Kaïto hadn't set foot in the Occult Research Club for a few days, as if he needed some time to gather himself after his transition into this new life. It felt like he was catching his breath amid all the mystery that enveloped the world around him.
He had spent those days deep in thought, watching every little detail with a keen eye: the students in the hallways, the whispers in the classrooms, and even the dark corners where the wary ones hid. At night, he sat alone with his notebook, sketching maps and plotting with tight lines like hidden sword slashes. Powers... characters... potential enemies...
Yet one idea kept haunting him at the core of his solitude, an idea that stoked the fires of his ambition and made his dreams burn brighter:(Gate of Babylon... the power I've always dreamed of possessing.)
The name echoed in his mind over and over, like the whisper of the great King Gilgamesh himself, hinting at the secrets of the treasury that held the treasures of worlds. The power with which Gilgamesh collected weapons and treasures from across the globe, giving him the ability to summon any treasure at any time and crush his enemies with unstoppable force.
In Kaïto's eyes, the Gate of Babylon symbolized ultimate power:
A weapon for every occasion
The power to crush any opponent
Control over the course of battles
And even the chance to steal powers from other worlds
He smiled faintly with confidence, but his expression quickly shifted to one of challenge:(Everything in its time... The first step begins here, with this club...)
He knocked on the door of the Occult Research Club with his fingertips. He opened the door slowly, and was greeted by Akeno with a warm smile, as if she had been waiting for him all along:"Welcome, Kaïto-kun! You're a little late in joining us, aren't you?"
He replied with a hesitant smile:"I was sorting a few things out."
Akeno led him inside, where Rias Gremory sat elegantly behind a fine teacup like a queen on her throne. The room felt more like a luxurious salon than a typical school clubroom.
Koneko Toujou was eating sweets in the corner, while Issei Hyoudou sat on another couch, looking calmer than usual.
"Welcome, Yamada-kun," Rias said, lifting her head from her book.
"Hello, Rias-san, Akeno-san, Koneko-san," Kaïto replied politely, then noticed Kiba Yuuto polishing a sword with a calm smile.
"Oh, nice to meet you. I haven't seen you around before."
Kiba smiled warmly."Hello, Yamada-kun. I'm Kiba Yuuto, a member of the Occult Research Club. I heard you joined us."
"It's an honor to meet you, Kiba-kun," Kaïto replied, feeling relieved that Kiba seemed friendly.
Rias spoke with a voice as smooth as a warm breeze:"Perhaps you're wondering what we do here..."
Kaïto sat calmly, watching her like a hunter waiting for her next move. Rias continued with a confident, commanding tone:"Our missions in this club are varied:
Solving problems for humans who make contracts with devils—whether helping them or punishing them, depending on the circumstances.
Hunting down stray devils—those who've lost their minds and started harming innocents.
Monitoring other supernatural activities—like fallen angels or mysterious creatures.
All these missions give us a chance to gather demonic energy and increase our standing in the demon world."
Akeno chuckled and raised an eyebrow, adding a playful touch amid the mystery:"And sometimes there are silly missions like cleaning a client's room or helping them find a missing cat!"
Kaïto stared at her in surprise:"A cat?"
"Rias smiled lightly.""Yes, even those requests can carry secrets you'd never imagine."
Issei suddenly laughed with a perverted expression, raising his eyebrows excitedly and pointing at Koneko:"Yesterday we chased a demonic cat in the library, and we all ended up stuck in a web of books. Lucky me—or maybe unlucky her—Koneko fell right on top of me!"
He laughed loudly, his eyes gleaming with obvious lewdness:"It was amazing... I never thought I'd get that lucky!"
Koneko raised an eyebrow in annoyance as she nibbled on a piece of candy, then walked slowly toward him."Worst day of my life."
Without hesitation, she punched him hard in the stomach, making him scream and instantly lose consciousness."That's your punishment for your dirty thoughts."
Akeno laughed, waving her hand:"And I was laughing so hard my eyes teared up. You should've seen Issei's face as he flew from that punch!"
Kaïto chuckled softly, trying to hide his excitement, even though the atmosphere felt warm despite all the mystery. But inside, he was boiling with something else—something he knew had a completely different purpose.(Watch me all you like... but in the end, I...)
A new plan ignited in his mind, shining like a star in the dark night:(Gate of Babylon... I'll use it to collect powers from everywhere. I'll start here, in this world, and climb my way to its throne!)
He reminded himself of the dragons:(Imagine if I could build my own version of the Gate of Babylon... Even the dragons that rule this world would bow before me. If I could get dragon blood or their elemental control like Igneel or Acnologia from Fairy Tail, no one would stand in my way.)
(It's said there are ancient dragon bloodlines—some extinct, some still lurking in the shadows. If I could get a piece of their power... then I'd become the master of this game.)
He laughed inwardly, though to everyone else he was just a boy trying to adjust to a new life.
At that moment, Rias leaned forward slightly, a stern look flashing in her blue eyes:"Since you're new here, Yamada-kun, I have a mission for you tonight. I want you to come with us on a mission to hunt down a stray devil. You'll be an observer at first, but... I'll be watching you too."
His eyebrows furrowed in confusion:"You'll be watching me...?"
Rias smiled softly, lowering her gaze slightly as she whispered to herself:(I want to see his true strength... and learn about his past, his character, and whether he's worthy of becoming part of my family. He's been mysterious from the start, and his power intrigues me.)
She raised her head again, smiling confidently:"This will be a test. Don't worry, we'll protect you."
Kaïto smiled faintly, a spark dancing in his eyes that only those who knew his secrets could see:"Alright... I won't let you down."(Gate of Babylon... dragons... I'll collect everything and rise to the top. But first, I have to pass this test.)