Chapter 18

"Onee-sama?!" Sona's gaze sharpened. That disobedient sister of hers... she really gave her a surprise. She had clearly told Serafall not to disturb Shoyo before…

"Wait, Shoyo-kun? Since you already have Sona’s pieces, why did you agree to become my peerage member!? Are you toying with me?" Rias’s eyes narrowed. If he was really toying with her…

"No, I’m not toying with you. Didn’t I just say that due to special circumstances, I didn’t complete the reincarnation?"

"Shoyo-kun? What do you mean?" Sona asked, recovering from her earlier disappointment.

"What I mean is, maybe the number of pieces wasn’t enough, so I didn’t successfully reincarnate. But there is, indeed, demonic power in my body."
Shoyo hadn't told a single lie so far; he had only concealed the fact that he could devour the devil pieces at any time.

Listening to Shoyo and Sona’s conversation, Rias’s eyes widened.

"You said the number of pieces wasn’t enough?! Sona used eight pieces on you, total value of fourteen?! And that still wasn’t enough to reincarnate you?!"

Rias thought, Although my grades aren’t as good as yours or Sona’s, don’t try to fool me.

"Well, that’s the truth. So, when I said I was willing to become your peerage member, Rias, I wasn’t lying. Maybe if we add your pieces, I might finally reincarnate?" Shoyo spread his hands. "Well, the choice is in your hands. If you think using your devil pieces can successfully reincarnate me, then go ahead. Coincidentally, I’m just a little bit away from breaking through to Middle-class devil strength. I have no objections if you want to try."

"Ara ara~ Shoyo-kun’s potential is really something else, isn’t it?" Akeno Himejima said with a soft smile. As Rias’s Queen, she already knew what Rias would choose.

"Not being able to reincarnate even with a value of fourteen pieces, and repelling a stray devil of the ultimate class before even reincarnating, it’s really hard to look away," Akeno murmured, looking at Shoyo with a dazed expression.

Koneko silently tugged Akeno’s sleeve.

Felines... are all possessive of their food.

After a moment of inner conflict, Rias made her decision.

"I’ve decided! Shoyo, I will take you as my peerage member! Only someone like you is worthy of the Gremory name!" she declared, full of spirit.

The stronger and more potential her peerage members had, the better! Ideally, someone like a Dragon King or a Longinus holder could beat Raiser Phenex to a pulp!

"I have no objections," Shoyo replied flatly. "But I can’t guarantee that your pieces will be able to reincarnate me."

"Wait a second... I don’t think I said I agreed yet, did I?" Sona pushed up her glasses with composure, her earlier defeated expression completely gone. "According to Shoyo’s words and the actual situation, he should still be my peerage member, right?"

"Hmm... in a sense, that’s true," Shoyo said after thinking for a moment.

If the rules allow, I should be able to participate in the Rating Game.

But rules? Aren’t the rules decided by the Maou?
Of the Four Great Satans, two, Sirzechs and Serafall, were on their side. Sirzechs and Ajuka, the transcendents, always worked together. Three out of the Four Satans were backing Rias and Sona.
What’s a rule change in that case?

"Sona... aren’t we childhood friends?" Rias said gently. "Although you’ve resolved your major issue, mine still hasn’t been…"

"This..." Sona hesitated. She wanted to say, What does that have to do with me and Shoyo-kun?
But for the sake of their long-standing friendship, she held her tongue. Rias was right, they were childhood friends who grew up together.

Seeing Sona hesitate, Rias continued,
"Sona, you want Shoyo-kun to successfully reincarnate too, right? Maybe if we use my pieces, it might finally work?"

"That... does make sense," Sona nodded.
She had of course thought about the possibility of a failed reincarnation. But according to what she’d studied, someone reincarnated with seven or eight pieces could rival a Maou. If Shoyo needed even more…

Shoyo: To be precise, it’s not surpassing a Maou… it’s approaching the Infinite Dragon God and the Great Red Dragon Emperor.

"Then let’s begin! I believe Shoyo-kun will leave an indelible mark in the history of devils!" Rias declared, puffing out her chest proudly.

Shoyo: To be precise, it’s not the history of devils. It’s the history of this world… and the endless multiverse.

"Hmm, let’s do that for now," Sona agreed. Though she felt like her 'possession' was being stolen, she couldn't deny that she didn’t have the means to reincarnate Shoyo herself.

More importantly, she knew who Rias’s current fiancé was… and she didn’t want her childhood friend to end up marrying someone like that.

"But I have one condition," Sona added firmly.
Even if she couldn’t keep him, her possessiveness wouldn’t let her back down that easily.

"Hmm? Go ahead."

At that moment, the tension returned. Rias and Sona crossed their arms, facing off.

"If there are any commands or demands, I hope I can still have the right to make decisions regarding Shoyo. Especially in competitions. From what I know, what you're planning shouldn’t conflict with this condition, right?"

Sona’s voice was calm but determined. She wanted to make it clear: Shoyo is mine. Forever.

"Alright! I accept your condition!" Rias responded without hesitation. She was a decisive woman, better to share ownership than to lose completely!

"Without further ado, let’s begin now!"
Rias took out all her remaining pieces, eight Pawns, one Rook, one Bishop, and one Knight. A total value of 19. (A Queen piece was only worth 9!)

"Alright," Shoyo said, extending his hand with a hint of a smile.

Well, I’m too lazy to wait ten more days to naturally break through. Might as well do it today. Cough cough… as repayment for tricking you, I’ll help deal with that turkey issue.

"Pawn... one..." Under Sona’s watchful gaze, one devil piece merged into Shoyo’s body.

"No reaction," Koneko said quietly, a ripple flashing in her golden pupils.

"Pawn... one more..."

"Pawn... three..."
Rias continued, fully prepared for this outcome.

...

"Pawn... seven…"

"Pawn... eight..."

All eight Pawn pieces were used! Still, no visible changes in Shoyo's body, not even a sign of demonic wings!

"Hiss!"

Suddenly, Shoyo felt a refreshing sensation.
He had advanced! He was now a Middle-class devil!

A warm current of spiritual energy surged through him, enhancing the automatic operating system within his body. His power had more than doubled!

This was the difference between the peak of a Low-class devil and a Middle-class devil.
His total spiritual power and quality had both increased, and the number of authorities he could access rose to three.

"Still no effect?" Rias muttered, her confidence beginning to falter.

"Should we continue?"

Shoyo yawned. Now that he had become a Middle-class devil, he no longer planned to keep tricking Rias.

His strength was sufficient for now. Even against a ten-winged Fallen Angel, he had the power to fight, perhaps even win.

"Continue!"

After a moment's hesitation, Rias made her decision.

Sona had invested fourteen worth of pieces, how could she back down?

"Rook piece."

"Bishop piece."

"Knight piece."

With a slight twitch of her lips, the three pieces merged into Shoyo one by one.

"Sona-chan!"

Just then, a lively voice rang out from outside.


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