I colpsed onto my bed, every muscle in my body aching from the exhaustion of the day. Work had drained me, but somehow, I had still managed to finish High School DxD. The series had been fun, sure, but as I y there staring at the ceiling, my mind drifted back to the end of Season 1, and a bitter frustration bubbled up inside me.

  Riser Phenex.

  That guy had so much potential—noble blood, a powerful cn, practically immortal—but the story had thrown him under the bus for the sake of Issei’s victory. It wasn’t just unfair; it was zy. A cheap excuse to make the underdog win. And really, wasn't Issei’s use of holy water in their fight technically illegal? A btant rule viotion? Yet Sirzechs and the entire underworld just let it slide. No protests, no consequences. What the hell?

  The more I thought about it, the worse it got. How did nobody talk about this? The gaping plot holes, the absurd favoritism? And above all, did a pervert like Issei really deserve everything handed to him on a silver ptter? A harem, legendary power, an entire damn book written for him? I scoffed, shaking my head.

  But why did I even care?

  I exhaled sharply, rubbing my temples. I was eighteen now. I had actual responsibilities, internships to worry about. Watching anime had already become a struggle, and maybe... maybe it was time to drop it altogether.

  My thoughts blurred as exhaustion pressed down on me. My eyelids grew heavy, my mind sinking into the quiet pull of sleep.

  And just like that, darkness took me in.

  **

  A sharp knocking at the door jolted me awake. My eyes fluttered open, and the first thing I saw was—an unfamiliar ceiling.

  My body tensed. What the hell?

  My mind raced through a dozen worst-case scenarios. Did I get kidnapped? Drugged? But as I sat up, the thought immediately felt ridiculous. The bed beneath me was soft. Luxurious. The kind of mattress that practically swallowed you whole. A king-sized monstrosity draped in silky sheets that felt too expensive for a hostage situation.

  I forced myself to take in my surroundings. The room was massive, almost absurdly so. The wooden floors gleamed under the soft light, and a thick carpet stretched across most of the space, muting any sound as I swung my legs over the edge of the bed. The air smelled faintly of something warm—like embers before a fire fully catches.

  The walls, the decor, even the heavy curtains—it all bathed in a deep, rich blend of red and orange. Fiery. Like the entire space was designed to exude heat and power.

  I stood up, my bare feet sinking slightly into the plush carpet, and my gaze nded on a vanity across the room. A rge mirror sat atop it, polished to perfection, reflecting the warm hues of the chamber. A strange sense of anticipation curled in my chest.

  I needed to see.

  Without thinking, I stepped forward.