Life in Kuoh continued its sleepy dance. Days replaced one another with depressing monotony. School, with its pointless lessons and noisy breaks. Training sessions in deserted lots, where I tried to rein in the power capable of splitting the earth, forcing it to carve patterns on river stones. And the return to an empty, cold apartment, where the only entertainment was staring at the cracks in the ceiling. The calm after the storm turned out to be no less tiring than the storm itself. Boredom, my eternal companion, was once again wrapping its sticky tentacles around me. But to it was added another, far more mundane, but no less irritating, feeling—a lack of money.
...
The sun, as usual, unceremoniously invaded my sanctuary, forcing my eyes open. My first thought wasn't of Kokabiel or impending battles. My first thought was: 'Shit, I think I'm out of instant ramen.'
I sat up in bed, surveying my humble abode. In this world, I'd been "issued" not only a new body and monstrous power, but also a minimal setup for existence: this apartment and a small monthly allowance. Supposedly for an orphan who had transferred to a new school. The allowance was laughable. It barely covered rent, utilities, and the cheapest food from 24-hour convenience stores.
I walked over to the table, where receipts and a few crumpled bills lay. A quick count confirmed my fears: just over a week until the next "payout," and I had next to nothing. Enough for a couple packs of ramen, maybe some cheap bread and water. There was no question of buying a new manga, going to the movies, or even just having a normal coffee at a cafe.
It was… humiliating. I, a being whose power made demons and angels tremble, was forced to count every yen just to keep from going hungry. I could rob a bank with a snap of my fingers, wring any rich man's neck and take his fortune. But that would be… stupid. And it would attract far too much unwanted attention. Besides, I didn't particularly care about money itself. I cared about the restriction of freedom that its absence imposed. I couldn't just go and buy what I wanted. I couldn't afford basic comfort. I was tied to this pathetic allowance like a dog to a chain.
I opened the refrigerator. Empty. Just a half-finished bottle of water and a lone packet of soy sauce. Yare yare. I'd have to choke down ramen again. I slammed the door in irritation. These petty domestic trivialities pissed me off almost more than the arrogance of demonic aristocrats. At least they had scale, they had power. This was just gray, dreary prose.
Boiling water from the old kettle for my last portion of ramen, I sat at the table. It tasted of plastic and chemical spices. Disgusting. But it was fuel. Fuel for a body that, ironically, barely even needed it.
'Maybe get a part-time job?' a wild thought flickered. A mover? A waiter? A kombini clerk? I pictured myself hauling crates or stocking shelves, holding back my strength so I didn't accidentally demolish the entire store. Absurd. Besides, it would take up time I could spend on control training. Or just lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. No, a job wasn't for me. I'd have to endure. Again.
...
At school, everything was the same. Issei ran around with his "genius" plans to win the hearts of girls, which invariably ended with him getting slapped by the kendo club. Kiba maintained his knightly composure, though I could see his shoulders tense at the mention of holy swords or exorcists. Akeno flirted left and right, hiding her dark thoughts behind a playful smile. Koneko silently consumed sweets, watching everyone with her unnervingly serious eyes. Asia timidly tried to fit in, helping everyone with her healing power and flinching at every loud noise.
Rias… Rias was the epicenter of the approaching storm. Although she tried to act normal, her anxiety was almost palpable. She often secluded herself for magical-communication calls, and her mood was even darker afterward. The rumors from the Underworld about her "weakness" and inability to control her territory were doing their dirty work. And the shadow of Riser Phoenix, her betrothed, was growing darker.
I tried to stay clear of all this drama. Rias's wedding was not my problem. Her political troubles, even less so. But the atmosphere in the club was growing more and more oppressive, and even my feigned indifference couldn't completely ignore it. Besides, I understood: if Rias really married this Phoenix, it would change the balance of power in the city. And not necessarily for the better. A new "master" might be far less tolerant of my presence than Rias was.
One day after school, I decided to drop by the club. Not out of a desire to help or sympathize. Just out of boredom. And because there was usually tea and cookies that Koneko didn't always manage to eat all by herself. And my stomach, after that morning's ramen, was demanding something more substantial.
