Living a new life is a challenging process. Imagine accidentally deleting a save file on your favorite video game and losing every single thing that you have accomplished. Well, that's what I'm going through right now. Let me tell you that it's no fun at all.
Fictional works often make isekai or reincarnation as something glorious. As a person who has been through it, I can say that it's a bunch of bullshit. Astonishing powers, magic, being born as a noble/royalty are pipe dreams that authors utilize to stimulate an audience's desire to escape the real world.
It's nothing like that, and me living alone in a broken-down cabin in the middle of the woods says a lot ... Wait, let me guess, you guys are confused on why I'm here? To answer that, I will tell you one of anime's biggest tropes, "Timeskip."
Surprise! It has already been four years since my birth, and a lot has changed.
First off, I haven't lived with my family since my second month in this world. It's kinda screwed up that they would basically desert a baby. But after learning that I was born human, I could see why. The majority of the Devil aristocrats despise humans and see them as a species beneath them. No wonder why my brothers and father looked at me like that. To them, I was a disgrace in the family that threatened their status as one of the 72 Pillars.
But how was that possible in the first place? Both my parents were high-ranking Devils, and the possibility of being human is close to impossible ... That would generally be the case, but I'm a transmigrator from another world. Who knows if my appearance changed everything. I mean, I already changed canon to a certain extent as I am sure that the Phenex family only had three sons.
I am slightly worried since I may no longer utilize my previous knowledge of this world. My existence here can derail future events and deviate from canon. At this point, I could care less. It seems like I'm just going to be a minor side character. I'm not going to lie, but I am satisfied with being on the sidelines. The only complaint would be my living conditions. However, I have dealt with worse in the past.
'Why only you?!'
'It's all your fault!'
... Why am I thinking of that now? I shook my head in an attempt to clear up my thoughts. Even in this new life, they're still here, haunting me. They just won't let me go, and funny enough, everything they said is true. Heh, I can't seem to catch a break.
A voice suddenly chimed in from behind me. "Young Master Rhys, your family is asking for your attendance in the manor." Oh, that's a surprise. It's been quite a while since I have been asked to go there. Realistically, I think more than three-quarters of the employees in our household think I am an urban legend. I rarely make an appearance as my family tends to ignore me.
I have to thank good old Dad for covering up the truth, so only a select number of people know of my existence. Wooohooo, what can I do without my family? They're one of the wealthiest Devils out there, and yet I'm getting treated more like a homeless person. If this were one of my student's families, I would've called child support services.
However, for me, I feel apathetic about the situation. I always knew that I deserved something like this. No way God would ever look kindly towards me, nor will I ever live a happy lifestyle. Some things are set in stone, and like my past life, no good ever comes out of it.
There's a saying that expectations breed disappointment. And I agree wholeheartedly. That's why I accept my fate.
Nothing comes with expecting anything for myself. The world is cruel, and hope is an overrated concept that people fail to understand. Hope stems from the notion of defeat. You can't have one without the other. In the end, you can't have hope without sacrifices.
"You can tell them that I will be over shortly." I replied without looking at the maid assigned to me. Don't get me wrong; I liked the woman since she took care of me since I started living here. She is the reason why I am still here today. But we aren't close or anything due to her always keeping her distance. And I had no problems with that.
The moment I finished my sentence, I felt her presence in the room vanish. It's still freaky how they do that. I know magic and stuff exist, but can't they at least make some noise when they walk. For the love of God, the wooden flooring in this cabin is terrible. It squeaks so much when I walk. How these Devils do it still amazes me every day?
I should probably get ready. I don't think my so-called family would appreciate it if I arrived too late. Stretching my arms, I can't help but sigh as I mentally prepare myself for what is yet to come. It couldn't be anything good.
"Your identity has been leaked out. More nobles now know of your existence." My father said, rubbing his temples with his fingers. Based on the weary tone of his voice, I guess the news is worse than I thought. Must be a rival of our family trying to besmirch our reputation in the Underworld.
