Two weeks had passed since Lucien dragged Kuroka back from the mountains, bloodied and defiant.
The Gremory estate had transformed. The east wing's training halls now rang with the sharp clash of claws on wood, soft bursts of ki, and rarer still genuine laughter. The air carried the sharp scent of sweat, ozone from magic, and the faint sweetness of healing incense drifting from open windows.
During one of their sessions, Kuroka ducked beneath a jab and grinned.
"Come on, Shirone!"
Koneko paused mid-strike. A small, almost shy smile ghosted across her lips.
"…Okay."
She resumed sparring without another word, but something unspoken had changed.
Reconciliation passed between them not through grand speeches, but through movement.
Through shared bruises.
Through the steady cadence of sisters learning how to exist beside one another again.
Kuroka slid backward across the polished floor of the training ground. Her dual tails flickered lazily behind her.
"Again," she purred.
She charged again. This time, white flames, not magic, but her pure Byakko instincts, ignited around her fist. The strike smashed into a reinforced pillar, sending cracks spiderwebbing across the stone.
Kuroka's eyes gleamed with excitement.
The younger Nekomata drove her fist forward with explosive force.
Kuroka tilted sideways at the last second, the strike missing her cheek by inches before smashing into the reinforced training pillar behind her.
Cracks spread instantly.
Koneko blinked.
Kuroka whistled.
"Not bad, nya~. Your control still sucks, but your output's getting scary."
Koneko lowered her arm slowly, staring at the lingering white energy wrapped around her fist.
"It felt… warmer this time."
"Because you stopped suppressing it." Kuroka stepped forward and tapped the center of Koneko's chest. "Our Byakko bloodline isn't just power. It's instinct. Motion. Momentum. You've spent years treating it like a curse."
Her golden eyes softened.
"That strength is yours, Shirone. So, stop apologizing for it."
Koneko looked away.
"…Koneko."
Kuroka smiled faintly.
"Right. Koneko."
The older Nekomata crouched low, then demonstrated the stance again.
"Senjutsu flows through the body like a river. Youjutsu shapes it. Most idiots only learn one properly." She flexed her fingers. Pale white flames ignited around her claws. "But our bloodline is special."
Koneko watched carefully.
"Your body was built for close combat. So instead of forcing your Ki outward… compress it." Kuroka thrust her fist forward.
Two spectral white tiger heads exploded around her arm in a roaring burst of energy.
The training hall shook.
Koneko's eyes widened.
"Tiger Fist," Kuroka said proudly.
The fading energy crackled around her knuckles.
"A technique our father created. Fire and ki layered together until they become something alive."
Koneko stared at the dissipating tiger-shaped aura.
For the first time in years, excitement flickered openly across her face.
"You have to teach me."
Kuroka grinned.
Sharp.
Warm.
"That's what big sisters are for."
In the outer courtyard, frost coated shattered stone, and scorch marks scarred the walls.
Lightning split the crimson sky overhead.
And standing in the center of it all was Grayfia Lucifuge.
Elegant.
Perfect.
Terrifying.
Lucien wiped sweat from his jaw as he steadied his breathing.
Across from him, Grayroad stood silently with his arms folded beneath dark robes.
Beside Lucien, Rias adjusted her stance while Akeno hovered lazily overhead, black wings crackling with electricity.
"Again," Grayfia repeated.
Lucien groaned.
"Mother, I'm ninety percent sure my ribs are still broken."
"Then avoid being hit."
Without a second thought, a dozen ice spears materialized around Grayfia instantly.
Lucien barely managed to throw up a magic circle before the courtyard exploded.
BOOM!
Shards of ice and destruction magic collided violently.
Rias launched forward next.
Her Power of Destruction roared crimson across the battlefield with enough force to obliterate stone pillars.
Grayfia raised one hand.
The attack split apart.
Controlled.
Neutralized.
"Too wide," Grayfia said calmly. "Destruction is not merely force. Precision matters."
Rias clicked her tongue.
Akeno dove from above next.
Lightning exploded downward in elegant spirals.
Grayfia sidestepped effortlessly.
"Predictable."
Akeno pouted dramatically.
"Ara~ Lady Grayfia is bullying us today."
"I am educating you." Grayfia's silver gaze shifted toward Lucien again. "Your turn."
Lucien exhaled slowly.
Darkness stirred around his feet.
Unlike before, he tried to control it carefully.
Focus.
Shape.
Command.
The shadows twisted upward around his arm.
