The next day, Friday, Issei couldn't be happier.
To everyone he ran into at the academy, he proudly said the same thing:
"I have a girlfriend!"
During one of those moments, he ran into a boy with black hair and black eyes. He wasn't particularly handsome—just slightly above average.
But there was a reason why Issei recognized him immediately:
He was the person closest to Tojou Koneko, the most adorable girl at the academy. Since she had transferred in just a few days ago, she'd already earned the nickname "The School Mascot."
There were even rumors that they were dating… though nothing had been confirmed.
At first, many had said he wasn't on her level.
But he quickly proved them wrong: he got first place in his class and third in the entire academy on the first day's exams.
And that was without paying attention in class. He just played video games all day.
In a country like Japan, where academic pressure is intense, someone with grades like that isn't mocked. On the contrary, he's seen as a role model.
So, the argument that "she's too good for him" lost its weight.
In the past, Issei might have felt jealous.
But not today.
Now he had a girlfriend too. And he just wanted to share his happiness with the world.
"Kaito!" he shouted enthusiastically.
The boy turned and replied with a friendly smile.
"Issei? What's up?"
Issei was a bit confused by the reaction.
"You know me?"
Kaito frowned, as if he couldn't believe what he'd just heard.
"Do you seriously think there's anyone at this academy who doesn't know you?"
Instead of being embarrassed by his fame… Issei smiled, clearly proud.
But then he remembered why he had called him over.
"This is Yuuma-chan!" he said, showing a photo on his phone. "She's my girlfriend and we're super happy!"
Kaito gave him a polite congratulatory smile and then walked off toward class.
But deep down, he felt a little uneasy.
So far, he hadn't run into Sirzechs. That could only mean his plan had worked and everything was under control… as long as he didn't do anything suspicious.
But two weeks had already passed since his arrival in this world.
And not knowing when he'd return made him nervous.
Also, being limited to his human state made much of the information he had useless.
He couldn't take advantage of many things in this world in his current condition.
Even if being here was fun, in a world like this, of course he wanted to become strong and reach the top.
When he got to class, he ran into Koneko.
"How are you?" he asked, looking a bit concerned.
Koneko looked at him, puzzled. So Kaito explained:
"You got your heart broken yesterday, right?"
"I already told you I don't like him" Koneko replied, visibly annoyed.
Kaito looked at her with tenderness, like he was watching a child throw a tantrum. He sighed. Then raised his hand and patted her head.
"It's okay. You'll feel better soon."
Koneko, initially surprised by the gesture, accepted the pat…
Until she heard what he said. Then she got mad again.
Meanwhile, the rest of the class watched them like they were witnessing a live romcom.
They were already used to the two of them living in their own world, ignoring everyone else.
---
The next day, Kaito decided to go to Kuoh Park.
He knew exactly what would happen today: Issei's date with Yuuma.
He also knew that this was when Raynare would reveal her true form as a fallen angel… and kill him.
Either way, Raynare would place a barrier to isolate the area, so he wouldn't be able to see anything from the outside.
He was just curious. He wanted to know if he'd feel anything strange.
And so, at sunset, the moment arrived.
Issei and Yuuma arrived at the park.
At that moment, a sort of aura began spreading from their location.
It was invisible. If it weren't for his level 10 senses, Kaito wouldn't have noticed anything.
But just before the barrier touched him, a notification appeared in front of him.
He didn't have time to read it.
The barrier passed over him…
And Kaito vanished from the park.
---
Inside the barrier were four people:
Issei and Yuuma.
Koneko, who had been tasked with watching them.
And sitting on a nearby bench… Kaito.
Not knowing what had just happened, he read the notification that had appeared:
[5 minutes until departure from the mission world. During this time, no external force can affect you.]
[Any use of this function to interfere with the mission will be ignored.]
[Time remaining: 04:58]
Kaito was surprised.
He immediately hid behind a tree, trying not to be seen.
It didn't work.
A girl appeared beside him. Her fist flew toward his face…
But stopped just inches away.
With an incredulous voice, the girl spoke:
"Kaito? What are you doing here?"
It was Koneko.
Kaito didn't know what to say, so he just pretended to have no idea.
Koneko didn't believe him, but decided to talk to him later.
In the center of the park, by a fountain, Raynare had revealed her true form.
In her hand, she held a spear made of holy energy.
"Die for me" she said, throwing the weapon.
The spear pierced Issei's chest, making him collapse to the ground, bleeding out.
Raynare walked toward him…
But then, a piece of paper in Issei's hand began to glow.
A magic circle appeared on the ground.
From it emerged a crimson-haired beauty: Rias Gremory.
Raynare, upon seeing her, instantly vanished without a trace.
While Rias approached the dying Issei, and Koneko silently watched, waiting for answers…
Kaito vanished as if by magic.
---
He returned to his territory.
In front of him, multiple notifications floated in the air.
[Congratulations! You've completed Floor 1 mission: "World of Gods and Dragons – Part 1"]
[Your completion rate exceeds 100%. Grade achieved: SS]
[Bonus for your first completed mission: Grade increased to SSS]
[Rewards:
• Active Skill: Original Demon of Speed
• Passive Skill: Speedforce
• Summoning Tower – S-Class Unit: Demons of the 72 Pillars
• Extraction & Mutation Summoning Tower: Phoenix Regeneration
• 10,000 Extraction Points
• Summoning Card]
Kaito nearly jumped with joy.
SSS is the highest possible rank in any video game!
The rewards had to be just as amazing.
He immediately began reading the descriptions.
---
[Original Demon of Speed]
Based on your development path, you've been linked to a race perfectly compatible with you: the Original Demon of Speed.
Description: Since the beginning of time, all things were split in two: Creation and Destruction, Yin and Yang, White and Black, Good and Evil. From those two concepts, all others were born.
Speed is one of the firstborn of Evil.
And you are its embodiment.
• Multiplies your agility x100
• Multiplies all other stats x10
• Infinite evolution: no need to change races
• Increased affinity and understanding of evil-type magic
• Hidden form
• [Locked]
• [Locked]
• [Locked]
• [Locked]
---
Kaito was about to scream in joy.
But he held back.
There were still more rewards.
---
[Speedforce]
It has been detected that your main ability could cause you serious problems.
Therefore, you've received a passive skill to counter it.
Description: Speed exists throughout the universe. By connecting with it, your control becomes completely natural.
• Negates all negative effects from super-speed
---
"Incredible…" Kaito murmured. "It's basically Flash's plot armor."
No clothes burning at high speeds. No air pressure issues, no visibility problems, no killing people by moving them too fast, no dying from sudden stops.
All the logical drawbacks of super-speed… negated.
Just with those two rewards, he already felt unstoppable.
But he still had more to go through...