I sat on the couch, staring at Sirzechs and Grayfia as they waited for me to make decision. My mind was racing, trying to process everything that had just happened. Sirzechs's offer to participate in the Rating Game as a human was… unexpected, to say the least. But before I could fully wrap my head around it, a familiar sound echoed in my mind.

  [System Notification: New Quest Avaible!]Quest: Help Rias Gremory Win the Rating Game Against Riser Phenex.Rewards: 3 Spins ]

  I blinked, staring at the translucent screen that hovered in front of me. Three spins, huh? The temptation to immediately accept the quest was strong, but I forced myself to stay calm after accepting it. Excitement could cloud judgment, and this wasn't the time to let emotions take over. I needed to assess the situation carefully.

  Alright, Kazuya, think this through. Sirzechs is offering you a chance to help Rias without becoming a devil. That's a win, right? But… what's the best I can get out of this? What do I gain from all this aside from quest rewards. Can I turn this deal into something more beneficial?

  I gnced at Asia, who was sitting quietly beside me, her hands csped tightly in her p. She looked just as confused as I was, though she was doing her best to hide it. Her big, innocent eyes darted between me and the spot where Sirzechs and Grayfia were seated. At least I'm not the only one feeling out of my depth here.

  Sirzechs looked completely at ease, as if teleporting into someone's home uninvited was the most normal thing in the world. His posture was rexed, hands casually tucked into his pockets. He radiated an air of confidence that was both impressive and mildly irritating.

  Grayfia, on the other hand, stood a few steps behind him, her silver hair gleaming like moonlight. Her expression was as unreadable as ever.

  Okay, focus. You've got this. Just don't say anything stupid.

  "Sirzechs-san" I said, turning to the crimson-haired devil. My voice was calm, but my heart was pounding . "What makes you think I can help Rias win? My powers are ice-based, and I'm nowhere near the level of devils"

  It was a lie, of course. I had more than just ice powers, but I wasn't about to reveal my full hand to someone like Sirzechs. Not yet, anyway or more precisely never.

  Sirzechs smiled, his crimson eyes glinting with amusement. He tilted his head slightly, as if he were studying me. "You underestimate yourself, Kazuya. But more importantly…" He pointed at the Ouroboros neckce around my neck. "That artifact of yours is more than just a pretty trinket."

  I frowned, gncing down at the neckce. What's he getting at? "What do you mean?"

  Grayfia, who had been silent until now, spoke up. Her voice was cool and precise" That neckce is capable of storing vast amounts of energy—holy, draconic, or demonic. It's a tool of immense power, though it seems you've been unaware about it"

  I blinked, surprised. Wait, what? Ophis didn't tell me any of that. She just hung it around my neck and left without expining anything. "Ophis didn't mention that," I said aloud, my tone a mix of confusion and frustration. "She just gave it to me and disappeared."

  Sirzechs chuckled, his ughter warm and rich. "Typical of her. But don't worry, draconic magic isn't as complicated as you might think. All you need to do is extend your arm and imagine an explosion. The neckce will do the rest."

  I raised an eyebrow, skepticism written all over my face. That sounds… dangerously simple. "And if I accidentally imagine the wrong thing? Like, say, a nuclear explosion?"

  Sirzechs's smile faltered for a moment, and a bead of sweat rolled down his temple "Let's… not do that. The energy stored in that neckce is… excessive, to say the least. If you were to unleash it here, you'd probably destroy the entire town."

  I paled, my mind racing. Wait, seriously? Then how am I supposed to use it in the Rating Game without blowing up the battlefield? "So, what's the pn? Drain the energy and repce it with something less… apocalyptic?"

  Sirzechs nodded, his cheerful demeanor returning. "Exactly. We'll take you to a remote location to safely discharge the draconic energy. After that, Grayfia will imbue the neckce with her demonic energy. That should make it more… manageable for you as she will train you to control it in better way"

  I crossed my arms, considering his words. This sounds like a lot of work. But if it means I don't have to turn into a devil, it might be worth it and spins of course, was an addition "Why not just use Ophis's energy? It's already there."

  Sirzechs's smile turned strained, and he exchanged a quick gnce with Grayfia. "Because, Kazuya, the amount of energy Ophis stored in that neckce is enough to obliterate the entire continent of Asia in a single attack. It's not exactly… practical for a Rating Game."

  I stared at him, my mouth hanging open. What the hell, Ophis?! You gave me a weapon of mass destruction and didn't even warn me?! I shook my head, trying to process the absurdity of the situation. "Okay, so… no draconic explosions. Got it."

  Sirzechs smiled, "So, are you up for it? Will you help Rias win the Rating Game?"

  I leaned back against the couch, my mind racing. This was a risky move, but it also presented an opportunity. If I pyed my cards right, I could gain something valuable from this arrangement.

  "I'll do it," I said finally "But on one condition."

  Sirzechs raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And what might that be?"

  I met his gaze, my expression serious. "I want an alliance with the Gremory family."

  Sirzechs blinked, clearly caught off guard. Even Grayfia's stoic expression flickered for a moment, though she quickly got her features back into neutrality.

  "An alliance?" Sirzechs repeated, his tone thoughtful. "That's… an unusual request."

  I shrugged, trying to appear nonchant. "My group as you can see" I pointed at Asia " are living in a town filled with supernatural factions. We're constantly at risk of being targeted by angels, fallen angels, or even other devils. If you promise to support and protect us, I'll participate in the Rating Game."

  Sirzechs leaned back, his fingers steepled as he considered my proposal. After a moment, he nodded. "Very well. I agree to your terms."

  With a snap of his fingers, a glowing contract appeared in the air between us. The details were written in elegant script, outlining the terms of our agreement. I scanned the document carefully, making sure there were no hidden cuses or loopholes. Afterall, devils were known to be tricksters.

  Grayfia, however, didn't look pleased. Her lips were pressed into a thin line, and her icy blue eyes bore into me with a mixture of disapproval. But she didn't say anything and remained silent.

  As I finished reading the contract, a thought crossed my mind. What guarantee do I have that Sirzechs will actually honor this agreement? He's a devil, after all. For all I know, he could go back on his word the moment the Rating Game is over.

  But voicing that concern out loud would only make me look distrustful—and possibly annoy him. So, I kept my doubts to myself and nodded. "Alright. I agree."

  Sirzechs smiled, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Excellent. I look forward to working with you, Kazuya."

  As he and Grayfia prepared to leave, I suddenly remembered something. "Wait!" I called out, rushing into the kitchen. I returned with a neatly packed box of cake, holding it out to Sirzechs. "Here. Consider it a… gesture of goodwill. Maybe you can market it in the Underworld or something."

  Sirzechs chuckled, accepting the box with a grin. "Ah, the infamous cake that tamed the Infinite Dragon. I'll be sure to share it with the others."

  With that, he and Grayfia teleported away, leaving me alone with Asia in the living room. I let out a long sigh, slumping back onto the couch.

  "Well," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "That went better than expected."

  Asia looked at me, her eyes filled with concern. "Are you sure about this, Kazuya-san? It sounds… dangerous to fight with devils"

  I shrugged, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "Yeah, but what's life without a little danger? Besides, I'm not against Rias. I'm against the peerage system. If I can help her and gain something out of it, then where's the harm?"

  I nodded, standing up and stretching. "Don't worry, Asia. Now, how about we treat ourselves to a nice dinner? I think we've earned it."

  As I headed to the kitchen, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. I hadn't been forced to become a devil, and I'd managed to secure an alliance with one of the most powerful families in the Underworld. Not bad for a day's work.

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