Chapter 108 - Rin Tohsaka’s Choice

Chapter 108: Chapter 108 - Rin Tohsaka’s Choice

(A/N: If we reach 150 Power Stones, I’ll post the next Chapter later today...

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Alear walked calmly through the corridors, already able to hear the voices of the guests gathered in the main hall in the distance. For his introduction, he had thought of using the mezzanine, from where he would have a privileged view of the entire hall. From that position, he could make an appropriate entrance, deliver a brief welcoming speech, and then descend the stairs to join the guests and take part in the celebration.

He continued walking for a few more moments, mentally organizing what he would say when the time came.

That was when he spotted her.

Rin Tohsaka was standing in a discreet corner of the upper corridor, exactly where the shadows cast by the columns concealed her from the eyes of anyone below. Her body was slightly leaning forward, her hands resting on the marble railing, while her turquoise-blue eyes attentively observed the completely crowded main hall.

The long black dress she wore clung to her body like a second skin, its fluid and elegant fabric accentuating each of her curves. The back, in particular, emphasized the firm, pert shape of her butt, while the fabric remained stretched in an almost provocative manner beneath the soft light of the chandeliers.

She had a beautiful ass...

"Rin?" he called casually as he asked, "What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in the hall, enjoying the party?"

She startled, her entire body tensing for an instant. Her head turned sharply, and her eyes widened until she finally recognized who was standing behind her. Relief immediately spread across her face.

"Ah, Alear...!" Rin murmured, instinctively bringing a hand to her chest. "My God, you nearly scared me to death. What the hell... I was already going. I was just taking a look from here. It’s still a little frightening to walk into a hall full of demons when you’re a human..."

When she turned completely to face him, Alear felt mildly surprised. Rin was wearing makeup. Not excessively, but enough to enhance her natural beauty: subtle eyeliner, a soft touch of blush, and dark-toned lipstick that delicately contrasted with her fair skin. Her hair was elegantly tied up, while a few loose strands framed her face.

The result was... breathtaking.

Rin noticed that his gaze remained on her longer than necessary. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her classic tsundere defense mechanism kicked in almost automatically. She crossed her arms over her chest, looked away for a moment, and then turned to face him again, her voice coming out slightly louder and more defensive than she intended:

"W-what is it? You’re staring at me like I’m some kind of work of art. Don’t look at me like that... It’s annoying."

Alear wasn’t intimidated by her tone. A small smile appeared on his lips as he took another step, moving close enough for their conversation to remain private.

"I was just admiring your beauty, Rin. You look stunning. That dress suits you very well..."

The words came out simple and direct, without any unnecessary embellishment.

Rin’s heart gave a traitorous leap inside her chest. For an instant, she felt the heat rise even further across her face, reaching her ears. At the same time, however, a familiar, bitter pang crossed her chest as she remembered how many women already orbited around Alear. That made any compliment coming from him complicated. Part of her simply wanted to accept the comment and enjoy the moment, while another wondered whether those words actually meant anything to him or whether they were merely another compliment he could give to any of the women around him....

Her insecurity ended up speaking louder than her embarrassment.

"...You shouldn’t say things like that..." she murmured, her voice slightly lower, almost like a grumble. "Especially not to me... Don’t you already have other women?"

Alear raised an eyebrow, and the smile on his lips became slightly more ironic.

"Are you jealous?"

Rin immediately reacted. Her face became even redder, and her voice rose in an almost indignant protest:

"J-jealous?! Don’t say something like that! I’m just saying it’s inappropriate! You already have fiancées and servants... You don’t need to go around complimenting every woman you meet! I just... I’m just worried about your image, okay?! It’s not jealousy! Not at all!"

She abruptly turned her face to the side, making her hair sway with the movement in a futile attempt to hide the blush that had already taken over her cheeks. Despite her defensive reaction, however, Rin did not move away. She remained exactly where she was, only a few steps from Alear, as though part of her was still waiting to hear what he would say next...

It wasn’t as though she was in love with him or anything like that. At least, that was what she kept telling herself. Alear was, without a doubt, the most handsome man she had ever seen in her entire life, and that was a fact that was difficult to ignore. Besides that, he was kind, polite, mature, and attentive, carrying himself in a way that made him seem practically like a knight in shining armor before any woman. He was the kind of man who treated people with respect, and precisely because of that, it was easy to understand why so many women ended up "falling in love" with him.

And there was another detail she preferred not to think about too much. From what she had noticed on a few occasions, Alear also seemed to be an excellent lover in bed. She remembered moments when, by accident, she had ended up hearing sounds coming from his quarters or had even witnessed situations she preferred to pretend she had never seen. Those memories inevitably awakened strange sensations within her. Perhaps it was merely curiosity. Perhaps it was her hormones getting the better of her. Or perhaps those feelings beginning to emerge in her heart were something Rin was not yet ready to admit, even to herself. After all, falling in love would be far too hasty a conclusion... wouldn’t it?

Regardless, that was precisely why she was waiting for an answer from him, even without realizing it. Her attention seemed to have been captured by Alear, and at that moment, she simply couldn’t turn her thoughts away from him....

