There was a long silence after Rias Gremory said those words.
"You're… interesting."
A cold breeze brushed past as she stared at me with those sharp, inquisitive eyes. It wasn't a compliment. It felt more like... a diagnosis.
My body tensed instinctively.
Rias Gremory. One of the main heroines of High School DxD. The heir to the Gremory Clan. A high-ranking pure-blood devil. And she was staring at me like I was some rare creature that had just wandered into her territory.
And to be fair… I kinda was.
"Do we know each other?" I asked, playing dumb. No point in revealing too much right off the bat.
Rias smiled slightly. "No, not yet. But I could feel your presence the moment you entered school grounds. You've been radiating an aura so dense, so... unnatural that I thought a high-tier fallen angel had broken in."
Crap.
I had a feeling this would happen, but I was hoping to last at least a week before getting noticed.
"Is that so?" I replied, forcing a calm expression. "Maybe it's just... my shampoo?"
Her smile deepened. Not amused. Definitely not buying it.
"No. This isn't something an ordinary human—even a special one—can fake. You haven't learned to control it yet, have you?"
I blinked. "Control what?"
"The aura of your body. Your physical power. It's... overwhelming. It wraps around you like a second skin, heavy, potent, and chaotic. Any supernatural being nearby would feel it. Most students here don't notice because they're just normal humans. But beings like me—"
She took a step closer, the pressure around her subtly rising.
"—we feel it immediately. And frankly, it's unsettling."
I scratched the back of my neck, suddenly aware of how warm it had gotten.
"Well, sorry about that," I muttered. "I didn't exactly get a manual for this kind of thing."
She paused. Her eyes studied me more carefully now—less suspicious, more intrigued.
"You're not lying... You really don't know how to control it. That's dangerous."
I tilted my head. "Dangerous for who?"
"Everyone," she said simply. "Your aura doesn't just scream power—it provokes. If you walk near an aggressive supernatural, they'll take your presence as a threat. And if the wrong kind of entity notices you... well, let's just say, not everyone will be as civil as I am."
I sighed. "Figures. Can't even enjoy my teenage angst phase in peace."
Rias narrowed her eyes slightly, then chuckled. "Teenage angst, huh? You're remarkably composed for someone so... unstable."
"Thanks. I trained under emotional damage."
She blinked. "I'm sorry, what?"
"Internet joke," I muttered, waving it off.
We stood there in silence again, the tension weirdly comfortable now. Rias didn't seem like she was trying to interrogate me anymore—just... observing.
Finally, she sighed. "You're strong. But untrained. That's a dangerous combination. I'll get to the point."
She reached into her blazer and pulled out something that looked like a glowing crimson sigil. The symbol of a devil's Peerage piece.
"I want to offer you a place in my household. Become my servant. With your strength, you could be my Knight or maybe even something more."
She extended her hand.
There it was. The offer.
The moment that changed so many characters' lives in the original story.
I looked at her, then at the sigil.
Then I looked away.
"No thanks."
She blinked. "Excuse me?"
I shrugged. "No offense, but I don't really like the idea of becoming someone's servant—no matter how attractive or powerful they are."
Her expression didn't change, but I felt the aura around her tighten slightly.
"Refusing the Gremory heir's offer is a bold move, Ren Yamamoto."
"I'm full of bold moves," I said casually. "But I'm not here to play servant-master games. I have my own goals. My own path."
Rias folded her arms. "Then why come to Kuoh Academy? Why here of all places?"
"...That's personal."
She didn't push. Instead, she sighed again and dismissed the sigil, making it vanish into glowing red sparks.
"Very well. You've made your position clear. But your aura still needs to be controlled. Whether you like it or not, you're a beacon—and the longer you go without control, the more attention you'll draw. Not all of it will be friendly."
"Yeah, I figured. That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about."
She raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"I want training. Someone who can help me suppress this aura and maybe teach me how not to explode every time I sneeze."
Rias chuckled softly. "You're not that unstable."
"Yet."
She gave it a moment's thought.
"And what do I get in return?"
That was fair.
I took a deep breath. "I'll owe you three favors—three things you can ask me to do, no questions asked. As long as they don't involve becoming a servant, harming innocents, or doing anything... too indecent."
Rias tilted her head slightly. "Define 'too indecent.'"
"...I reserve the right to refuse anything that makes me blush."
She laughed. It was elegant, warm, and dangerous all at once.
"You drive a hard bargain, Ren Yamamoto."
"I try."
There was a pause.
"Very well," she said finally. "You'll receive training—starting tomorrow after class. I'll assign someone to guide you in controlling your aura, and I'll personally oversee your progress when needed."
"And in return…"
"You'll owe me three favors. No backing out. No avoiding them. You'll do them when I ask, and exactly how I ask."
"As long as they don't cross those lines, you've got a deal."
We shook hands.
And just like that, a temporary alliance was formed.
"Oh," she added as she turned to leave, "one more thing."
"Hm?"
"If I find out you're hiding something major—your origins, your powers, or anything else—I will act accordingly."
Her smile was polite. Her tone was not.
"Understood," I said.
She vanished down the stairs with the grace of someone who had done this a hundred times before.
I let out a long sigh.
So much for a peaceful school life.
That night, I couldn't sleep.
I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling again, just like the night before.
Only now, I wasn't confused or panicked.
I was ready.
Tomorrow, I'd start training.
And then... I'd truly begin my journey in this insane, dangerous, and exciting anime world.