I approached the old building, pushed the massive oak door, and walked in. And I immediately knew I'd come at a bad time. Or, conversely, just in time—to see the show.
...
The atmosphere in the main clubroom was electrified. The air literally crackled with tension. In the middle of the room stood a group of strangers, dressed with ostentatious luxury. Their aura was strong, demonic, but also somehow… stifling, saturated with arrogance and self-satisfaction.
At the center of the group stood a young man. Tall, stately, with golden hair styled in a complex coiffure, and an arrogant expression on his handsome, but unpleasant, face. He was dressed in a gaudy gold suit, embroidered with jewels that glittered vulgarly even in the dim light of the clubroom. A powerful aura emanated from him, mixed with the smell of… burning? Or something like scorched feathers. This, without a doubt, was Riser Phoenix.
He was flanked by an entire peerage. Mostly—girls. Lots of girls. All of them gorgeous, with buxom figures, dressed in revealing outfits that emphasized their status as part of the master's "harem." I gave them a cursory glance. Pawns, Elephants, Knights, Rooks… and one Queen—a tall woman with silver hair and a cold, calculating gaze, who stood just behind Riser. Yubelluna, if I remembered correctly. Strong, dangerous. But still, just a piece on her King's board.
Opposite them stood Rias and her peerage. Rias was pale but held herself with royal dignity, though I could see her clenched fists trembling. Akeno stood beside her, her usual smile transformed into an icy mask, unconcealed hatred swimming in her eyes. Kiba had his hand on the hilt of his sword, his body taut as a string. Koneko was frozen, pressed against Kiba's leg, her small face darker than a thundercloud. Issei stood slightly in front, his face red with anger and helplessness, clearly wanting to say something but not daring. Asia hid behind Rias, trembling.
"…and that is why, my dear Rias," Riser's voice was melodic, but full of condescending superiority, "enough of these childish games. Your reputation in the Underworld leaves much to be desired. Everyone whispers of your inability to control your own territory. Fallen angels roam here as if they own the place, some upstart is running around the area, and your own servants…"—he twisted his lips in contempt, looking at Issei—"…seem fit only to get underfoot."
"Shut up, Phoenix!" Issei couldn't take it, stepping forward. His Boosted Gear glowed faintly on his arm. "Don't you dare talk about Buchou and us like that!"
Riser didn't even honor him with a glance. He lazily snapped his fingers. One of his "Pawns," a cute girl with cat ears, darted forward and slapped Issei across the face. The sound was loud, humiliating. Issei stumbled back a few steps, clutching his cheek, where a red mark instantly appeared.
"Know your place, lowly demon," the cat-girl hissed with contempt. "It is not for you to speak in Lord Riser's presence."
Issei growled with rage and humiliation, about to lunge at her, but Kiba held him back by the shoulder. "Don't, Issei. Don't rise to it."
"You see, Rias?" Riser spread his hands theatrically. "Your servants can't even control themselves. How do you intend to rule a clan if you can't manage your own peerage? Our marriage is the only way out for you. I, Riser Phoenix, with my power and my name, will restore your respect. I will bring order to your territory. And you… you will be an ornament for my home. My beloved wife."
He stepped toward Rias, reaching out to touch her cheek. A possessive fire burned in his eyes. Rias recoiled, her face flushing with anger.
"Don't you dare touch me, Riser! I am not a thing! And I will not marry you!"
"Oh, you will, my dear," Riser smirked. "The decision has already been made by our families. Your opinion is of no interest to anyone. You belong to me. As do all your servants. Especially that lovely priestess of thunder,"—he licked his lips lecherously, looking at Akeno. "And that little kitten…"—his gaze slid over Koneko. "They will make fine additions to my harem."
Akeno hissed, her hands crackling with lightning. Koneko pressed even closer to Kiba, her eyes flashing with fury.
"You… you're disgusting!" Rias cried out.
"I am Riser Phoenix!" he proclaimed pompously. "I am immortal! I am all-powerful! I take what I want! And I want you, Rias Gremory! Resign yourself to your fate!"