For one glorious second, it worked.
Then everything went catastrophically wrong.
The shadows exploded.
A tidal wave of darkness exploded outward. Akeno shrieked as a tendril wrapped around her ankle mid-flight. Rias was dragged backward across the stone. Training dummies vanished into the void before violently ejecting themselves from random shadows.
One landed in the fountain.
Another crashed through a window.
A third somehow appeared upside down, hanging from the ceiling.
Lucien stared in horror.
The darkness continued spreading.
Every nearby shadow suddenly stretched unnaturally toward him.
The temperature dropped.
The air thickened.
Whispers echoed faintly beneath the noise.
Hungry.
Watching.
Grayroad moved instantly.
His hand slammed against Lucien's shoulder.
The shadows froze.
Then collapsed.
Silence.
Lucien blinked.
Smoke curled lazily from his body.
Akeno remained dangling upside down from a shadow tendril.
"…Well," she said after a pause, "that was exciting."
Rias shoved debris off herself.
"YOU BLASTED ME INTO A WALL!"
"In my defense," Lucien coughed, "I also blasted myself into a wall emotionally."
Grayfia pinched the bridge of her nose.
Grayroad simply stared.
Disappointed.
Which somehow felt worse.
"Your problem," Grayroad finally said, "is that you keep treating shadows like magic."
Lucien frowned.
"They aren't?"
"Not at all." Grayroad stepped forward. "Magic obeys formulas. Shadows obey their user's emotion and intent."
Grayroad raised one hand in demonstration.
The shadows beneath him rose silently.
Not wild.
Not violent.
Only controlled.
They formed into black wolves circling him before dissolving back into darkness.
"Shadows are reflections," Grayroad continued. "Fear. Instinct. Concealment. Hunger. Movement. You cannot dominate them through sheer force alone."
Lucien looked down at his trembling hands.
"Then tell me how I'm supposed to control them?"
Grayroad's crimson eyes narrowed.
"First, you need to stop lying to yourself."
The courtyard fell quiet.
Even Akeno stopped teasing.
Grayroad pointed toward Lucien's chest.
"Your shadows react violently because you do. You suppress everything. Anger. Fear. Instinct. The shadows amplify what you bury."
Lucien's jaw tightened.
Grayfia watched silently.
"You think like a tactician," Grayroad continued. "But shadows are predators. They move on instinct before logic."
He stepped closer.
"Until you accept that part of yourself, your power will continue devouring the battlefield indiscriminately."
Lucien looked away.
That hit too close.
Rias quietly dusted herself off before moving beside him.
"For what it's worth," she muttered, "the giant shadow explosion looked pretty cool."
Lucien snorted.
"Thanks, Ri Ri."
Akeno drifted down beside them.
"Also," she added cheerfully, "watching you accidentally terrorize the courtyard was adorable."
"You were upside down in a tree."
"And yet I still looked fabulous."
Grayfia clapped once.
The entire courtyard instantly reset itself through magic.
"Training resumes tomorrow," she announced. "After tonight's celebration."
Lucien blinked.
"Wait. We're done?"
Grayfia gave him a long look.
"You accidentally opened a partial shadow pocket dimension in the middle of the estate. Yes. We are done."
The Gremory estate buzzed with life as preparations for the dual birthday celebration continued.
Servants hurried through the halls carrying enchanted decorations that shimmered like captured starlight. The scent of fresh Underworld flowers and baking filled the corridors.
Musicians rehearsed in distant chambers.
Fresh flowers from Underworld gardens filled silver vases.
The atmosphere carried equal parts excitement and underlined political tension.
Because everyone understood what this birthday truly meant.
This was the year.
The year Rias and Lucien would receive their Evil Pieces.
The year they would officially begin building their peerages.
The year their childhood ended.
Naturally, the maids had opinions.
The maids whispered excitedly as they passed.
"Did you hear? Young Master Lucien's future wives are both terrifying beauties."
"One's a sucubus princess!"
"The other commands an entire spy network!"
"Apparently, Lady Esdeath once froze an entire mountain range during training."
"I heard Lady Albedo threatened three nobles for insulting Lord Lucien before she'd even met him."
"That's so romantic."
Lucien stopped walking.
Behind him, Rias burst into laughter.
"You've become estate gossip," she wheezed.
Lucien rubbed his temples.
"Fantastic. Exactly what I needed."
A nearby maid curtsied nervously.
"M-My apologies, Young Master."
