On the next day, everyone at Kuoh Academy now knew who Ren actually was.
The reactions were pretty much what he expected.
Some them were shocked, others were confused, and a few were simply impressed that the seemingly lazy Ren had been secretly running around Kuoh beating the shit out of supernatural creatures.
Especially Kiba who thought he was a bum.
Sona, however, was probably the least surprised.
Unlike most people in the school, she had never been completely affected by the spell she had placed over the students to make the supernatural seem normal.
Her glasses were more than just an accessory, after all.
Still, actually knowing that Ren was the infamous Kuoh Hunter was something completely different.
Ren himself was honestly relieved.
Keeping secrets for years was tiring, especially when the people around him were constantly trying to figure out what he was hiding.
Now that everything was finally out in the open, he could actually relax a little.
As a peace offering, Ren had brought Koneko some of the cake he had bought the previous night.
She accepted it immediately.
Which Ren considered a complete success.
“Good?” he asked while watching her eat.
Koneko nodded happily.
“Very.”
“Good.
We’re cool then.”
She nodded again before continuing to eat.
‘Easy.’
For once, things were actually peaceful.
Unfortunately, life had other plans.
Later that morning, Ren sat comfortably at the back of the classroom, sketching something in his notebook while the teacher continued talking at the front.
He wasn’t particularly interested in the lesson, so he quietly entertained himself with his drawing.
The classroom door suddenly opened.
Momo Hanakai, one of Sona’s peerage members, stepped inside.
She looked around before her eyes landed on Ren.
“Hey, Ren-san.
Could you please come with me?
Something came up at the ORC.”
Ren’s pencil stopped.
He slowly looked up at her.
‘Guess Grayfia finally arrived.’
He closed his notebook and stood from his seat.
“Alright.”
Momo turned around and began walking.
Ren followed behind her, casually slipping his hands into his pockets as they made their way through the school corridors.
The atmosphere felt noticeably different from usual.
Students who passed them occasionally glanced toward Ren before quickly looking away.
Now that everyone knew his identity, there was no point pretending he was just some random student anymore.
Eventually, they reached the ORC.
Momo opened the door.
Ren stepped inside.
The room was packed.
Sona and her peerage were gathered on one side, while Rias and her peerage occupied the other.
The usual relaxed atmosphere of the clubroom was completely gone.
Everyone looked serious.
Rias sat on one couch with Akeno, Kiba and Koneko nearby.
Across from them sat Sona with Tsubaki and the rest of her peerage.
And in the center of it all sat a woman Ren immediately recognized.
Silver hair.
Cold crimson/silver eyes.
(She has silver eyes in the anime for some reason.) Elegant blue dress a perfect posture.
An overwhelming presence that she wasn’t even bothering to hide.
Grayfia Lucifuge.
The strongest Queen in the Underworld.
Ren stopped near the entrance for a moment.
Grayfia’s eyes immediately shifted toward him.
The two stared at each other silently for a few seconds.
Ren didn’t seem particularly bothered by the intense atmosphere surrounding her.
Instead, he simply walked over and sat beside Grayfia like they were already acquainted.
He leaned back comfortably before pointing toward her with his thumb.
“Who’s the hottie?”
A tiny twitch appeared at the corner of Grayfia’s eye.
Rias immediately looked between the two of them.
“Ren…”
“What?”
“You know her?”
Ren shrugged casually.
“Nah, but she’s hot.” He glanced toward Grayfia again, openly examining her for a moment before continuing.
“I sense Devil energy from her, so I’m guessing she’s important.
Looks strong too.”
Everyone immediately slapped their foreheads.
Akeno covered her mouth, clearly trying not to laugh.
Koneko simply continued eating her cake.
Sona closed her eyes as if she was already regretting bringing Ren into the room.
Grayfia, meanwhile, calmly studied the teenager sitting beside her.
“Yhwach Ren Amamiya.”
Ren’s attention returned to her.
A grin slowly appeared on his face.
“That’s me.” He leaned slightly closer, his tone suddenly becoming more playful.
“You want my number?”
The moment those words left his mouth, the atmosphere in the room changed.
The temperature seemed to drop several degrees.
A heavy pressure silently filled the ORC, making several people tense up.
Ren blinked.
‘He’s dead, isn’t he?’
Kiba glanced toward Rias.
‘Yep.’
Rias and Sona immediately stood up at the same time.
“Please forgive our friend’s lack of manners!”
They said it in perfect unison.
Grayfia slowly turned her crimson eyes toward the two Devils.
Rias and Sona looked at each other.
Neither said anything.
The tension between them grew as they silently exchanged looks, both seemingly trying to figure out who should speak first.
Ren looked between them with a confused expression.
‘Must be having a staring contest or something.’
He leaned back comfortably.
“Anyway, I was just asking.”
Grayfia’s eyes slowly shifted back toward him.
Ren smiled innocently.
“What?”
Nobody answered.
For some reason, the room became even more awkward as everyone waited to see what Grayfia would do next.
Ren, meanwhile, looked completely relaxed, sitting comfortably on the couch as if he hadn’t just casually flirted with one of the most dangerous women in the Underworld.
Eventually, Grayfia sighed.
“He clearly doesn’t know basic etiquette.
So I’ll let this one slide.”
