard work last night," Ryuya said as he stood up.
He cast a glance toward Koneko Toujou. From the moment he'd entered the Occult Research Club room until now, the petite girl had been quietly munching on one snack after another—sweets, bread, pastries, nonstop.
That calm, silent way she ate… was honestly kind of adorable.
Ryuya gave her a polite nod—his version of a greeting—then left the clubroom and headed back to class.
The moment he stepped inside, his classmates immediately surrounded him, bombarding him with questions.
Everyone was curious: how on earth had he managed to get into Rias Gremory's mysterious Occult Research Club?
Ryuya sighed inwardly.
If only you knew it's full of devil girls, you'd understand why you're not getting in.
Outwardly, however, he simply smiled and said that Rias had thought he was a good fit for the club and personally invited him to join.
That explanation sent a shockwave of envy through the boys.
"Damn it! Why do you get to be so close to President Rias?!"
"And Akeno-senpai too!"
"Don't forget little Koneko-chan!!"
Their wails of jealousy grew louder and louder, echoing through the room.
Ryuya kept his smile on the surface, but inwardly he was already bored to death.
Tch… these hormone-driven idiots. What's there to envy about this kind of thing?
I mean, I literally shared a bed naked with Rias last night. Do you see me bragging about it?
Not long after, Rias and the other two girls entered the classroom.
They each greeted Ryuya naturally, which instantly made the male students grit their teeth in a silent fit of rage.
Ryuya could only sigh helplessly.
During a lull between classes, Rias looked at him, a faintly teasing smile curling her lips.
"Well, it seems you've become quite famous now."
"Heh… fame like this? I could do without it," Ryuya replied dryly.
"Ara ara~ But isn't it nice to be popular? To blend in a little more?" Akeno said sweetly as she sat beside him, her tone playful as ever.
Ryuya simply shook his head and answered calmly,
"Why would I want to blend in? In a world of ugly ducklings, even swans are guilty."
Atmosphere was something you couldn't force—if you didn't belong, you didn't belong.
Especially when he shared so little in common with the people around him to begin with.
The three girls blinked in surprise at his words. For a moment, none of them could think of a response.
Ryuya's personality… it was certainly unique—but undeniably, just a little bit lonely too.
...
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