The journey back from the Underworld was shrouded in the strange silence of the magical train. A victory had been won, but not by them. Freedom had been reclaimed, but not by their strength.
...
Rias Gremory walked in silence, her gaze fixed somewhere in the distance. The humiliating wedding had been canceled; Riser Phoenix was defeated and disgraced in front of all of high society. She was free. But this freedom had been bought with someone else's power, by the intervention of one she simultaneously feared, respected, and desperately wanted in her peerage. Her pride had been saved, but also wounded at the same time.
Her team followed her, their emotions no less complex. Issei still couldn't recover from what he had witnessed. The image of Jin effortlessly crushing the "invincible" Phoenix was seared into his mind. It was a power of a completely different order than anything he had seen before. It was both terrifying and… inspiring. He felt like a worthless nothing compared to Jin, but at the same time, a burning desire to become stronger ignited within him, to achieve even a fraction of such power.
Kiba walked beside Koneko, both silent, lost in their own thoughts. Kiba was analyzing the fight, trying to understand the nature of Jin's power, its absolute superiority over the magic and strength of demons. He saw not just raw might, but some other principle underlying it. Koneko, meanwhile, seemed simply glad that it was all over and her friends were safe. But in her usually impassive eyes, there was a deep respect for Jin's strength.
Akeno walked slightly behind, her usual playful smile was thoughtful. She had seen many powerful beings, but Jin was something special. His indifference, his overwhelming aura, his ability to annihilate magic—all of it sparked a mixture of admiration and professional interest in her, as a priestess of thunder and the daughter of a fallen angel.
Asia scurried beside Rias, still a little frightened, but without her former terror. She had seen Jin dispatch the fallen, and now, a powerful demon. He was terrifying, but he had also saved her Queen from a horrible fate. Her feelings were mixed, but gratitude outweighed the fear.
As for me, I walked a short distance from them, lost in my own thoughts. The duel with Riser had dispelled my boredom but left a strange aftertaste. He had been weaker than I expected. His regeneration was impressive, but useless against overwhelming power and speed. It hadn't been a battle of equals; it was a beatdown. Amusing, but nothing more. Now I had a contract with a Satan, the promise of money, and free passage. Not a bad payment for a few minutes of entertainment.
...
We returned to the old club building. The atmosphere here was completely different from before the game. The tension had dissipated, replaced by fatigue and relief. Akeno immediately brewed tea; Koneko produced a stash of sweets. Even Issei, usually so boisterous, sat quietly, contemplating what he'd seen.
Rias approached me. She looked into my eyes for a long time, her blue-green gaze full of complex emotions.
"Jin," she finally said, her voice quiet but firm. "I... I don't know how to thank you."
I shrugged. "Don't bother. I was bored."
"Don't say that," she shook her head. "You saved me. You saved me from a fate that would have been worse than death. You humiliated Riser, forced him to renounce his claim. You fulfilled your part... of our deal."
She took a deep breath.
"I remember my part as well. The Gremory clan and I, personally, will leave you alone. No more attempts to recruit you, no more surveillance, no more requests. You are free. And..."—she hesitated for a moment—"...my clan and I are in your debt. A great debt. If you ever need anything… any help, any favor… know that you can come to me. And I will do everything in my power."
Her words sounded sincere. She was acknowledging her debt, acknowledging my power and my right to freedom. It was... unexpectedly pleasant. Not the gratitude itself, but the recognition of my independence.
"Alright, Gremory," I nodded. "I'll remember your words."
The other club members also gathered closer.
"Izayoi-senpai, that was... incredible!" Issei blurted out, his eyes shining with admiration. "That power! The way you just... smeared him! I... I want to be that strong too! I'm going to train even harder!"
"Your strength truly is astonishing, Izayoi-san," Kiba added respectfully. "I've never seen anything like it."
"Ara-ara, watching you in battle is such a pleasure," Akeno purred, her smile full of admiration and… something else.
"Cool," Koneko said curtly, handing me a chocolate bar.
I took the chocolate. Their reaction was predictable. Power always inspires admiration or fear. Or both. Their motivation to get stronger now had a new benchmark. Well, let them try. Maybe they won't be so boring to train next time.