Don't these Devils have better things to do? Hello, people! Issues like low population after the Great War and reincarnated Devils through Evil Pieces should be addressed. My status as a Devil-born human should be at the bottom of the barrel. No one should care about a minuscule existence like me.
I swear that Devils are idiots.
They claim that they're better than humans. But their actions say otherwise. These petty acts represent their human side. I understand that these creatures live by a code, Seven Deadly Sins. Despite that, Devils can't admit that humans are very similar as they embody these capital vices too.
No wonder Devil society has stagnated so much. They spend more time bickering within their ranks than fixing actual problems in their world. It reminded me of the Presidential debate in the United States between Biden and Trump. Instead of a civilized argument between two sides, I thought it was more like a well-written comedy skit that got some laughs.
"Are you even listening? Father's talking to you." A voice growled from the corner. Without even looking at him, I knew who he was. Riser ... the fuckboy that I can't stand. Hearing him talk makes me want to puke. No wonder Rias wanted out of her marriage. I wouldn't want to spend an entire lifetime with an man-whore like him. I hope Issei, this time around, beats the living crap out of him; to the point where his face is an ugly mess for life.
"Yes, brother. I am listening. Based on Father's words, I understand the situation we are in."
Riser seemed like he was about to say something dumb. Thank heavens that my father cut him off. Two sentences were enough for him. I'm scared that if he spoke anymore, his brain might shrink.
"Then, do you know what must be done?" His sharp gaze stared into mine. A bit of his power leaked out, testing my resolve.
"I'm assuming that I will have to make an appearance to the rest of Devil society." I said without hesitation. I'm not going to back down from this ass of a father who chose prestige over his son.
"It's not an ideal position for our family." I almost scowled at what he said. What family? Is this his way of telling a joke? I may have accepted my new life no matter how bad the conditions are. Regardless, it doesn't mean that I am willing to like or suck up to people like him. "I had dreaded this day, and I had hoped we had more time. But just as you said, we will have to introduce you as a member of our proud clan."
He talks as if that's the worst possible thing in the world. It's not like I wanted to be your son. I'm an outcast of this family, and you telling the world about me doesn't fix the past couple of years. So don't fucking speak as I owe you for this great 'honor' because that's bullshit.
"I'll do as you speak, father." I politely bowed, hiding my hostility. "May I be excused?" The faster I got out of here, the better. I don't belong, and going back to my secluded world in the middle of the woods is much more preferred.
He didn't even blink at my request. "Yes, you may. Make sure to remember that the Belial family is having a celebration next week. Your appearance is necessary at the event."
I nodded, giving the man one last look before I started walking towards the exit. On the way out, my other family members gave me mixed reactions. Riser and Rizel stared at me as if I was an insignificant being. The dirty looks on their face say enough about their opinion of me. Meanwhile, Ruval gave me an apologetic smile and waved at me. I returned the gesture since he was one of the only people that seemed to care for me.
The final person that my eyes fell upon was my mother. She remained the same after all this time. Even if my two brothers and father despise me, the way that she looked at me has never changed. She was a strong woman with a sense of commitment to her family. To her, it didn't matter if I was human. Rhys Phenex was her son, and nothing will convince her otherwise.
She ran up to me and embraced me. I still can't get used to it, but it was a strange yet warm feeling. I unconsciously smiled, melting into her arms.
'Get the fuck out of my house!'
'You're no son of mine!'
I pulled away in an instant. My breathing became shallow as it felt like I ran a marathon. Why did that person show up? It's been so long, and still, she is here to mess with me over and over again?
I don't know what type of face I was making, but the sad expression on my mother's face made me feel like shit. I had already caused her so many problems, and worrying her more was the last thing I wanted to do.