Lucien sighed dramatically.
"No, continue. Apparently, my love life has become Underworld entertainment."
The maids scattered instantly.
Rias grinned.
"You know, it's kind of funny watching this happen to you after all the teasing you gave me about Riser."
Lucien pointed accusingly.
"Your fiancé is a chicken nugget with wings. While mine sound like two dangerous final bosses."
Rias snorted loudly enough to attract several horrified noble servants.
Later that afternoon, Lucien locked himself inside the estate library.
Towering shelves surrounded him.
Ancient grimoires floated quietly through the air.
Several books lay open across the massive table before him.
Dragon compendiums.
Records of sacred beasts.
Ancient devils.
Primordial creatures.
Lucien rested his chin against folded hands thoughtfully.
"Power matrix's are supposed to reflect identity…"
Most devils developed combat systems based on affinity.
Simple.
Direct.
But Lucien's situation was becoming increasingly absurd.
Power of Destruction.
Ice magic.
Shadow authority.
Spatial magic theory.
And whatever strange instinct his shadows kept reacting to.
He flipped another page.
Behemoth
Too straightforward.
Pure destruction.
Not enough versatility.
Dragon
Too common.
Every powerful devil dreams of dragons.
Hydra
Adaptation.
Regeneration.
Interesting.
His eyes lingered on one sketch in particular.
A massive wolf-shaped entity made entirely from darkness.
A predator that moved through shadows between dimensions.
A rare breed of beast created from the union of Fenrir and Ophis's pet shadow dragon beast.
Lucien gasped as he found exactly what he was looking for.
"The Shadow Wolf King."
They are known for their fierce hunting prowess.
They are masters of combat using shadows, and the Shadow Wolf King has the rare ability, dimensional claw. Dimensional claw is a rare ability that allows dimensional travel.
They are known as dragon wolves.
A voice interrupted him.
"Trying to decide what kind of monster you want to become?"
Lucien glanced upward.
Sirzechs stood in the doorway smiling.
Lucien leaned back lazily.
"That depends. Is 'sleep-deprived magical disaster' already taken?"
Sirzechs laughed before entering.
His gaze drifted toward the scattered books.
"Still researching what plan to base your power matrix on?"
"I'm trying to find something to tie all my powers together."
Lucien rubbed the back of his neck.
"Everyone keeps talking about legacy like I'm supposed to know already what path I'm supposed to walk."
Sirzechs sat across from him.
"That's because most devils don't awaken multiple high-tier affinities at once."
Lucien grimaced.
"That's comforting."
Sirzechs chuckled softly.
"Your Power of Destruction alone could place you among the strongest devils of your generation."
Lucien looked unconvinced.
"It also burns through my reserves like a starving dragon."
"Because you're using it inefficiently." Sirzechs tapped one of the books. "Destruction isn't about overwhelming force. It's conceptual erosion."
Lucien frowned.
"Meaning?"
Sirzechs held out one hand.
A tiny crimson sphere appeared.
Small.
Controlled.
The nearby teacup vanished silently.
No explosion.
No shockwave.
Just… gone.
Lucien's eyes widened.
"Matter deletion," Sirzechs explained. "The better your control becomes, the less power you waste."
Lucien stared at the space where the teacup had been.
"No explosion," he muttered.
Sirzechs nodded.
"Because destruction isn't measured by how much noise you make."
He lifted a finger.
A pebble floated from a nearby decorative planter.
"Your first exercise."
The pebble drifted toward Lucien.
"Erase it."
Lucien frowned.
"That's it?"
"That's it."
A crimson sphere formed over Lucien's palm.
He compressed it carefully.
Then release it.
BOOM.
The pebble vanished.
So did half the planter.
A section of the floor.
And three bookshelves.
The resulting shockwave rattled the entire library.
Silence followed.
Sirzechs sighed.
"...Technically successful."
A few minutes later, after the room repaired itself
Sirzechs pulled out a silver coin
"This time," Sirzechs said, "we'll use a coin."
Lucien concentrated.
The Power of Destruction gathered into a tiny crimson point.
Smaller.
Smaller.
Smaller.
Sweat formed on his brow.
The coin vanished.
The table survived.
The room survived.
Everything survived.
Lucien blinked.
"...I did it."
Sirzechs smiled.
"Good."
Then another object floated upward.
A single leaf.
Delicate.
Fragile.
Weightless.
Lucien immediately groaned.
"No."
"Yes."