...Damn it! Why did this always end up happening to her? Why did she always end up falling for idiots?!

Alear silently observed Rin’s reaction for a few seconds, maintaining the faint ironic smile on his lips. He didn’t seem annoyed or offended by her protest. On the contrary, there was something amused and patient in the way he looked at her, as though he were already accustomed to that kind of tsundere outburst. She was quite similar to Ishtar in that regard, although, of course, without the divine powers.

When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, firm, and without the slightest trace of hesitation:

"I don’t really care about my image, Rin..."

She blinked, surprised by the direct answer, but Alear continued without hesitation:

"I’ve never cared much about what other people think of me. I’m the kind of person who has always done what I wanted... and I still do. If I called you beautiful, it was because it’s the truth. It wasn’t an empty comment, nor was it an attempt to flatter you. It was simply what I thought when I saw you. So... accept the compliment."

The words lingered between them, simple and direct, yet unexpectedly difficult for Rin to ignore.

She was left speechless.

Her mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out. The blush already coloring her cheeks intensified, spreading to her ears and down her neck. Her heart, already beating faster than normal, accelerated even more, while a strange, warm sensation settled deep in her stomach. It was as though dozens of tiny butterflies were fluttering inside her, making it impossible to ignore the feeling. She quickly looked away, unable to continue staring into those eyes that seemed to see more than they should. Her arms remained crossed over her chest, but the defensive posture had lost some of its previous firmness. Her fingers discreetly tightened around the fabric of the black dress, revealing just how deeply his words had affected her.

"...Idiot..." she finally murmured, so quietly that her voice was almost lost beneath the distant noise of the party.

There was no aggression in the insult, however. It was merely a quiet, embarrassed grumble, almost as though she had lost the argument and no longer knew what to say.

Inside, however, her mind was in complete confusion. Why did he have to speak that way? Why did he have to be so direct, so sincere, so... him? It would have been much easier to deal with superficial compliments or some obvious flirting, something she could simply ignore or respond to with a sarcastic remark. This, however, was different. And the worst part was that, despite all the resistance she tried to maintain, a part of her had liked those words.

Liked them very much.

Rin swallowed hard and continued looking to the side, pretending to observe the crowded hall below. The truth, however, was that she could barely pay attention to what was happening in the hall. Her awareness remained fixated on Alear’s presence so close to her and, above all, on the words he had just spoken.

Alear silently observed Rin for a few moments, and his smile gradually disappeared, replaced by a more serious expression. He moved a little closer, but without invading her personal space, and then turned his eyes toward the hall below, filled with demons and other supernatural creatures that, until recently, would have been completely unimaginable to a human like her.

"It must be difficult for you, isn’t it?" he asked calmly. "Being here, surrounded by all these people who aren’t exactly human... Well, you understand what I mean. I’m sorry for bringing you into this world, Rin. Even though I had no control over my ability, sometimes I still think that perhaps it was selfish of me to summon you here. I didn’t want to ruin your life or force you to abandon everything you knew because of an unplanned summoning...."

Rin remained silent. Inside, however, those words struck a point she had been avoiding facing. It was true that she had been frightened when she discovered the existence of demons and everything else that existed beyond the human world. Adapting to the Underworld had not been easy either. They were people she had never met, customs that were completely different, and a reality that contradicted practically everything she had learned throughout her life as a magus. But if she were completely honest with herself, what exactly had she left behind? There had been no wonderful life waiting for her in Fuyuki. Her old life had basically consisted of preserving the honor of the Tohsaka family, studying magecraft, and, at the same time, trying to live like a normal student. She had friends, responsibilities, and goals, but, in the end, she had been practically alone.

And there was Shirou. The red-haired boy who could be ridiculously kind even when it made absolutely no sense. She liked him, or at least believed she did, although their relationship had always been complicated. He spent most of his time alongside Sakura, his "sister," and, to make matters worse, often seemed not even to notice when she was around. Thinking about it now made everything seem strangely distant. Compared to that life, the Underworld had given her something she had never expected to find: new experiences, new people, and a life that, despite being absurd, had begun to feel genuinely like her own. Perhaps Alear had taken away the life she knew, but he had also shown her a world where she could finally decide for herself what she wanted to do with her future....

Rin remained silent for a few seconds before finally sighing.

"It wasn’t your fault, Alear. You didn’t do it intentionally, and I know that. Besides..." She hesitated for a moment, turning her gaze back toward the hall below. "I don’t hate the idea of living here that much."

Alear raised an eyebrow slightly, surprised by her answer, but Rin continued before he could say anything.

"It’s still strange. Very strange, actually. I still have trouble understanding some customs, the way things work, and, most importantly, the fact that demons simply live alongside one another as though it were the most normal thing in the world. But I think I’m starting to get used to it." She let out a small, humorless laugh. "A few months ago, I probably would have panicked just imagining myself in the middle of a hall like this. Now I’m just... uncomfortable."

Rin paused briefly, and her expression became somewhat more serious.