I tried my best to calm down, giving her a quick and respectful goodbye. I was gone right after, allowing no one to get in my way or talk to me. I don't know what the others thought about my minor breakdown, but I had always known I was a broken man.
Some objects are unfixable, and I am one of those things. Unlike many, I ... have seen hell. And no, I don't mean the Underworld that Devils reside in. Where I currently live is a hundred folds better than where I have been. From the pleas for help to the menacing figure similar to a Death God, a living nightmare was a tame way to explain what happened.
Three therapists and seven psychiatrists did nothing to erase my issues. Night terrors, panic attacks, and sometimes seizures happened regularly.
Being reincarnated/reborn hadn't helped with it at all. Why did I lose everything when I became Rhys Phenex, and my damn memory is the only thing that stayed with me? God, if you're going to give me a clean slate, at least do it correctly.
I must have zoned out. It only felt like a second, but I was suddenly back at the cabin.
I sighed and looked up at the purple sky. This was harder than I thought.
Standing in the corner of the ballroom, I watched as a crowd surrounded my family. I knew my family held a significant influence in the Underworld, but to this extent of almost being mobbed was surprising. Guess everyone wants to get their hands on Phoenix Tears.
I took a sip of the glass in my hand. The Belial party had been uneventful so far. So to sum everything up, I was forced into wearing this awful-looking suit and got introduced to everyone. Now, I got everyone staring at me as if I was a bug.
Alrighty, mission accomplished. Everything had gone to plan so far. I need to spend the next hour and a half staying out of the spotlight. No one seems to be batting an eye at me, and that's great. Maybe this is why my father introduced me at this specific party. The relationship between Phenex and Belial is quite strong, and nobody wants to mess with these two powerhouses of Devil society at the same time.
But all good things must come to an end. And I can thank Zephyrdor Glasya-Labolas for that. Damn it, give me a break already. Let me enjoy my orange juice in peace. I didn't even see him coming. He suddenly appeared out of nowhere with two of his lackeys. That cocky look on his face smelled like trouble.
"So, you're that damaged Phenex?" Ummm, was that supposed to be an insult? If you're going to ridicule someone, at the minimum, make the person feel offended. Take notes noob; this is the proper way to do things.
"And who are you again?"
Five words were all it took, and the man looked riled up. Wasn't this too easy? Someone needs to introduce this kid to some anger management classes.
"Shut it, you peasant!" Lackey #1 barked while Lackey #2 finished his remark. "This is the future heir of the Glasya-Labolas household you're speaking to." Zephyrdor looked so proud at his introduction. For a second, I thought his nose grew a couple of inches due to how retarded he looked. Maybe all that lying is making him the real-life version of Pinocchio.
The current heir to that household is definitely not him right now. I don't think Diodora has made his move yet, so it'll be years before this kid will become a significant figure.
"Well, aren't you the impolite bunch?" My voice sharpened, making me sound more authoritative. "Don't you guys understand the implications behind being rude to someone like me?"
The three of them gave me an idiotic look. Ughhh, no wonder this guy was trash. That's why he was well known ... Well known for becoming Sairaorg's punching bag.
I groaned. "Okay, let me dumb it down for you guys." I sound like a teacher lecturing his students. Or, in this case, a bunch of delinquents. A feeling of nostalgia hit, as it reminded me of my past job. "As you know, I am not your typical Phenex. News probably spread that I was different." I'm not going to mention anything about being a human cause that will give them more ammo to work with if they retort.
"But despite that, I'm still recognized as a member of the household. So if you're going to insult me, you might as well be trashing my entire family." They finally seem to get what I mean. Ha! Get frightened, you bastards. Karma is a bitch, and getting the short end of the stick is not a fun feeling. "I'll give you 30 seconds to get out of my face. If not, I'll make sure no Pheonix Tears reach your families." I paused for dramatic effect before finishing with the word, "ever."
