Heracles stood at the edge of the open field, silently observing as Millicas and I played across the wide stretch of manicured grass behind the Lucifer estate. His presence was impossible to ignore. Even standing perfectly still, calm and composed, the sheer density of power radiating from him distorted the atmosphere around him. Servants passing along the garden paths instinctively avoided looking directly at him, their movements stiff, their smiles strained whenever they came too close. A few maids whispered nervously before quickly retreating indoors.
It was aggravating.
It had only been a day since Heracles had arrived, and he had not even met half the household staff, yet his existence alone unsettled everyone. To them he must have appeared like a walking catastrophe barely restrained by civility. Meanwhile, he simply stood there, arms folded, watching me and Millicas with unwavering focus as though guarding a battlefield instead of a peaceful estate.
Creepy.
After distracting Millicas long enough for him to become absorbed in searching for something he had apparently "hidden," I walked over to Heracles' side.
"There is no point being so on guard," I said, glancing up at the towering hero. "I know I asked you to teach me combat, but you can relax. Your intensity is frightening the staff."
Heracles frowned slightly at my words, clearly considering them seriously.
"I will try," he said after a moment.
The pressure surrounding him lessened. Not completely, but enough that the oppressive weight receded from overwhelming to merely domineering.
"That is better," I said with a faint smirk. "We are not in battle yet."
My smile sharpened slightly.
"But you will see one soon."
Before he could respond, Millicas came running back toward us, excitement written across his face. "I found it!" he shouted triumphantly. "Oh really?" I replied, crouching slightly to meet his height. Just as we were about to resume playing, another voice interrupted from behind us.
"Millicas, aren't you going to say hello? I came all this way to visit."
I turned toward the voice immediately, golden eyes meeting familiar blue ones.
Rias Gremory.
"Rias!" Millicas shouted happily before sprinting toward her and throwing himself into a hug. She laughed softly, kneeling slightly to catch him. "Hey, Millicas. Have you been behaving?"
"I've been great!" he said proudly. "I got a new brother and he plays with me and there's a giant and—"
He immediately began explaining everything at rapid speed while Rias listened patiently, responding every so often with amused nods. Behind her stood her peerage. The black-haired girl from before watched quietly, her violet eyes meeting mine. A sharp, venomous smile crossed her face the moment our gazes locked.
I wondered briefly what offense I had committed against her.
Then I realized there were many possibilities.
"It has been a while, Rias," I said casually once Millicas paused for breath. "How has Kiba recovered?" Her attention shifted to me. "He's fine," she replied. "And… thank you for asking." Her gaze drifted toward Heracles, curiosity immediately surfacing. "I heard you gained a peerage member. I was interested."
"I see," I said. "Then allow me to introduce him. This is my Rook." I gestured toward the towering hero. "I am Heracles," he said politely, inclining his head. "It is an honor to meet you, Lady."
Rias nodded, surprisingly unbothered by his overwhelming presence. "Millicas," I said gently, smiling toward the child, "why don't you play with Heracles for a bit? I believe Rias and I have something to discuss."
Millicas pouted briefly but did not argue. Instead, he grabbed Heracles' massive hand without hesitation. "Come on! Let's play!"
Heracles allowed himself to be dragged away without resistance. Millicas was perhaps one of the few beings capable of making the legendary hero visibly relax. Children possessed a strange ability even monsters relaxed around.
Once they were far enough away, Rias spoke.
"After our fight the other day… I became curious about you," she admitted. "Then I heard what you did in Lord Beelzebub's workshop."
My attention returned fully to her.
"Is curiosity what drives you now?" I asked, amusement touching my tone.
"Yes," she answered honestly, stepping closer. "Especially if you're supposed to be some kind of prince of the Underworld. I was the one who found you. I fought you myself. I think I've earned the right to be curious."
I understood immediately.
Demons were born from humanity's collective psyche, shaped by desire, ambition, fear, and darker impulses. Curiosity among devils was rarely innocent. It carried ambition within it, the desire to understand something in order to measure oneself against it.
"I see."
I smiled at her, though the expression differed entirely from the warmth I showed Millicas. "What would satisfy your curiosity, Rias?" I asked. "You make it sound like I came here with a grand scheme," she said lightly. "I didn't." Her eyes briefly drifted toward the field where Millicas attempted to convince Heracles to chase him.
"To be honest," she continued, "after our fight I thought you were just an unusually powerful stray devil."
"And you turned out to be… something else."
I did not believe her explanation entirely, but it made her more interesting.
"So yes," she said calmly. "I want to understand what you are."
"I am no different from you," I replied, stepping closer until our eyes met directly. I gently lifted her chin so she could not look away. "I simply intend to do what I want. Does that answer your question?"
She did not pull away immediately. Instead, her gaze sharpened as she studied me.
"For someone who claims to be no different," she said, "you do things no devil I've ever met can." I chuckled softly, releasing her. "You fought my entire peerage without moving," she continued. "And the next day you summoned a hero from myth inside Lord Beelzebub's workshop."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"So forgive me if that answer feels… unsatisfying."