...
While we were exchanging these slightly awkward pleasantries, another magic circle flared up in the center of the room—this time, the Gremory clan crest. Grayfia Lucifuge emerged from it. In her hands, she held an elegant, dark leather folder with gold embossing.
"Lady Rias," she bowed impeccably. "Lord Sirzechs asked me to deliver this to Izayoi Jin-sama. As... the first part of the payment for their agreement."
Grayfia handed the folder to Rias. She took it, bewildered. "Payment? My brother... what is he planning?"
She looked at the folder, then at me. "Izayoi, this... is for you. From my brother."
I walked over and took the folder. It was heavy, made of expensive leather. No writing on it, save for the Lucifer crest. What could it be? Money? Unlikely a Satan would deliver cash this way. A contract? But we'd already agreed verbally.
I opened the folder curiously. Inside were documents. Official papers, with the seals of the human world. I scanned the text. And my eyebrows shot up in surprise.
These were property deeds. For a house. A large, two-story, European-style mansion, located right here in Kuoh Town. With a detailed floor plan, a description of the rooms, a garden, even a small pool. And the most interesting part—the address. It was very close by, in a quiet residential area. Next door to the Hyoudou family home.
"A house?" I looked disbelievingly at Rias, then at Grayfia. "This is the 'payment'?"
Rias peeked at the documents over my shoulder and gasped. "A house?! My brother gave you a house?! But... why?"
Grayfia remained impassive. "Lord Sirzechs felt that a hero who saved his sister and demonstrated such power should not be living in... cramped circumstances. He decided that comfortable lodging was the bare minimum to start. The rest of the payment, as agreed, will be provided later, including the second part (free access to the Underworld). Lord Sirzechs also hopes that a new place of residence will allow Izayoi-sama to better... integrate into the town's life. And be closer to those who might need his... protection."
I smirked. That clever Sirzechs. He hadn't just paid me. He'd bought me a house right next to his sister's and her Pawn's residence. He wanted to keep me close. A subtle form of control disguised as a generous gift. And at the same time, a clear hint that he was counting on my loyalty in the future, should new threats arise.
"Integrate, huh?" I muttered, flipping through the documents. The house was genuinely nice. Spacious, modern, with all the amenities. A far cry from my hovel. Living there would definitely be more comfortable. And the money problem, at least for housing, was solved. "Well, Lucifer knows how to make a deal. Send him my thanks."
Grayfia nodded slightly. "I will relay the message, Izayoi-sama. The house is fully prepared for you to move in. The keys and protective runes are included."
She pointed to a small velvet pouch lying in the folder.
"If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."
With those words, she created a portal and vanished.
...
I was left standing with the folder in my hands in the middle of the clubroom. Rias and her team were staring at me in astonishment.
"A house... He gave you a house!" Issei couldn't hide his envy. "Awesome! We'll be neighbors!"
"A gift from a Satan... That is a great honor, Izayoi-san," Kiba said seriously.
"Ara-ara, it seems Lord Sirzechs values your power very highly," Akeno purred.
"Big house..." was all Koneko could manage.
Rias approached me, her expression complex. "My brother... he always thinks several steps ahead. This house isn't just a gift, Izayoi. It's... a sign. A sign that he sees you as something more than just an ally."
"Maybe," I shrugged. "But a deal's a deal. I've received part of my payment. The rest is his problem."
I closed the folder. A new house. A new life? Unlikely. Just a change of scenery. A more comfortable one, but just as empty. However… it was better than counting yen for ramen. And the location, next to Issei and the academy… meant I'd still be in the loop. Which was probably exactly what Sirzechs wanted.
"Alright," I said, heading for the door. "I'm going to go check out my new… home."
I left the club, leaving them to digest the news. Outside, it was already getting light. A new day was dawning. A day with no wedding threat for Rias. A day with new possibilities and new questions for me.
I walked through the quiet streets of Kuoh, holding the folder with the deeds. My life in this world had just taken another sharp turn. What was next? New enemies? New allies? New battles? Unknown. But one thing I knew for sure: I definitely wouldn't be uncomfortable here. Especially now that I had my own mansion.