Chapter 17

[Sign-in Story – Rias’s Peerage!]

[Agree to Rias Gremory’s request to become her peerage member.]

[Sign-in time limit: 1 hour.]



That was the reason behind his silence just now.

“Agreeing to Rias’s request… but that doesn’t necessarily mean I have to go through with it, right?” Shoyo thought.

But… wasn’t that a bit unethical?

“Shoyo-kun? Shoyo-kun? What do you think about becoming my peerage member?” Rias continued.
“Do you have any wishes you want to fulfill? If you become my peerage member, the Gremory family will help you achieve them. Even if you want to do it on your own, once you become a devil, your lifespan will extend to over ten thousand years, far longer than a human’s hundred-year life. You’ll have plenty of time.”

Rias was actually grasping at straws here. Normally, she’d never say something so servile. As the heiress of the Gremory family, pleading like this to a not-so-powerful human was beneath her. But right now, she needed powerful peerage members. That was non-negotiable.

And this was happening on school grounds, under Sona's nose no less. Trying to poach her person? Risky. If Sona found out, Rias knew she probably wouldn’t get another chance. Considering Sona’s relationship with Shoyo, and the fact that he also worked for the student council, Rias wasn’t confident she’d win a direct competition.

“Hm… no problem.” Shoyo rolled his eyes and agreed casually.

[Ding!]

[Ding! Gold-level story sign-in successful!]

[Sign-in Story – Rias’s Peerage!]

[You have agreed to Rias Gremory’s request to become her peerage member.]

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the reward: God-level Peerage Piece!]

[God-level Peerage Piece: A super-enhanced version of a devil piece. Can transform all races into peerage members. Original race remains unchanged, potential is greatly enhanced, and loyalty to the master is maintained at a minimum of 80 points...]



There was more information after that, but Shoyo didn’t have time to go through it all before the sound of the door slamming open interrupted him.

“Bang!”

The door to the Occult Research Club groaned as if it was about to shatter. Before anyone even saw who it was, a sharp, authoritative voice rang out.

“Rias! I’ve come to find someone!”

Sona entered, adjusting her glasses. After learning Koneko had gone to find Shoyo and then headed to the old school building, she rushed here immediately. Sure enough, that thieving cat Rias was trying to steal her Shoyo-kun. Unforgivable!

“Sona?” Rias stood up in surprise.

You got here this fast? So you're watching your precious little man 24/7, huh? I only called him over a few minutes ago, and you’re already here ready to protect your cub?

“I believe this is the old school building, territory of the Occult Research Club! Sona, entering without permission, isn’t that against the rules?”

Even though she was technically in the wrong, Rias couldn't show weakness. Facing her best friend’s fiery arrival, she stood her ground with impressive resolve.

“If I didn’t come, wouldn’t you have stolen my person right under my nose?” Sona’s words were as sharp as the winter wind. She was... furious.

Everyone present watched the showdown.
Koneko was munching on snacks, Kiba Yuuto wore a helpless smile, Akeno Himejima had a “this’ll be fun” look, and Shinra Tsubaki sighed.

As for Shoyo?

He grabbed a bag of chips from Koneko and started eating too. He’d already completed the sign-in. No regrets.

Of course, he wasn’t the type to go back on promises.

“I agreed to become your peerage member, so come and transform me. If you can actually turn me into a devil, go ahead, do whatever you want. If you fail and waste your pieces? Well, that’s your problem. Just saying... if all your pieces are mutated types, wouldn’t the success rate be a little higher?”

Cough cough... The success rate might increase slightly, but honestly, probably not by much.

Meanwhile, Rias and Sona were still engaged in an intense stare-off.

Rias spoke first.

“What do you mean ‘your person’? As far as I know, Shoyo-kun is just a student council member. He’s not part of your peerage, right, Sona?”

Sona sneered.

Shoyo-kun? Since when were you two so close? You barely even know him! Aren’t you just calling him to cozy up and recruit him? I, I haven’t even called him that many times!

Maybe… maybe Rias only started liking him because I did...

“Rias, aren’t you aware that everyone in the student council except Shoyo-kun is already in my peerage? He’s my reserve peerage member. Don’t you think it’s disgraceful for a Gremory to try and steal someone else’s reserve member?”

“Nope. Not at all.” Rias’s gaze softened as a confident smile played across her lips.
“As long as someone isn’t officially part of your peerage, I don’t see the problem.”

Sona’s expression twisted with unease.

Then Rias slowly added:

“Besides... Shoyo-kun just agreed to my request. He’s going to become my peerage member~”

She said it with the tone of a victor.

Cough cough... Let’s ignore the bootlicking she did just a minute earlier.

“What?!” Sona whipped her head toward Shoyo, who was still casually snacking with Koneko.

Shoyo-kun?! Did you really say yes?!

Her eyes glistened with tears. She felt the demonic power inside her tremble out of control. Even her glasses cracked slightly.

A deep, bitter pain, almost heartbreaking, rose from within her chest.

“Wait, Sona, let me explain!” Shoyo quickly stood up.

Finally, it was his moment to act.

“What’s left to explain? Didn’t you already agree with Rias?”

Sona looked utterly defeated, like a child whose favorite toy had been stolen by their best friend. No... it hurts ten times worse than that.

She believed Rias wouldn’t lie about this, which meant... Shoyo really accepted the invitation.

“Hm, I did agree with Rias Buchou.”

“Then what else is there to say?!” A single tear slipped down Sona’s cheek.

So... her feelings were betrayed after all?

“I just thought Rias Buchou might’ve had something urgent. That’s why she needed me so suddenly.”

“And more importantly... I was already the President’s peerage member before I agreed to Rias.”

Shoyo’s words stunned the room.

“Hm?” Rias raised an eyebrow.

“Oh?” Akeno’s eyes sparkled mischievously.

“Nya?” Koneko nearly dropped her mousse cake.

, , ,

“Shoyo-kun? What do you mean by that?” Sona stared at him, utterly confused.

Were you... joking? Even if you’d just gone back on your word for a second, I’d understand, but what do you mean by ‘already my peerage member’?

“Exactly what I said. There are already President’s devil pieces inside my body. But maybe because the number wasn’t enough, you couldn’t sense my demonic aura.”

He extended his hand, and eight devil pieces materialized from his palm.

Accepting those pieces into his body without resistance or rejection, that was how Shoyo chose to repay Sona for her constant care. He might not have successfully reincarnated, but… weren’t the pieces enough to make him her peerage member in theory?

“Six Pawn pieces, one Rook, one Knight?! When, when did they get inside you, Shoyo-kun?!”

Sona immediately checked her devil pieces. And yes, she could feel her own aura on the ones in his hand.

“Gone... they’re gone... what the hell…?”

“President, didn’t you kick your sister out yesterday? Serafall came to my place to stay, and I think she stuffed the pieces into my body while I was sleeping.”

“But since the reincarnation didn’t succeed, maybe she panicked thinking she messed up and snuck out of my place this morning.”


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