At that moment, I decided I'd had enough of this circus. I stepped out of the shadows by the entrance, my footsteps sounding unexpectedly loud in the tense silence. All eyes turned to me. Rias, Akeno, Kiba, and Issei—with surprise and faint hope. Riser's peerage—with curiosity and confusion. Riser himself—with arrogant irritation.
"And who is this?" he growled, looking me up and down. "Another one of your useless servants, Rias? Or is this that 'upstart' everyone's whispering about? He looks unimpressive."
I stopped a few feet away from him, hands in my pockets. My face was impassive.
"Call me Izayoi Jin," my voice was even, emotionless. "And I'm not a servant. And you, I take it, are Riser Phoenix. Been a lot of noise about you lately. Though, from what I see, it's all talk and no real threat. Just another peacock with an inflated ego."
Riser's eyebrows shot up. His face turned purple with rage. No one dared speak to him like that.
"What did you say, you nothing?!" he roared. "You dare insult me, Riser Phoenix?! I am the scion of a great house! I am immortal! And who are you?! Dust beneath my feet!"
"Dust that can scatter you to the wind," I replied, just as calmly. "Your 'immortality' is just regeneration. A handy trick, but not a panacea. There are ways to destroy even your kind. Ways you can't even imagine."
I saw his confidence waver for a split second. Something in my words had put him on guard. But his arrogance quickly took over.
"Ha! Threats from a nameless vagrant?" He laughed, but it sounded strained. "You're not even a pure-blooded demon! Probably some half-breed or a human with a rare but useless Sacred Gear! You have no idea who you're talking to! My power…"
"Your power is the power of your house," I cut him off. "Inherited, unearned. You boast about what you were given at birth. But I… I am me. My power is my power. And it is absolute. Compared to it, your regeneration is just a funny trick."
The tension in the room reached its peak. Riser's peerage prepared for battle. Yubelluna stepped forward, her hands glowing with magical energy. Rias and her team also tensed, ready to intervene.
"You… you will pay for those words!" Riser roared, his body erupting in golden flames—the power of the Phoenix. "I will grind you to dust! I will show you what it means to challenge…"
"Shut up." My voice was quiet, but it held such an icy power that even Riser faltered. I took a step forward, my aura, which I usually restrained, beginning to seep out—an invisible pressure that made the windows rattle and the furniture creak. "Your screaming is tiring. You came here to show off your feathers and humiliate those weaker than you. Typical behavior for a cowardly jackal dressed in a lion's skin. I have no interest in fighting you. You're too… predictable. Too boring."
I looked him right in the eye, and in my gaze, there was no fear, no respect—only a cold, absolute indifference that was more terrifying than any threat.
"Get out of here. Take your harem and crawl back to your golden cage. And tell your family that Rias Gremory will decide her own fate. And if you or any of your lackeys show your face here with threats again… I will personally pluck every last one of your feathers. And your precious regeneration won't help you. Because from what I'll do to you, there'll be nothing left to regenerate."
My words hung in the air, heavy as lead. Riser stood, stunned by my audacity and the power that was rolling off me. He felt it. He felt the threat, coming not from a demon, not from an angel, but from something else, something incomprehensible and therefore—frightening. His face twisted in rage, but he didn't dare attack. Something in my gaze, in my aura, stopped him.
Yubelluna stepped forward, placing a hand on Riser's shoulder. "Lord Riser, do not rise to this… creature's provocation. Our goal is Rias Gremory. We can deal with him later, if necessary."
Riser struggled to catch his breath, trying to regain his composure. He shot me a withering glare.
"You… you will regret this, upstart," he hissed. "You don't know who you've crossed."
Then he spun abruptly to Rias.
"Ten days, Rias. Our wedding. Or a Rating Game. Choose. But be warned, if you choose the game… I will destroy your pathetic peerage in front of the entire Underworld. And you will be mine all the same."
With those words, surrounded by his harem, he stalked to the exit. As he passed me, he threw one more hateful glance but said nothing. A magic circle flared by the door, and Riser Phoenix and his peerage vanished, leaving behind only the smell of brimstone and a heavy, oppressive silence.