The sizzle of steak on the pan was like music to my ears. The rich aroma of seared meat and spices filled the kitchen, making my stomach growl in anticipation. But I wasn't the only one enjoying the smell. Behind me, I could hear the unmistakable sound of drooling. I didn't even need to turn around to know who it was.

  "Kazuya, that smells amazing!" Asia's voice rang out, high-pitched and eager. She was practically bouncing on her toes, her hands csped together like a kid in a candy store. "Is it ready?"

  Valerie, the newest addition to our little group, was trying to py it cool. She stood a little farther back, her arms crossed and her crimson eyes fixed on the steak. But her fangs were peeking out, and her delicate nose twitched as she inhaled the scent. "I-I've never smelled anything like this before," she admitted, her voice soft but filled with awe. "Is this… human food?"

  I chuckled, flipping the steak with a flourish. "Yep. Just wait until you taste it. You'll forget all about blood, trust me."

  Espeon, the little glutton, was pawing at the floor near my feet, his purple fur bristling with excitement. He let out a soft purr and looked up at me with those big, pleading eyes. I shook my head at him. "Patience, buddy. You'll get yours."

  As the aroma filled the room, I couldn't help but think about how my life had taken such a wild turn. Valerie Tepes, a vampire princess, was now under my protection. Me. Kazuya. The guy who, not too long ago, was just trying to survive high school without getting dragged into the supernatural mess. Now, I was the enemy of the Tepes Faction, had a contract with the Sizrechs, and was allied with the Gremory family. Oh, and I'd also saved Rias from her arranged marriage in a Rating Game. No big deal, right?

  My life was in turmoil. More power, more problems.

  Pushing those thoughts aside, I pted the steaks and handed them to the girls. Asia practically snatched hers, her eyes sparkling as she held the pte like it was a treasure. Valerie, on the other hand, took hers with a bit more grace, though her hands trembled slightly. Espeon got a smaller portion, but he didn't seem to mind, purring as he dug in.

  Watching Valerie take her first bite was like witnessing a revetion. Her eyes widened, and she let out a sound that was somewhere between a gasp and a moan. Asia wasn't far behind, her cheeks puffing out as she chewed with way too much enthusiasm.

  "This… this is incredible!" Valerie said, her voice trembling. "I've never tasted anything like this in my entire existence!"

  I smirked, leaning against the counter with my arms crossed. "Gd you like it. Guess I'll have to add 'vampire chef' to my resume."

  Asia nodded vigorously, her mouth still full. "Mhm! Kazuya, you should open a restaurant! You'd be famous!"

  I ughed, shaking my head. "Yeah, sure. Kazuya's Steakhouse: Come for the food, stay because a vampire's trying to kill you. I bet anyone would enjoy that"

  As I watched them enjoy the food, a thought crossed my mind. Two girls. Both living under my roof. Both relying on me for protection. And both looking at me like I'd just handed them the keys to heaven. Was I… was I walking down the path of becoming a harem king? I mean, it wasn't like I was against the idea, but come on. Me? Kazuya? The guy who still tripped over his own feet sometimes? someone belled as emotionless selflish bastard?

  Well let's see when I become one, but for now I am happily single and proud of it.

  I ughed to myself, running a hand through my hair. "Nah, that's crazy. Right, Espeon?"

  Espeon just blinked at me, his tail swishing zily as it doesn't care about dreams.

  Cat superiority. No one above them, bow to them and feed them. I wonder what cats dream of.

  After breakfast, I summoned the two shadow soldiers I'd created yesterday. They materialized from the darkness, their forms shifting and flickering like living shadows. These guys used to be vampires who'd been after Valerie, but now they were my loyal servants, thanks to my shadow extraction power. Creepy? Maybe. Useful? Definitely.

  "Alright, you two," I said, crossing my arms and staring them down. "Your job is simple. Protect Valerie and Asia while I'm gone. If anything happens to them, I'll turn you into dust. Got it?"

  The shadows nodded, their glowing eyes flickering in acknowledgment. Valerie looked a little uneasy, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her dress. "Are you sure they'll listen to you?" she asked, her voice tinged with doubt.

