The world around me had changed. Not abruptly, not suddenly, but subtly, like theater scenery shifted while the audience was distracted. Kuoh Town remained the same—the same streets, the same Academy, the same faces flickering in the crowd. But for me, Izayoi Jin, something had intangibly shifted after that duel in the Phoenix clan's arena. The victory over Riser, even if not in an official game, had thundered through every corner of the Underworld. And the echoes of that victory were now reaching me in the most unexpected forms.
The first harbinger of change was the house. Not my former ascetic box of an apartment, but a real mansion. Two stories, European style, with an elegant facade, a small but well-kept garden, and even, hell, a swimming pool in the backyard. It stood in a quiet, respectable neighborhood of Kuoh, ironically, not far from the modest home of the Hyoudou family. A gift from Sirzechs Lucifer. The first part of the payment on our "contract."
I stood in the middle of a spacious living room, flooded with morning sun pouring through tall panoramic windows. A soft carpet underfoot, expensive dark wood furniture, a marble-trimmed fireplace, paintings on the walls (originals by some local demon artists, it seemed). The air smelled of cleanliness, polish, and something elusively expensive. The contrast with my former life was stark. There—instant ramen and dust on the windowsill. Here—space, light, and a silence broken only by the chirping of birds outside.
I walked through the house, surveying my new domain. The master bedroom on the second floor was enormous, with a king-sized bed, a walk-in closet big enough to hold the contents of an entire clothing store, and a bathroom that looked more like a spa. There was a study with a massive oak desk and bookshelves, currently empty. There was a kitchen, equipped with state-of-the-art appliances that I would likely use no more often than the microwave. There was even a small gym in the basement—Sirzechs had apparently taken my "peculiarities" into account.
It was a strange feeling. I had never strived for luxury. Money, comfort—all of it was secondary to me. The main things were freedom and an absence of boredom. But… to deny that this house was pleasant would be foolish. It was spacious. It was quiet. One could think here, without staring at a shabby wall three feet away. I could go out into the garden, sit by the pool (though I had no plans to swim). I could feel like… the master of the situation? No, more like a guest in someone else's overly beautiful cage. A golden cage, gifted by a Satan.
I smirked at my thoughts. Sirzechs was cunning. This house wasn't just a payment. It was an anchor. An attempt to tie me to this place, to this town, to his sister and her crew. An attempt to make me more… predictable. Controllable. Well, let him indulge his illusions. I'll take his gift, I'll enjoy the comfort. But I won't let him put a collar on me. Not him, not anyone.
My reflections were interrupted by a soft chime at the door. Not an electronic beep, but a gentle, melodic ring. I walked to the door, pressed the video intercom button—another newfangled toy. The face of... Grayfia Lucifuge... appeared on the screen. Immaculate as always in her severe maid's uniform, with an impassive expression in her silver eyes.
I opened the door.
"Lady Grayfia," I nodded. "Unexpected. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Good morning, Izayoi Jin-sama," her voice was level and melodic. "Lord Sirzechs asked me to deliver the second part of your… remuneration. And some accompanying instructions."
She held out a small, flat, black velvet case and a thin folder, similar to the one that held the house deeds.
I took the case and opened it. Inside, on a satin pillow, lay a plastic card. Black, matte, with no identifying marks save for a barely visible engraving—a symbol that looked like the crest of Lucifer.
"An Underworld bank card," Grayfia explained, noticing my confusion. "It is tied to your new name and status. With it, you can make any purchases in both the human world and the demon world. It is accepted almost everywhere."
"Status?" I raised an eyebrow.
"After the duel with Riser Phoenix and… Lord Sirzechs's intervention, your name has become known in certain circles," Grayfia allowed a faint smile to touch the corners of her lips. "You have been assigned an unofficial, yet very high, rank of 'independent power.' This card is confirmation of your position and… financial standing."
"Financial standing?" I turned the card over in my hands. "What's the limit?"
"There is no limit," Grayfia replied simply. "Lord Sirzechs has ensured that you will not encounter any... domestic difficulties. Consider it an unlimited account in your name. As was promised."
An unlimited account. I almost laughed. A Satan had given me a house and endless money. All for breaking his future brother-in-law and saving his sister from an unwanted marriage. What irony. Money for its own sake didn't interest me. But money as a tool for freedom—that was another matter. Now I could buy any clothes, any food, any tech, without counting pathetic yen from an allowance. I could travel, if I wanted (though the free pass to the Underworld was an even more valuable gift). This untied my hands.
"Generous," I nodded, putting the card away. "And what's in the folder?"
"Instructions for the card, some contacts in the Underworld financial system in case of questions, and…" Grayfia paused, "…and your pass."
I opened the folder. Aside from the boring financial papers, there lay a small crystal of dark obsidian, on which a complex magical symbol pulsed.
"It is a universal access key," Grayfia explained. "It allows you to travel freely between the human world and the main districts of the Underworld, including the territories of clans loyal to Lord Sirzechs. It also serves as an identifier, confirming your status. It cannot be forged or tracked without special equipment. Use it wisely, Izayoi-sama. Free access is a privilege, but also a responsibility."
I took the crystal. It was warm to the touch, and I could feel the complex magic contained within. Free passage. Now that was truly valuable. Now I could pop into the demon world whenever I wanted. Not out of idle curiosity, but… well, at least to blow off steam, if it got too quiet here.