Sirzechs smiled before placing a leaf on Lucien's finger.
"Focus. One mistake would obliterate the leaf. Too much power would vaporize the entire section of the library."
Lucien narrowed his eyes.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then the leaf disappeared.
No flash.
No sound.
No collateral damage.
Sirzechs nodded approvingly.
"There."
Lucien released a slow breath.
"For the first time since awakening it, I barely felt the drain."
Sirzechs placed a hand on his shoulder, "Because you finally stopped fighting your power."
Lucien sighed.
"That feels embarrassing now."
Sirzechs smiled.
"Growth usually is."
There was a brief silence.
Sirzechs casually brought up the two portraits he had shown Lucien several days earlier.
Lucien immediately narrowed his eyes.
"We're really doing this again?"
"Yes."
"I reject your reality."
"Unfortunately, the Underworld does not."
Rias looked between them suspiciously.
"What are you two talking about?"
Lucien groaned.
"Nothing."
"That's a lie."
"It absolutely is."
Sirzechs chuckled and summoned the portraits onto the table.
Rias immediately snatched the first one.
Then froze.
"...No way."
Lucien pointed dramatically.
"See? I'm not crazy."
The portrait depicted a breathtaking woman with long black hair, golden eyes, and elegant white attire.
That smile.
That terrifying smile.
Rias stared.
"The Vermeil heiress licensed her likeness again?"
Sirzechs blinked.
"You know about that?"
"Everyone knows about that," Rias said. "Half the entertainment industry knows about that."
Lucien nodded.
"One of the human publishers turned her into a ridiculously popular female manga character."
Rias pointed at the portrait.
"She looks the same in the manga."
"Not even trying to hide it."
Sirzechs rubbed his temple.
"Lady Albedo considers her appearance one of her greatest assets."
"That somehow makes it scarier," Rias whispered.
Way scarier," Lucien agreed.
Sirzechs tapped the portrait.
"Albedo. Daughter of the Vermeil Succubus Matriarch. Tactical genius. Exceptionally dangerous. Fanatically loyal to people she cares about."
Lucien and Rias exchanged a look.
"Yep."
"Definitely scarier."
Lucien picked up the second portrait.
Then he nearly dropped it.
Tall.
Beautiful.
Overwhelming.
Ice-blue hair.
Predatory confidence.
Lucien stared blankly.
"...I'm cooked."
Rias wheezed beside him.
"Oh, you're absolutely cooked."
She lifted the portrait.
"House Glasya-Labolas licensed her likeness to a military manga publisher, didn't they?"
Grayfia entered the library at that moment.
"They did."
Rias pointed accusingly at the portrait.
"They didn't change anything."
"They were contractually prohibited from doing so," Grayfia replied.
Lucien looked horrified.
"That's somehow even worse."
Sirzechs continued calmly.
"Esdeath Glasya-Labolas. Princess of House Glasya-Labolas. Direct disciple of Lord Falbium Asmodeus."
His smile became oddly amused.
"Reportedly conquered an ice dragon at thirteen."
Lucien blinked.
"Conquered how?"
Sirzechs paused.
"The report was vague."
"That somehow makes it worse."
Grayfia nodded once.
"Lady Esdeath is considered one of the most gifted young combatants in the Underworld."
Lucien looked exhausted already.
"Why do both of my potential fiancées sound like raid bosses?"
Rias patted his shoulder sympathetically.
"It's character development, Luci."
Lucien glared.
"Traitor."
Far beyond the Gremory territory, inside the dimensional ruins occupied by the Old Devil Faction, another meeting unfolded.
Unlike before, this gathering carried tension.
Fear.
A massive magical projection floated above the chamber.
Lucien.
Training.
Shadows erupted violently across the courtyard.
One elder watched silently.
"The instability is worsening," he muttered.
"Good," another replied. "Uncontrolled power destroys itself eventually."
A hooded woman shook her head.
"You misunderstand the danger."
The projection shifted.
Lucien's shadows swallowed several training dummies whole.
"Those shadows are adapting," she whispered.
Silence spread.
One of the older devils leaned forward.
"Explain."
"The hunters survived because they adjusted to standard devil tactics. Magic circles. Flight patterns. Predictable destruction magic."
Her gaze hardened.
"But shadows are different."
Another projection appeared.
Hunter casualties from the mountain mission.
Several bodies displayed signs of internal magical collapse.
Others appeared partially drained.
"The shadows consumed ambient magic during combat," she explained. "Even unconsciously."
