"Nice!"
Cid lazily got up and started getting dressed, checking his current mental state. All he could say was that he felt completely refreshed and full of energy.
"The medicine Eta gave me really works. My inner world calmed down right away."
He stretched his limbs, waking himself up while marveling at how effective Eta's medicine was. After experiencing a perfect dive into his inner world, all his usual stress seemed to vanish in an instant.
As expected of the most intelligent among the Seven Shadows. Even Cid himself could not fully understand his own body, yet Eta figured it out after just one look.
"She really is… a genius!"
Still, he had to consider the possibility that his body might eventually develop immunity to it. Probably not… right?
After all, he did not feel any rejection toward the medicine at all.
Ah… the instincts and cravings of the body versus human reason and desire. Truly hard to make sense of.
Putting those thoughts aside, his background character life as an Eminence in Shadow still had to go on. After washing up, Cid got ready to head to school.
Before leaving, he used a bit of Magical Power to check on Asia's condition. Only after confirming that she was sleeping in her room did he open the door and head out.
Suddenly having a roommate was something that naturally took time to get used to.
Nothing happened along the way, which was a bit surprising. The older sister who he thought might be waiting to block his door was not there, and neither were Nagisa Akatsuki or Kojou Akatsuki. It seemed they had not come back since going out yesterday.
He was a little curious, but it did not matter. Ever since he found out Kojou Akatsuki was not an Eminence in Shadow, his interest in the Akatsuki siblings had dropped sharply.
"Is it him?"
"Should be."
"That can't be right. Didn't they say Rias-senpai only had four Peerage Members? How did two more suddenly show up?"
"No idea, but the combat roster Rias-senpai submitted does list six Peerage Members. And judging from the photo, it really is him."
…
Listening to the whispers and noticing the looks from the people nearby out of the corner of his eye, Cid fell silent.
So this was where the real trouble was waiting for him.
Pretending not to notice the hints from Asagi Aiba, he walked to his seat under the discreet stares of his classmates. As soon as he sat down, he immediately leaned forward, turning slightly to block their line of sight. He took out his phone, opened his messages, and tapped on Asagi Aiba's profile.
Rebellious Fallen Angel: Asagi, what's going on?
Why is everyone in class staring at me? Do I look strange?
Electronic Empress: I should be asking you that. Since when did you become Rias-senpai's Peerage Members? Didn't we say whoever made the first move would be it?
Rebellious Fallen Angel: The day before yesterday. What does that have to do with what's happening now?
Electronic Empress: Of course it's related. Why else do you think everyone's paying so much attention to you?
Rebellious Fallen Angel: ? Rias-senpai does have a high status in the Underworld, but there are plenty of nobles at this school. Not even counting other mythologies, just the heir of the House of Bael you mentioned the other day outranks her. Is it really such a big deal that Rias-senpai made me part of her Peerage?
Electronic Empress: You really don't know?
Rebellious Fallen Angel: What am I supposed to know?
Electronic Empress: … Electronic Empress sent a link.
Electronic Empress: See for yourself (sigh) (speechless).
Cid tapped the link Asagi Aiba sent. After the page loaded, he read through it carefully and inhaled sharply.
The page itself was nothing special. It was just an announcement that, the day before yesterday, Rias of the House of Gremory in the Underworld would be holding a Rating Game against Riser of the House of Phenex, inviting participants from the Underworld and other factions to watch.
Yeah, nothing unusual at all.
If only it were really that simple.
First came the news that this Rating Game would decide the engagement between Rias and Riser. Then, out of nowhere, people started hyping up both sides' strength, turning the match into a clash between the strongest of the Underworld's younger generation. That alone was already ridiculous.
But what was even more outrageous was that Netheril's official side announced the night before that they would be coming to watch this so-called battle of the strongest young generation in the Underworld. The chain reaction was immediate. A whole host of mythological factions declared they would also be sending representatives to observe.
Up to this point, it still wasn't too bad. But since it sounds manageable, something was bound to go wrong.
For some reason, the Underworld Rating Game organizers suddenly decided to stir things up. They publicly announced that the Four Great Satans and most of the heads of the major Devil Houses would be present, and even went as far as telling the various pantheons and factions to mind their manners so they would not embarrass themselves by getting frightened.
That completely provoked the other pantheons. A number of figures ranked within the world's top fifteen, some who had just stepped down from the world battlefield and others still stationed across the world, accepted the invitation and came.
Of course, this was just Cid's own interpretation after reading through everything. The statements released by the various pantheons were actually much more restrained and nowhere near as blunt, but the meaning was more or less the same.
In short, things had spiraled out of control.
This Rating Game had completely blown up. It had everything people loved to gossip about: a dramatic noble engagement, the title of strongest among the younger generation, and a spectator lineup so extravagant it could rival a world war. In just one day, news of it had spread across every pantheon.
Under those circumstances, Cid ended up becoming famous along with it.
After all, on the participant list submitted by Rias, he stood out far too much compared to the others. People on the street might not recognize him, but his classmates certainly did.
Electronic Empress: Done reading? Now tell me how you ended up becoming part of Rias-senpai's Peerage. Didn't you say the other day that no one wanted you?
Rebellious Fallen Angel: It was purely an accident. Don't worry, I've dealt with this kind of thing before. At most, this relationship will be dissolved in two days.
Electronic Empress: You've dealt with this before?
Electronic Empress: Are you even thinking straight? People would beg for that…
Cid could not see the rest, because someone had arrived.
Looking at Akeno Himejima, who was standing in front of him casually running her fingers through her long hair, Cid slipped his phone under the desk and exited his chat with Asagi Aiba.
As expected, there were quite a few unread messages from his sister…