"My thanks, Lady Grayfia. Please convey my gratitude to your master."
"Of course," she bowed slightly. "If there are no more questions, I will take my leave."
"No questions."
Grayfia turned and vanished silently, without resorting to a teleportation circle, simply dissolving into the morning light. The mastery of the strongest Queen.
I closed the door and returned to the living room. A house, an unlimited card, a pass to the Underworld. Sirzechs Lucifer knew how to pay his debts. And how to place his pieces on the board. I wasn't just an anomaly anymore. I was an anomaly with resources and access. That made me even more… interesting… to all the players in this world.
And confirmation of that didn't take long to arrive.
Over the next few days, mail began to arrive at my new address. Not the usual bills or junk mail. But heavy parchment scrolls, sealed with complex wax sigils bearing the crests of ancient demonic houses. Letters. Invitations. Dozens of invitations.
They lay on my new oak desk in the study—a whole mountain of them. Bael, Sitri, Agares, Glasya-Labolas, Vepar… Names I knew from memories of the DxD world, from my past life. The Great Houses of the Underworld, pillars of demonic society. And all of them had suddenly taken a keen interest in me.
I lazily broke the seal on one after another. The contents were predictable to the point of nausea.
"Most esteemed Izayoi Jin-sama…"
"We have heard of your valor and incredible power, demonstrated in recent events…"
"The [Clan Name] clan expresses its respect and admiration…"
"We would be honored to host you at a reception in our humble estate…"
"…to discuss opportunities for mutual benefit…"
"…to strengthen the bonds between our forces…"
"…the possibility of joining our glorious house…"
"…to receive your own peerage upon turning…"
Blah, blah, blah. Hypocrisy and flattery oozed from every ornate turn of phrase. They all wanted one thing—to get my power. To tie me to their clan, make me their piece, use me in their endless intrigles and power struggles. Some offered wealth, others titles, a third group offered access to knowledge or artifacts. Someone even hinted at "beautiful maidens from our bloodline," ready to keep me company. The standard set of temptations.
It amused and irritated me at the same time. They saw me only as a tool, a powerful weapon that could be bought or tamed. They didn't understand—or didn't want to understand—that I was outside their system. That their titles, their wealth, their rules were just empty noise to me.
I sifted through the lavish letters, smelling of expensive ink and magic, and tossed them into the fireplace, where they turned to ash with a soft hiss. I didn't care about their invitations, their promises, or their intrigues.
But one letter caught my eye. It was different from the others. The envelope was of thick, crimson parchment, and the seal… the seal depicted a bird of fire. A Phoenix.
I opened it. The text was written in an elegant but firm hand. And it was different.
"Honorable Izayoi Jin-sama,
We, Lord and Lady Phoenix, heads of the House of Phoenix, are writing to you.
We are aware of the events that transpired during our son Riser's recent visit to the human world, and of the duel that followed. We offer you and Lady Rias Gremory our deepest and most sincere apologies for our son's dishonorable conduct and for the unpleasant situation that arose from his actions. His behavior does not reflect the honor and dignity of our clan.
We are also in great admiration of your strength and nobility, which you displayed during the contest. You not only defended the honor of Lady Rias, but you also showed restraint by not finishing a defeated opponent, despite his provocations. Such conduct deserves the highest respect.
As a sign of our esteem and our desire to establish amicable relations between our forces, we would like to invite you to visit our ancestral estate in the Underworld. We wish to personally express our respect and offer a formal apology on behalf of our clan. We believe that despite the unfortunate incident with our son, strong and mutually beneficial relations can be established between you and the House of Phoenix.
For your convenience, we have enclosed a single-use teleportation sigil that will deliver you directly to our territory. We would be glad to receive you at any time you find convenient.
With deepest respect,
Lord and Lady Phoenix."
I reread the letter several times. An apology? From Riser's parents? An invitation to their territory? This was… unexpected. And very cunning. They weren't trying to tempt or buy me. They were appealing to honor, to respect, offering peace and friendship after a conflict. A classic move by the old aristocracy—atone for the offense, then use the situation to their advantage later.
But something about the letter snagged my attention. Maybe the very fact that they were apologizing for their bastard son. Maybe curiosity—to see the Phoenix domain, to see these "immortals." Or maybe… maybe this was a sign. A sign that my life really had changed.
I looked at the pile of ash in the fireplace—the remains of dozens of invitations from other clans. All of them wanted to use me. The Phoenixes, at least, had started with an apology. And they were directly connected to the event that had dragged me out of the shadows—the battle with Riser.
I remembered my thoughts after that duel. I could no longer be just an observer. My power had drawn attention. Too much attention. And now I would have to play their games, whether I wanted to or not. The only question was, by whose rules.
I picked up the letter from the Phoenixes again. Crimson, with gold embossing. And the teleportation sigil—a small crystal, warm to the touch.
"Establishing relations…" I muttered. Possibly. Or possibly, it was just another trap. But… why not? It was certainly more interesting than sitting in this luxurious house and staring out the window. To see the Phoenixes' lair, listen to their apologies, assess their true intentions… It could be decent entertainment.
I set the Phoenix letter aside. The rest of the letters went into the fireplace. The decision was made. I would accept their invitation. Let's see what comes of it.