"I see. That is unfortunate," I murmured, tilting my head slightly. "Then why not witness it firsthand?"
Her expression shifted into confusion.
I smiled faintly, taking her hand gently and lifting it toward my lips. "Accompany me to the banquet," I said softly. "Be my companion when I present my existence before the Seventy Two Pillars." Rias blinked in surprise as my lips brushed lightly against her hand. For a brief moment she simply stared at me, clearly caught off guard by the sudden formality.
Then amusement replaced surprise.
"My companion?" she repeated.
Her blue eyes searched my face carefully. "You realize what that implies, don't you? If I stand beside you, the entire Underworld will assume House Gremory supports you politically."
She stepped closer, intrigued rather than offended.
"And every Pillar will be watching."
Her smile sharpened slightly.
"So tell me something first."
"Why me?"
"I am curious," I answered simply, returning the same excuse she had offered earlier.
She stared at me for a moment before laughing softly. "That's relatable."
"That is your answer?" she asked, amused.
"You wished to understand what I am," I replied calmly. "Standing beside me while the Seventy Two Pillars judge my existence seems the most efficient method."
Her smile widened. "You're certainly confident."
"I simply see no reason for concern." Rias studied me for another moment before finally nodding. "Very well," she said lightly. "If curiosity is the reason, then I suppose I accept."
A soft chuckle sounded from beside her, breaking the brief stillness that had settled between us.
"Ara ara… how bold," the black-haired girl said, stepping forward with a playful smile that did little to hide the sharp intelligence behind her violet eyes. "Inviting a noble lady to accompany you before half the Underworld. You move quite quickly, Goetia." Her lips curved into a teasing smirk. "Especially for someone who nearly killed her and her entire peerage three days ago."
Her tone was light, almost musical, yet there was an unmistakable edge beneath it. Not hostility exactly, but vigilance. A queen protecting her king. "I apologize," I replied calmly, shifting my gaze toward her, "but I do not believe I caught your name."
She placed a hand lightly against her chest and dipped into a graceful bow, movements refined enough to rival court nobility. "Akeno Himejima," she said warmly. "Rias' Queen."
"I see."
"I never intended to kill any of you," I continued evenly. "Doing so would have defeated the purpose of the encounter." It was the simple truth. At no point during that battle had I considered lethal force. Observation had been my objective, not extermination.
Akeno tilted her head slightly, her smile growing more curious than teasing. "Ara ara… the purpose?" she asked. "Your group was unusual," I answered without hesitation. "A devil carrying the scent of an angel. And a Phantasmal being pretending to be something less than she truly is."
Her smile froze for the briefest fraction of a second before returning, though her eyes sharpened noticeably. "My interest was… piqued." I allowed the statement to linger before turning my attention back to Rias.
"Shall we discuss further details later?" I asked. "I have been scheduled to train with Heracles." I gestured toward the field where the giant hero was currently allowing Millicas to drag him around in what appeared to be an extremely serious game of chase. Even Heracles' legendary stoicism struggled against the child's relentless enthusiasm.
"Training?" Rias repeated, clearly surprised. I nodded. "As you likely realized during our fight, I am not an exceptional physical combatant. I intend to eliminate that weakness."
Surprise crossed her expression first, followed by dawning understanding. Before she could respond, I raised my voice slightly toward the field. "Millicas! You should return to your studies before Lady Grayfia becomes displeased!"
The reaction was immediate.
Millicas froze mid-step, eyes widening at the mention of his mother's name. After hurriedly saying something to Heracles that resembled a solemn farewell between warriors, he sprinted back toward us, stopping only long enough to hug Rias.
"See you later, Rias!" he said brightly before dashing toward the mansion at full speed. Rias laughed softly. "See you later, Millicas." As he disappeared, her attention returned to me. "You fought my entire peerage and barely moved," she said, eyes narrowing slightly as she examined me again. "And yet you're worried about your combat ability?"
"It is only natural," I replied. "I have already encountered multiple individuals far stronger than myself. Complacency is… unpleasant to me now." My gaze remained steady on hers.
For a moment, she looked downward, thoughtful.
"I see," she murmured quietly.
Then she nodded once, decision made.
"Alright. I'll come tomorrow," she said. "We should find proper clothes for the banquet." She turned away, gesturing for Akeno to follow. Akeno smiled brightly and gave me a small wave. "Until next time, Goetia."
"Goodbye to you as well, Akeno," I replied. The two of them departed across the garden path, their figures gradually disappearing behind the hedges as servants cautiously resumed their routines. Once they were gone, I turned toward Heracles, who now stood calmly where Millicas had left him, his immense presence settling once more into quiet readiness.
"Well," I said, tilting my head slightly, "how do we begin?"
Heracles regarded me for a moment, eyes steady and evaluating, before a faint smile touched his otherwise stoic expression, the look of a warrior recognizing the start of something meaningful.
"First," he said, his deep voice carrying calm weight, "you must learn how to stand."