  I smirked. "They don't have a choice. They're bound to me. Right, guys?"

  The shadows bowed their heads, their forms dispersing all over the house, Asia, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed. She smiled brightly and kept her hand over Valerie

  I ruffled her hair, earning a smile from her.

  Valerie stepped forward, her crimson eyes meeting mine. "Thank you, Kazuya. For everything."

  I shrugged, trying to py it cool. "Don't mention it. That's what I'm here for."

  Until I find that you're not trying to spy on us or this Marius Tepes is just a made up thing from you.

  . . .

  The scene shifted to the Occult Research Club, where Rias had summoned me. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the room. I hadn't stepped foot in this school in weeks—why bother? Sitting through csses felt like a waste of time when I had vampires to deal with, shadow soldiers to command, and a growing list of enemies who'd love to see me dead. Yet here I was, back in the one pce I thought I'd left behind for good.

  Rias sat at the head of the table, her crimson hair cascading over her shoulders. She had that air of pride around her, as always, but there was a glint in her eye that made me suspicious. Akeno stood beside her, her usual sly smile pstered across her face, while Kiba leaned against the wall with his usual default smile. Koneko was, unsurprisingly, munching on a bag of chips on the couch, not giving a shit about all this situation. Food comes first for her, I guess.

  "Kazuya," Rias said with a hint of amusement "Thank you for coming on such short notice."

  I shoved my hands into my pockets and leaned against the doorframe, not bothering to step fully into the room. "Yeah, well, it's not like I had much of a choice. You kinda dragged me back here. What's so important that it couldn't wait? I've got things to do, you know."

  Akeno chuckled, her fingers tracing the edge of her lips "Ara Ara, Kazuya, always so busy. But don't worry, this will be worth your time."

  I raised an eyebrow. "That's what you said st time, and I ended up fighting a giant snake demon in the sewers. So forgive me if I'm not jumping for joy."

  Kiba added, "Rex, Kazuya. This isn't a offer. It's a… gift."

  "A gift?" I repeated, my skepticism growing. "From you guys? That's either really nice or really full of scam. So what you're offering now to join. Don't tell me I'm getting dragged into another annoying situation"

  Koneko finally spoke up, her voice muffled by a mouthful of chips. "It's not annoying. Probably."

  "Probably?" I shot her a look, but she just shrugged and went back to eating.

  She is a mood.

  Rias interjected as she had that damn smile of hers making it impossible to not get annoyed "As a token of my gratitude for helping me in the Rating Game, I'd like to offer you a familiar. We're going to the Familiar Forest."

  I blinked. "A familiar? Seriously? I don't need a pet. I've got Espeon, and he's enough of a handful."

  Akeno added into the conversation with her usual ara ara vibe "Oh, but a familiar is so much more than a pet, Kazuya. It's a partner. A companion. Someone who will fight by your side and share your burdens."

  I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes. "Sounds like a sales pitch. What's the catch?"

  Kiba ughed from the corner "No catch. Think of it as… an addition to your strength. You're strong, Kazuya, but a familiar could make you even stronger."

  I gnced at Koneko, who was now licking chip dust off her fingers. "And what do you think, Koneko? Is this worth my time?"

  She looked up, her golden eyes meeting mine. "Maybe. Depends on what you get. Could be useful. Could be annoying"

  "Great. Real helpful," I muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose.

  Rias stepped closer, her presence commanding as always. She pced a hand on her as she replied with a smile "Kazuya, you've done so much for me—for all of us. This is my way of saying thank you. Besides, a familiar could be a valuable asset in the battles to come. You never know when you might need an extra edge."

  I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Fine. But if this turns out to be a waste of time, I'm holding you responsible"

  And if I end up with some weird, useless creature, I'm bming you author

  Akeno giggled, covering her mouth with hand "Oh, Kazuya, you say that now, but just wait. The Familiar Forest has a way of surprising everyone"

  As we stepped in teleportation circle, I couldn't help but wonder what kind of creature I'd end up with. A dragon? A demon? or perhaps a weird ass creature? With my luck, it'd probably be something ridiculous.

  But if it meant getting stronger and protecting the people I cared about, I'd take it.

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