Reborn as Issei Hyoudou: The Phat to Supremacy

Raynare knelt before me, shoulders tense, fists clenched.

She had accepted my offer.

She had chosen to live.

But I could tell—she didn't trust me.

Not yet.

And that was fine. I didn't need her trust. I needed her usefulness.

I glanced over at Kiba and Koneko, who had been silent through the whole exchange.

Kiba crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "This is… unexpected."

Koneko just stared at Raynare. Hard.

"She should be dead," she muttered. "She killed people."

She wasn't wrong. Raynare had taken innocent lives. She had betrayed Asia. She had tried to kill me.

By all logic, I should have erased her.

But logic wasn't everything.

I smiled. "Yeah. And that's exactly why she's useful."

Raynare tensed.

Kiba narrowed his eyes. "You're playing a dangerous game, Issei."

I shrugged. "Life's a game. I just play to win."

Koneko grumbled but didn't argue.

She didn't like this. None of them did.

But they couldn't deny it—I had made a move that no one expected.

And that meant I had control.

I turned to Raynare. "We'll talk later. For now, stay quiet and follow my lead."

She hesitated. Then, slowly, she nodded.

Good.

I turned back toward the church.

There was still one more thing to take care of.

[Inside the Church – Asia's Fate]

Asia Argento sat on the cold floor, her hands gripping the hem of her dress.

She had watched everything.

Her emerald eyes flickered between me and Raynare, confusion and hope warring in her expression.

"You… you didn't kill her," she whispered.

I knelt in front of her, resting my arms on my knees. "Nope."

Her lip trembled. "But… why?"

I sighed. "Because killing isn't always the answer."

She bit her lip. "Then… will you help me?"

She didn't say it outright, but I knew what she meant.

Her Sacred Gear.

In the original story, she died here. Raynare ripped her Twilight Healing out of her body, killing her in the process.

I wasn't going to let that happen.

I reached out and ruffled her blonde hair. "Yeah. You're coming with me."

Her breath hitched.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

And then—

She threw herself forward, wrapping her arms around me.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice breaking.

I smiled. "No problem."

And just like that—Asia's fate was rewritten.

[Kuoh Academy – Occult Research Club]

The room was silent.

Rias sat behind her desk, arms crossed, staring at me with a sharp expression.

Akeno stood beside her, smiling as usual—but her eyes were gleaming with undisguised curiosity.

Kiba leaned against the wall, his face blank.

Koneko just ate her snacks, but I could tell she was listening.

And across from them—

Raynare stood at my side.

The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife.

Rias exhaled slowly. "Let me get this straight."

She tapped her fingers against the desk. "Not only did you defeat Raynare… but you also spared her and brought her here?"

"Yep."

Her eyebrow twitched. "And now… you want me to let her live?"

"Yep."

Silence.

Then—

Akeno giggled. "Ara~ ara~ Issei-kun, you never fail to surprise me."

Rias sighed, rubbing her temples. "Do you even understand what you've done?"

I shrugged. "Yeah. I made a move."

She narrowed her eyes. "A move?"

I smirked. "You're thinking like a noble, Rias. But this isn't about status. This is about power."

Her lips parted slightly.

I continued. "Raynare isn't just some random Fallen Angel. She has connections. Information. Experience."

I turned to Raynare. "Tell them."

Raynare stiffened. Then, after a moment, she sighed. "Azazel doesn't care about me. I was a disposable pawn. If I go back, they'll kill me. I have no loyalty to them."

She looked at Rias. "And that means I'm useful to you."

Rias tapped her fingers against the desk again, considering.

She was tempted.

But she was also cautious.

I leaned forward. "Think about it. You just got another fighter, another source of intel. And in return? You don't even have to do anything. She answers to me."

I smiled. "So really, it's a win-win."

Rias watched me.

Then—

She sighed.

"Fine," she muttered. "But she's your responsibility, Issei."

I grinned. "Works for me."

And just like that—Raynare was officially under my command.

[Multiversal Chat Group]

[Demon Lord in Disguise]: Hah! You recruited your enemy? Now that's interesting.

[Supreme Sorcerer]: Risky, but smart. Fallen Angels have valuable knowledge.

[Tactician from Another World]: Your move was unconventional, but strategically sound. You just added a piece to your board.

[God of Thunder]: Will she prove her worth in battle? Only time will tell!

[The Caped Baldy]: Eh. If she betrays you, just erase her.

I smirked.

Yeah. If she betrayed me, I would.

But for now—she was mine.

[Elsewhere – Fallen Angel Headquarters]

A dark room.

A single man sat at a desk, spinning a chess piece between his fingers.

Azazel.

His golden eyes glowed in the dim light.

"So… Raynare failed," he murmured.

He leaned back, smirking.

"And instead of dying, she joined a devil's peerage?"

He chuckled.

"Now that's interesting."

His smirk widened.

"Maybe I should pay this new Sekiryuutei a visit."

End of Chapter 11