Rael didn’t need sleep the same way other devils did. Most nights, he took a few hours to rest his body. The rest, he spent thinking.
Pnning.
Watching.
He had a whiteboard in his head, and every day in this strange new life filled in more pieces. Today, it was a new variable—his sister.
“I want to go to the human world,” Rias said at breakfast like she was asking to go shopping. “Just for a while. As a student.”
Rael blinked. “Why?”
She shrugged. “I want to see what it’s like. School. Friends. A different life. Away from… all this.” Her hand waved vaguely around the grand dining hall of the Gremory estate.
He looked at her carefully. She wasn’t just bored—she was restless. Trapped in noble expectation, same as him. The difference was, she craved freedom. He calcuted opportunity.
“Japan,” she added. “There’s a town called Kuoh. Father owns a school there.”
“Of course he does,” Rael muttered.
Their mother gnced over. “It’s not a terrible idea. Exposure to the human world can be good experience.”
Lord Gremory nodded slowly, more thoughtful than surprised. “We can discuss the logistics.”
Rael leaned back in his chair. “You’ll need a guard detail, minimal but present. And you’ll be creating a cover identity. No devil magic unless it’s an emergency.”
“Don’t treat me like a rookie,” Rias snapped.
“You are a rookie,” Rael replied calmly. “I just happen to care if you get disintegrated by a stray holy relic.”
Their father chuckled softly. “He does have a way with words.”
Later that day, Rael was summoned to Sirzechs' study.
His older brother—the current Lucifer—stood by the window, looking out over the Gremory nds. He didn’t turn around when Rael entered.
“You’re not surprised,” Sirzechs said.
“About Rias? No.”
“She wants something different. You… want something more.”
Rael said nothing.
Sirzechs finally faced him. His presence was calm, but there was power behind it—like a storm just barely held in check.
“I want you to consider forming your own peerage,” he said. “Same for Rias. The King piece is ready. The others will follow.”
Rael raised an eyebrow. “You want me to start building a family?”
“No,” Sirzechs said with a slight smile. “I want you to start building your power base. The difference is important.”
Rael respected that answer.
“Alright,” he said. “That’s doable.”
Sirzechs nodded, and with a flick of his hand, a small ornate box appeared on the desk. Inside was a chess piece—dark crimson, subtly pulsing with energy.
Rael picked it up. The moment his fingers touched it, he felt it bond with his core. Not like magic. Not like chakra. Something else—ancient and precise. Like a key fitting into the right lock.
“This marks you as a King,” Sirzechs said. “It also begins a process. You’ll attract compatible pieces over time. Some will find you. Some you’ll have to fight for.”
“Good,” Rael said. “I’d be worried if it were easy.”
Sirzechs gave him a long look. “You’re different, Rael. I don’t say that lightly. Even father doesn’t quite know what to make of you.”
“I don't bme him,” Rael said. “I’m still figuring it out myself.”
“You’ll make enemies.”
“I already have.”
“You’ll need to trust people.”
Rael paused. “…That one’ll take time.”
That evening, Rael walked out into the training yard again. The King piece burned faintly in his pocket—a low hum in sync with his pulse.
Rias found him there, arms crossed, eyes narrowed.
“So,” she said. “You got yours too?”
Rael nodded. “Sirzechs says we’re ready.”
She smirked. “I was born ready.”
“You were born screaming.”
She stuck her tongue out again. “So what now, big brother?”
“Now we go to the human world. You py student. I scout. And we start finding our pieces.”
“You mean friends.”
“I mean weapons,” he said ftly. “But sure. ‘Friends.’”
She gave him a pyful punch on the arm. “You take this way too seriously.”
“I take everything seriously,” he said. “You don’t get second lives often.”
She stared at him for a second. “You say stuff like that sometimes. Like you’ve lived before.”
Rael didn’t flinch. “Maybe I have.”
The transition to the human world was seamless.
Kuoh was quiet. Peaceful. The kind of town that looked like nothing bad ever happened there, even though Rael’s instincts told him that was probably a lie. These pces always had skeletons.
They took up residence in a private manor near the school—registered as a wealthy family with overseas ties. Both enrolled as students under fake identities: Rias and Rael Gremory, cousins of the school chairman.
Rael hated the uniform. The tie felt like a noose. The halls were too clean. The students too loud. But he pyed the part—quiet, observant, a little cold. People left him alone. He liked it that way.
Rias, on the other hand, was already gathering attention. Charismatic, confident, beautiful—she drew eyes everywhere she went.
Rael stayed on the sidelines, watching.
He began mapping the town at night. Memorizing alleys, exits, rooftops. Tracking energy signatures. He didn’t sense angels or fallen yet—but he knew they’d come eventually.
They always did.
One night, while walking the perimeter, he felt something new. A flicker of power—unrefined, wild, but strong.
A potential piece.
He followed it to a side street near the old temple, where a girl stood cornered by a group of delinquents. Typical setup. Bad guys posturing. The girl looked terrified.
Rael didn’t hesitate.
He stepped in. “Walk away.”
One of the punks turned. “Who the hell are y—”
Rael struck fast. A single open-palm blow to the sor plexus. The kid dropped. Another reached for a knife—Rael disarmed him in two moves, used the handle to knock him out cold.
The rest ran.
The girl stared at him. “…Who are you?”
“No one important,” Rael said. Then paused. “Yet.”
He turned and walked away.
Back at the manor, he wrote the name down. Not hers—he didn’t know it yet. Just a bel: Potential Bishop. Raw energy. Needs control.
He didn’t smile. But something settled in his chest.
The game had started.
The board was set.
Now it was time to py.