The chamber darkened.
"If Lucien learns proper control…"
Nobody finished the sentence.
Because they understood.
A devil capable of combining destruction magic with predatory shadow manipulation would become catastrophically dangerous.
One elder spoke carefully.
"Then Project Chimera accelerates immediately."
Another nodded.
"The hunter squads must adapt."
"Silver anti-shadow seals. Holy light saturation fields. Long-range pressure tactics."
"And Grayroad?"
Silence.
Finally, the eldest devil answered.
"Avoid direct engagement entirely."
Even saying the name seemed to poison the room.
A younger noble stepped forward nervously.
"What about the peerage?"
The elder's expression darkened.
"Prevent it from forming fully if possible."
"Kuroka already joined him unofficially."
"Then remove her."
"Again?"
The elder's crimson eyes sharpened.
"No."
Cold.
Precise.
"This time we target the foundation."
The projection shifted once more.
Lucien.
Rias.
Grayfia.
Kuroka.
Koneko.
A family.
A future.
Threats.
"Break the bonds," the elder whispered. "And the kingdom collapses on its own."
That evening, the estate transformed completely.
Golden lights illuminated the grand dining hall.
Music drifted softly through the air.
Noble guests arrived steadily.
And for the first time in weeks, Lucien almost relaxed.
Almost.
The grand ballroom glowed with golden light. Music drifted through the air as noble guests mingled.
Crystal lights floated near the vaulted ceiling like miniature stars, casting warm gold across polished marble floors. Noble guests mingled beneath banners bearing the crests of House Gremory and House Lucifuge while musicians filled the air with soft melodies.
Tonight was more than a birthday celebration.
It was a declaration.
The future heirs of two Great Houses stood on the cusp of adulthood.
Soon, they would receive their Evil Pieces.
Soon, they would become Kings.
And every noble in attendance knew it.
At the foot of the grand staircase stood Grayfia Lucifuge.
Elegant as ever.
Her silver hair flowed like moonlight while her expression remained perfectly composed.
The conversations throughout the hall gradually faded as she stepped forward.
"My Lords and Ladies," Grayfia announced calmly. "Allow me to present the honored guests of tonight's celebration."
The massive doors opened.
The first to appear was Akeno Himejima.
A murmur spread through the crowd.
Akeno descended the staircase with effortless grace, her dark evening dress flowing around her like liquid midnight. The form-fitting design accentuated her striking figure while the deep V-cut neckline gave her an air of poised confidence.
Every step carried the elegance of nobility.
Every smile carried the promise of trouble.
Several young noblemen immediately forgot how breathing worked.
Akeno noticed.
Naturally.
Her smile widened.
"My, my~" she purred softly.
Several of them nearly fainted.
Grayfia continued as if nothing unusual had occurred.
"Lady Akeno Himejima."
The next announcement followed immediately.
"Lady Kuroka and Lady Koneko Toujou."
The ballroom doors opened once more.
This time, the room fell silent.
Kuroka descended the staircase first.
The violet kimono she wore shimmered beneath the chandelier light, embroidered silver flowers tracing elegant patterns across the sleeves. Her twin tails swayed lazily behind her while her golden eyes sparkled with playful confidence.
Beside her walked Koneko.
The younger Nekomata wore a pristine white kimono decorated with intricate golden designs that resembled running tigers.
Simple.
Elegant.
Beautiful.
The contrast between the two sisters was striking.
One was a wildfire.
The other quiet snowfall.
Yet standing side by side, they looked undeniably alike.
For a brief moment, several older devils exchanged surprised glances.
The sisters looked whole.
Together.
And that alone carried political implications.
Kuroka immediately noticed the attention.
She smirked.
Koneko looked mildly horrified by the attention.
Some things never changed.
Finally, Grayfia's voice echoed once more.
"Presenting Lady Rias Gremory and Lord Lucien Lucifuge-Gremory."
The ballroom doors opened.
This time, the entire hall froze.
Rias descended first.
Her crimson gown seemed woven from liquid rubies, perfectly complementing her scarlet hair. Intricate silver embroidery danced along the fabric while enchanted gemstones sparkled like captured stars.
She looked every bit the future heiress of House Gremory.
Powerful.
Elegant.
Radiant.
Walking beside her was Lucien.
A collective silence spread through the ballroom.
His formal attire combined noble refinement with unmistakable Lucifuge flair.