The girls immediately sighed in relief as the heavy pressure that had filled the room finally disappeared.
Rias and Sona both returned to their seats while the rest of the peerage settled down, waiting for Grayfia to continue.
“So.
Yhwach Ren Amamiya.”
Grayfia’s crimson eyes focused directly on him.
“You’re the so-called Kuoh Hunter?”
“Again, I don’t like that name, but yes.
I am.”
Ren leaned back against the sofa, casually resting one arm across the back of it.
Grayfia continued staring at him, her expression remaining calm as she carefully examined his presence.
There was something strange about him.
His energy didn’t resemble that of a Devil, Fallen Angel, Angel, Dragon, or any other major supernatural faction she was familiar with.
‘He doesn’t share energy with any of the major factions.’ Her eyes narrowed slightly.
‘But that name…
Yhwach.
It sounds strangely familiar.
Similar to the name of the Biblical God.’
She decided to ask directly.
“Are you affiliated with any of the major factions?”
Ren raised an eyebrow.
“Is this an interview?”
He chuckled before shaking his head.
“But no, I’m not.” He paused for a moment before casually adding, “I’m the Soul King’s son, though.
That’s one thing.”
The room went completely silent.
Grayfia’s expression remained calm, but internally she was already processing the statement.
‘Soul King?
Who’s that?’
Ren didn’t seem to notice her confusion.
Instead, he turned his head toward the door.
“Akeno.” Akeno looked toward him.
“Could you please get me some tea, babe?”
Akeno smiled.
“Of course, Ren-kun.”
She gave him a playful wink before leaving the room.
Grayfia watched her leave before slowly looking back at Ren.
There were far too many strange things surrounding this boy.
The mysterious name. This chapter is updated first at novelping.com.
His overwhelming power.
His lack of affiliation.
And now this supposed “Soul King.”
“Okay.”
Grayfia finally spoke again before turning toward Rias and Sona.
“Could you please both leave the room?”
Rias immediately frowned.
“Huh?
Why?
I believe we have the right to hear everything!”
Sona adjusted her glasses before nodding.
“Yes.
I see no reason why we should leave, Lady Grayfia.”
Grayfia looked at both girls calmly.
“While I understand that you two have developed a deep bond with this boy, it is of the utmost importance that I speak with him alone.”
Her gaze briefly returned to Ren.
“I won’t be attacking him.
I promise you that.”
Rias and Sona exchanged a reluctant glance.
Neither seemed happy about leaving Ren alone with Grayfia, but after a few moments, they finally stood.
“Fine.”
Rias turned toward Ren.
“Don’t do anything stupid.”
Ren gave her an innocent smile.
“Me?
Never.”
Sona shook her head before walking toward the door with Rias and the rest of their peerage.
One by one, they left the ORC.
The door finally closed.
Silence returned to the room.
Ren looked toward Grayfia.
Grayfia looked back.
“Alright,” Ren said casually.
“So what did you really want to talk about?”
Grayfia stood up from her seat and calmly moved to the opposite couch, sitting across from Ren.
Her movements were graceful and deliberate, her expression giving away absolutely nothing as she settled into place.
With a small motion of her hand, a faint magic circle appeared beneath them before expanding outward across the entire room.
A transparent barrier settled over the walls.
Soundproofing magic and a barrier.
Whatever happened inside this room wouldn’t reach the people outside.
Almost immediately, the atmosphere began changing.
It wasn’t an instant drop in temperature, but the room gradually became colder, the warmth slowly being drained away as a thin layer of frost began forming along the windows.
Grayfia folded her hands neatly over her lap.
“You will tell me everything about yourself.
Please don’t leave a single detail out so we can finish this quickly.”
Hearing that, Ren let out a small laugh.
“You’re serious?”
Grayfia didn’t answer.
Instead, the temperature continued to fall.
The frost on the windows thickened.
A thin layer of ice slowly crept across the floor, spreading outward from Grayfia’s position as the air became noticeably colder with every passing second.
Ren looked around.”Well then.” He leaned back comfortably.
“I guess we’ll just stare at each other then.
I find myself fascinated by your eyes.”
Grayfia’s expression barely changed, but there was a tiny flicker of surprise in her crimson eyes.
She hadn’t expected that response.
Still, she said nothing.
The room continued getting colder.
The temperature dropped enough that Ren could now see his breath whenever he exhaled.
Frost covered the furniture, the windows, and eventually even the walls, while the once-comfortable ORC room slowly began resembling an icy chamber.
Ren, however, didn’t seem particularly bothered.
He simply leaned farther back into the couch, crossing one leg over the other.
‘I can handle Yamamoto, bitch thinks I can’t handle the cold either?’
He almost laughed at the thought.
Grayfia continued watching him.
Ten minutes passed.
By now, the entire room had practically frozen over.
Ice covered the floor beneath Ren’s shoes, frost coated the furniture, and the windows had become completely opaque beneath layers of frozen condensation.
Yet Ren remained exactly where he had been.
Untouched, not even a shiver.
His breathing remained steady, his posture relaxed, and his expression completely indifferent.
Grayfia’s eyes narrowed slightly.
‘If he’s using magic to heat his body, he’s bound to run out of it eventually.’
She was wrong.
Peace