"And, to be honest, there’s an opportunity here that most magi of the Modern Era would probably do anything to obtain. I’m living in the Age of Gods, Alear. Not merely in a place where magecraft still exists, but in an era where it is much closer to its true nature. I’ve spent my entire life studying mysteries that have practically been lost in the modern world. Here, I can learn things I would never have had the opportunity to discover in my world. I can study a form of magecraft that the magi of my era couldn’t even imagine..."

She took a deep breath before continuing, as though she were finally admitting aloud to a decision that had been taking shape within her for some time.

"That’s why I’ve come to the conclusion that I want to join your peerage... Using magecraft based solely on imagination, ignoring the Aria and all conventional Magecraft processes... how appealing would that be to a magus like me? To me, this opportunity is worth it, even if, in the process, I end up leaving part of my humanity behind..."

"Hmm?" Alear seemed genuinely surprised by the sudden decision. A small smile appeared on his lips as he observed her. "Are you sure about this?"

"Yes! Whenever you want, we can begin the ritual!" Rin replied promptly before narrowing her eyes and adding in a warning tone, "But don’t take this the wrong way. Being your servant doesn’t mean you’ve earned the right to do whatever you want with me. I’m not simply going to give up my freedom just because you’ve granted me a place among your peerage..."

Alear let out a small laugh at her firmness.

"I would never expect you to do that."

"Good." Rin pointed a finger at him, although a small smile threatened to appear on her lips. "I agreed to join your peerage because I believe this is an extraordinary opportunity, not because I want to become someone’s property. You’d better not try anything..."

Alear nodded, and there was now no trace of amusement on his face. His expression had become serious, making it clear that he was treating her words with complete consideration.

"All right. I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do. When you join my peerage, you’ll be my servant and I’ll be your King, but that doesn’t mean you’ll lose your autonomy over your own body or your choices. Of course, as a member of my peerage, you’ll still have to obey my orders when necessary, as long as they don’t violate your principles or exceed the boundaries you’ve set for yourself. Is that all right with you?"

"All right..." Rin replied after a few seconds.

She continued looking at Alear for a moment, as though she were still processing his words. Somehow, that answer reassured her more than she had expected. Perhaps that was precisely why she had begun to trust him so much. Alear could be annoying, arrogant, and, occasionally, a complete idiot, but he had never tried to treat her as inferior simply because she was human.

And although she still had much to learn about that world and what it truly meant to be part of a High-Class Devil’s peerage, she was beginning to realize that perhaps her decision to remain there had not been as bad as she had initially imagined...

Alear extended one of his hands in front of his body. A small magic circle appeared over his palm. Rin immediately turned her attention toward him, and her eyes widened when a small chess piece appeared at the center of the circle, surrounded by a faint demonic aura. It was a Pawn, similar to the chess pieces she had seen many times throughout her life.

"Then let’s do this right now."

Rin blinked several times.

"Right now?!"

"You said you were ready."

"I said I was ready, not that it had to happen immediately!" she replied, clearly nervous. "What exactly do I have to do? Do I need to stand inside some magic circle? Recite something? Is there a specific procedure? I’d like to know at least what’s going to happen before you shove a demonic piece into my body!"

Alear let out a small laugh.

"You don’t have to do anything complicated. Just stand still."

"That’s it?"

"That’s it."

Rin narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"Are you serious?"

"Completely."

She hesitated for a few seconds, but finally took a deep breath and nodded.

Alear controlled the Pawn in his hand with a little telekinesis and sent it toward Rin as he began the reincarnation.

Rin felt a gentle pressure envelop her body. The next instant, the Pawn crossed the space between them as though there were no resistance whatsoever and entered directly into her chest.

Rin’s eyes widened as a sensation of heat coursed through her entire body, beginning at the center of her chest and rapidly spreading to every extremity. It was as though something were being reorganized inside her, not only within her body but also within her very soul. Within moments, she had been reincarnated as a devil!

She brought one hand to her chest, completely stunned by the transformation that had just occurred. She could clearly feel that her body had become several times stronger than before. Her muscles seemed more resilient, her movements lighter and more precise, while her senses were also far sharper, allowing her to perceive details that previously would have gone unnoticed. And then there was her mana... Or rather, Demonic Power, as the devils called it. The energy now filling her body was like a vast ocean compared to her former mana reserves. It was an amount of power she couldn’t even imagine possessing before. At the same time, she realized that her former magic circuits had disappeared, replaced by that new energy coursing through every part of her body and seeming to respond naturally to her will.

"This is..."

Alear smiled as he noticed her reaction.

"Welcome to my peerage, Rin."

Rin raised her eyes toward him, still looking completely lost amid the new sensations coursing through her body. Everything seemed different now: her strength, her senses, her energy, and even the way she perceived her own body. She was still trying to process the transformation when an inevitable conclusion surfaced in her mind.

She was now his servant, wasn’t she?

Her neck turned red at the thought....

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(A/N: What if I told you that, for the price of a cup of coffee, you could be 35 Chapters ahead of the story? We’re starting Volume Two there! It focuses on the human world, no more politics! There’s much more action!

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