In a heartbeat, the three of them scattered away like prey running away from the predator. I snickered at how they reacted. It was all a bluff since my father would do no such thing. No shot that the Phenex Patriarch would defend me, but no one has to know that.
A burst of laughter close to me brought me out of my thoughts. The person responsible walked towards me, and her long wavy gray hair and piercing gray eyes made her one of the stand-outs within the crowd. Seeing the clan symbol on her dress, I immediately knew who she was. Cleria Belial, the cousin of Diehauser Belial. Also renowned for becoming a tragic character who will play an integral part in unveiling one of the biggest conspiracies in Devil history. Why was a person of her stature talking to me?
"I'm assuming that you heard everything?" That's a little awkward. I was embarrassed pretending to be all serious and stuff. I had no problem if it was just Zephyrdor and his goons. But why did Cleria have to see it?
"That was quite some entertainment." She said, her tone laced with amusement. "I was bored this entire time, and Satan finally answered my call."
I don't know how I feel about her statement, but I'll take it as a compliment. She meant no harm, and she could probably beat the shit if I insulted her in any way.
"Glad that I was useful for something." I grumbled. Who would expect that I would become comedy relief? What next? Will I become a gag character like Kazuma from KonoSuba? Hopefully not, I don't want to be the type of person who would learn a skill to steal underwear.
Wait for a second! Let's back up slightly here. I am in the world of High School DxD. This place literally introduced stuff like 'Dress Break' and 'Booblingual'. So based on that logic, stealing underwear is most likely more than possible. What a scary world?
I shuddered at such a thought as I lightly shook my head. This world had fucked my head up more than I thought. I must be crazy if I spent time thinking about robbing undergarments. Ugh, I am starting to hate my mental state more and more.
Returning my full attention to Cleria, I just realized how tall she was. I know she was at least five years older than me, but it still sucked having to look up at her. I swear that the height difference will change in a couple of years. You can count on that.
"But what can I do for you, Miss Belial?" I asked, getting a raised eyebrow from here. Guess she did not expect me to be smart enough to deduce her identity. "I don't think you are here to talk to me just because I amused you."
"Aren't you a suspicious one? Can't you trust this pretty lady?" Can you blame me though? Everybody seems to be out to get me, and a small mistake could be fatal. Precautions are always necessary for me.
You might be beautiful, Cleria, but there is something called stranger danger.
"Uh-huh. Sounds counterproductive to trust a person that I've just met."
"Hmmm." She rested her right hand under her chin, almost as if she was deep in thought. "You do have a point there."
"I'd like to think so."
"Then how about this?" She clapped her hands together in an excited manner as she seemed like she had a great idea. "Let's get introductions in place."
Admittedly, I think her suggestion sounds dumb. I am 100% sure that she knew who I was. Cleria wasn't stupid, so she must have some hidden agenda.
But at the moment, her offer seemed like the best way to proceed. I nodded at her to signal that I was down for her idea.
"My name is Cleria Belial, and it's nice to meet you." She offered a handshake as she introduced herself.
"Likewise." I accepted her greeting and gesture by taking her hand. "Rhys Phenex at your service."
To the eyes of others, this conversation seemed normal. But for me, this was the start of everything. Meeting her was one of the best things that happened to me.
And losing her pushed me over the edge.
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you had a great time celebrating during this difficult time. With COVID ramping up again, remember to stay safe and protect your loved ones.
It took a little bit to write this chapter. I really struggled to balance out developing the main character and progressing the story. It's difficult to capture/write the image of a mentally unstable character while pushing the story along. Plus, I want to get to the parts when I begin to add the Fate stuff. I'm a huge fan of the Fate series, and as one of those people that play FGO, "GACHA IS LIFE." Just kidding. I do enjoy the game, but F2P is the way to go. I hope I'll update the story soon. I like the direction this story is going. I have a lot planned already.
I know I made and will make mistakes, but drop a review if you have any comments/criticism/etc. Thanks, guys!