The suit was immaculate white, contrasted by deep crimson accents throughout the vest, cravat, gloves, and sweeping cloak that flowed behind him like a crimson shadow. Silver embroidery bearing the intertwined crests of House Gremory and House Lucifuge adorned the shoulders and chest.
His crimson hair had been tied neatly behind his back.
Silver eyes surveyed the ballroom calmly.
Confident.
Collected.
Dangerously handsome.
Several noble daughters immediately sat a little straighter.
Lucien pretended not to notice.
Rias leaned closer as they descended the staircase.
"I hate that you somehow make that ridiculous outfit work."
Lucien didn't miss a step.
"You're just jealous because I look better than everyone else in the room."
Rias rolled her eyes.
"See? That's exactly the attitude I'm talking about."
A low whistle sounded from below.
Kuroka's tails swished behind her as she stared openly.
"Nya~ if you keep dressing like that, I'm charging admission."
Lucien sighed.
"There it is."
Akeno appeared beside Kuroka.
Equally unhelpful.
"My, my," she said with a playful smile. "Young Master Lucien is becoming dangerous in more ways than one."
Several nearby noblewomen nodded before realizing they had done so.
Lucien considered leaving the Underworld entirely.
Koneko looked at her sister.
Then at Akeno.
Then back to her sister.
The younger Nekomata sighed deeply.
The sigh of someone forced to endure embarrassment daily.
"Down, big sis."
Kuroka blinked.
"What?"
Koneko's expression remained perfectly blank.
"I can smell your hormones from here."
The ballroom went silent.
Kuroka froze.
Akeno choked.
Several nobles turned bright red.
Koneko wasn't finished.
"And it's not even our mating season."
For one glorious moment, absolute silence reigned.
Then Rias doubled over laughing.
Lucien nearly lost all composure.
Even Grayfia's perfectly controlled expression cracked for half a second.
Kuroka covered her face.
"Shirone!"
"Koneko."
"Traitor!"
The ballroom erupted into laughter.
And just like that, the tension that had lingered throughout the evening finally broke.
For a few precious moments, there were no factions.
No politics.
No Old Devil conspiracies.
Only family.
And the celebration of a future that had not yet been stolen from them.
The dinner itself flowed surprisingly peacefully.
Mostly.
Until Lucien noticed the stares.
Several visiting nobles watched him from across the ballroom.
The conversations stopped whenever he looked their way.
Some viewed him as Grayfia's heir.
Others saw Sirzechs' son.
A few saw something far more dangerous.
A boy who had survived contact with powers the Underworld didn't understand.
The heir who had stormed a mountain fortress, awakened an unknown shadow authority, and returned alive.
Rumors had spread quickly through noble circles.
Some saw opportunity.
Others saw a threat.
Lucien simply took a sip of his drink and ignored them.
If they wanted a spectacle, they would have to wait their turn.
Moments later, Zeoticus rose from his seat and lifted his glass.
"Tonight, we celebrate the future of House Gremory and House Lucifuge."
The hall applauded.
Lucien quietly prepared himself.
Because noble gatherings always contained hidden landmines.
Sure enough, one older devil noble smiled too thinly.
"Young Master Lucien's recent actions have certainly attracted attention."
Lucien smiled pleasantly.
Dangerously.
"Funny how rescuing kidnapped people tends to do that."
Several nobles immediately looked away.
Good.
Sirzechs smirked faintly into his drink.
The conversation shifted afterward.
Thankfully.
The meal continued for nearly an hour before Zeoticus finally rose from his seat.
A knowing smile crossed the Lord of House Gremory's face.
"I believe it is time."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Several servants stepped forward carrying ornate cases and wrapped packages.
Rias straightened.
Lucien immediately looked interested.
Birthday gifts were one of the few noble traditions he fully supported.
Zeoticus' Gifts
Zeoticus approached Lucien first.
A thick black tome rested beneath his arm.
The cover appeared ancient, reinforced with devil-hide and engraved with hundreds of tiny battlefield formations.
He placed it before Lucien.
"Your gift."
Lucien opened it carefully.
His eyes widened almost immediately.
Battle formations.
Military doctrine.
Campaign records.
Political strategies.
Peerage compositions.
Supply logistics.
Command structures.
Every page was packed with notes gathered across generations of Gremory and Lucifuge leaders.
"This is..."
"A Commander's Grimoire," Zeoticus said proudly.
"The collected strategies of House Gremory."
Sirzechs chuckled.
"Think of it as The Art of War written by devils who kept trying to conquer each other."
Lucien immediately began flipping through pages.
A formation designed to counter dragon clans.
Another focused on anti-angel warfare.
A third described how to break a superior force through misinformation and logistics.
His eyes practically sparkled.
"...This is the coolest thing I've ever received."
Zeoticus laughed.
"I thought you might say that."
The Lord of House Gremory then turned toward his daughter.
"For Rias."
A second book appeared.
Unlike Lucien's military text, this one was crimson and gold.
The title gleamed across the cover.
The Kings of the Underworld.
Rias opened it.
Inside were detailed records of famous King-class devils throughout history.
Their peerages.
Their successes.
Their failures.
The lessons they left behind.
"A King is only as strong as the family they build," Zeoticus said.
"You will need this."
Rias smiled warmly.
"I'll treasure it."
Venelana's Gifts
Venelana clapped softly.
Several maids approached carrying two ornate cases.
The first stopped before Lucien.
When he opened it, the room fell silent, and everyone admired the craftsmanship.
Inside rested a custom noble ensemble.
Pure white.
Deep crimson.
Elegant beyond words.
A flowing crimson cloak rested behind it.
The crest of House Lucifuge adorned one shoulder.
The crest of House Gremory adorned the other.
Silver embroidery connected both noble crests like intertwined roots.
Lucien carefully ran his fingers across the fabric.
"It's beautiful."
Venelana smiled.
"You represent two great houses."
Her gaze softened.
"Never forget either."
The second case opened before Rias.
A breathtaking crimson gown rested inside.
Beside it sat an elegant silver crown.
Not a queen's crown.
Not yet.
A future heiress's crown.
The symbolism was obvious.
The room quietly applauded.
Grayfia's Gifts
Grayfia approached next.
No ornate case.
No elaborate presentation.
Simply a leather journal.
Lucien blinked.
Confused.
Then opened it.
And immediately froze.
Magic theory.
Combat observations.
Advanced spell structures.
Battle analyses.
Personal training notes.
Rare ice magic.
Countless handwritten annotations.
Years.
Decades.
An entire lifetime of experience.
Carefully preserved.
Lucien slowly turned another page.
Then another.
Then another.
"...Mother."
Grayfia looked away slightly.
"The notes I compiled throughout my life."
Silence settled over the room.
Even Sirzechs looked surprised.
Lucien closed the journal carefully.
For once, there was no joke.
No sarcasm.
Only gratitude.
"Thank you."
A small smile appeared on Grayfia's face.
Rare.
Proud.
Genuine.
For Rias, Grayfia presented a second journal.
Centuries of notes passed between the women of House Gremory.
Leadership.
Politics.
Diplomacy.
Crisis management.
Noble etiquette.
Venelana nearly laughed.
"Oh, dear."
Rias looked suspicious.
"What?"
Venelana smiled.
"Congratulations. You've inherited the manual for surviving noble society."
Sirzechs' Gifts
Sirzechs rose from his seat.
A long black case appeared beside him.
The room immediately quieted.
When Lucien opened it, his breath caught.
Inside rested two ancient swords.
One dark silver.
One rust-red.
Though aged, both radiated immense power.
Sirzechs' smile softened.
"I carried these during the final years of the Great War."
The hall fell silent.
Stories about Sirzechs during the war had already become legend.
"They saved my life more times than I can count."
Lucien looked up.
Genuinely stunned.
"And now they're yours."
Carefully lifting one blade, Lucien felt the shadows around the room stir.
As if recognizing an old companion.
"This is..."
"A legacy," Sirzechs said simply.
"For when you forge your own."
For Rias, Sirzechs produced a crystal orb glowing with crimson energy.
"A Power of Destruction catalyst."
Rias blinked.
"Seriously?"
"It will help refine your control."
Sirzechs grinned.
"And hopefully reduce property damage."
"That's happened once."
Everyone stared at her.
Rias coughed.
"Twice."
The Sibling Exchange
Lucien slid a wrapped package across the table.
Rias opened it.
Then froze.
The room waited.
Silence.
More silence.
Then Rias' eyes widened.
"No way."
Lucien smirked.
"Oh yes."
Inside sat a complete collector's edition manga series, long thought impossible to find.
Rias stared.
Speechless.
Then, she immediately launched herself across the table and hugged him.
The room blinked.
Kuroka tilted her head.
"You hugged him faster for the manga than when he rescued me."
"Priorities."
Lucien laughed.
Rias smacked his shoulder.
Akeno's Gift
A delicate, enchanted hairpin.
Elegant silver.
Decorated with tiny lightning motifs.
"Something practical," Akeno said.
"And pretty."
Rias smiled.
"It's perfect."
Koneko's Gift
Koneko silently handed Rias a small handmade charm.
Simple.
Unassuming.
Rias stared at it.
Then hugged Koneko immediately.
The young Nekomata froze.
Entirely unprepared.
"...Thank you."
Koneko's ears twitched.
"...You're welcome."
Kuroka's Gift
Kuroka approached Rias first.
A small Senjutsu talisman rested in her hand.
"It'll protect you from curses and tracking techniques."
Rias accepted it gratefully.
"Thank you."
Then Kuroka turned.
Toward Lucien.
The room gradually quieted.
A strange feeling settled over the hall.
Kuroka walked forward.
Stopped before him.
Then knelt.
The hall had barely recovered when Grayroad stepped forward silently.
Grayroad.
Even among devil nobility, the shadow-cloaked warrior carried a reputation that made people uncomfortable.
He approached Lucien without ceremony.
In his hand rested a simple black sheath.
No jewels.
No ornamentation.
No visible enchantments.
Yet the shadows beneath several tables stirred uneasily.
Grayroad offered it forward.
"For you."
Lucien accepted the weapon carefully.
When he drew the blade free, the room seemed to darken.
It was a dagger.
Single-edged.
Matte black.
Ancient.
Its surface appeared to absorb light rather than reflect it.
The weapon felt strangely warm.
Almost alive.
"The last blade forged by my clan before its destruction," Grayroad said.
The hall went completely silent.
Several older nobles visibly stiffened.
Even they knew the story.
The Shadow Fang Clan.
The hidden blades of House Lucifuge.
A bloodline supposedly erased during the Great War.
Lucien examined the dagger.
Shadows curled around his wrist.
Not violently.
Not uncontrollably.
Almost affectionately.
Grayroad's crimson eyes narrowed slightly.
"A weapon chooses its wielder."
The dagger pulsed once.
Lucien immediately frowned.
"...That's not normal."
"No."
Grayroad's expression remained perfectly serious.
"It isn't."
Rias leaned over.
"Your dagger likes you."
Lucien looked down at the blade.
The blade hummed.
Lucien sighed.
"Why do all my shadow-related possessions have attachment issues?"
For the first time all evening...
Grayroad almost smiled.
Kuroka suddenly rose from her seat.
All eyes shifted toward her.
The older Nekomata walked around the table gracefully before stopping beside Lucien.
Then, to everyone's surprise, she knelt.
The entire hall fell silent.
Kuroka looked upward.
For once, there was no teasing in her eyes.
Only certainty.
"Lucien Lucifuge," she said softly, "if you'll have me… I want to become your strongest and most steadfast support, no matter if you decide to make me your queen or even a pawn."
Silence.
Then absolute chaos erupted across the noble tables.
Lucien blinked.
Rias nearly choked.
Akeno looked delighted.
Koneko covered her face.
Kuroka ignored everyone.
Her gaze never left Lucien.
"You gave me something nobody else did," she continued quietly. "A place to return to."
Lucien stared at her for several long seconds.
The ballroom faded into the background.
He looked around the room.
Noble eyes.
Political calculations.
Expectations.
Manipulation.
Several visiting nobles watched him carefully from across the hall. Some saw Grayfia's heir. Others saw Sirzechs' son. A few saw something far more dangerous.
A boy who had survived contact with powers the Underworld didn't understand.
Then he looked back at Kuroka.
She wasn't offering power.
She wasn't offering influence.
She wasn't offering political leverage.
She was offering trust.
Somehow, that felt far rarer.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Yeah," he answered softly. "I'd like that."
The moment the words left his mouth, Kuroka grinned triumphantly.
"Nya~ I win."
Lucien immediately narrowed his eyes.
"Wait. That sounded suspiciously planned."
Rias burst into laughter.
"You walked directly into that one."
Even Grayfia looked faintly amused.
And somewhere deep within the estate shadows…
Deep within the shadows beneath the estate, something moved.
Not toward Kuroka.
Not toward Rias.
Toward Lucien.
Toward the boy who carried destruction in one hand and darkness in the other.
Toward the heir who had begun attracting the attention of things older than kingdoms.
Interested.
Hungry.
Awake.