Life 1. Young Devils, gather!

Part 1

"So this is the Underworld, huh."

We just got to the Underworld, and this place is nothing like I imagined. I actually feel kinda comfy here, is it because I'm a Devil now?

"So, everyone remembers why we're here, right?"

"Yes, King."

"Ok, so let's go."

We're here because Lucifer-sama contacted us. Apparently, he wants to make a big announcement, and we have to be there.

After looking for a while, we finally found the palace where Lucifer-sama is.

"You're late, the conference is about to start."

"We really sorry for that, Lucifer-sama."

"At least you're here, come in, the rest is waiting for you."

The rest? Who is Lucifer-sama talking about?

When we go inside the palace, Silverage calls for us.

"Sweetie, we're here!"

He has Akai and Yami on his sides. I knew they were reincarnated as Devils, but I didn't expect to see them again anytime soon.

"How are you doing Rito?"

"Everything is fine Akai-senpai. I heard you're part of Shemhazai's Team now."

"I am, while Yami is on Armaros' Team."

"It's good to know that you're in Silverage's peerage, which means we will continue meeting."

"Yeah, and since our Kings are going to marry, we are going to stay close."

Both Akai and I look towards our Kings, who appear to be arguing about some minor thing again.

"So you're a member of Grigori too."

Rina starts talking in a seductive tone towards Akai, who tries to not make eye contact.

"Yes, an elite one."

"Fufufu, you look hot, I wonder how you would look without those clothes-"

"Rina stop."

"Sorry about that."

Ham and Mint take Rina away from Akai and me. She truly is a weird girl.

On her side, Yami and Xie Xie seen to be getting along, so I just continue talking with Akai.

"So, any idea why we're here?"

"Not at all, Silverage only told us that Lucifer-sama called for us and that his Queen was too busy to come."

So Silverage also has a Queen, huh, wonder who.

"Now, the conference will start."

As Lucifer-sama says that, an immense power comes out of him. It's clear he's doing this to ask for our attention, but I never felt a power this huge, even his silver hair is moving.

"I gathered you, 4 young Devils with great futures, to participate in a little game."

I mean, this man is one of the strongest beings in the existence, what he considers "a little game" may be a hard test even for an Ultimate-class.

"As you should know, Devils like you shouldn't be able to join a [Rating Game], however, you are four Devils of the next generation that have amazing abilities for your ages, that's why I want you to compete together before your debuts and increase your power. This is just a little game I called "[Rating Game] Tournament of the Youth", and you'll be the firsts to participate on it."

… Ehhhhhhhh?! Being able to be in a real [Rating Game]?! Is that what he said?!

"The system is simple: you will have a [Rating Game] against the other teams, with each victory being worth a point. By this logic, if you win 3 matches, you won, since only one can get 3 points. However, in case of a tie with 2 points, both Kings of said teams will pick one of their members to have face to face showdown, the one who wins that battle will get the tie-breaker point and thus the team said member belongs to wins."

So not only Silverage, but we will also have to face other 2 Devils? This sounds awesome!

"And in case you're asking, "but what does the winner win?", the winner of the tournament will have the change to have a [Rating Game] against my grandson, Price Lucifer."

Just as he said that, a magic circle appeared in front of Lucifer-sama, and a man with silver hair came out of it. It's Price Lucifer, a famous [Rating Game] player and an Ultimate-class Devil.

"Thanks for the introduction, Ossan, now, I'll enjoy playing a [Rating Game] against the winner team."

That voice is so recognizable…

"And thus, this conference is over, you'll find who your opponent is going to be when the time comes around."

After saying that, Lucifer-sama and Price disappeared on a magic circle.

"Any ideas who are the other two, Silverage?"

"No sweetie, but I remember seeing Tiffania in her way here, so maybe she's one."

As our Kings speculate about who are going to be our opponents, I interrupt their conversation to ask something.

"Excuse me, but, how was Silverage selected?"

As far as I understand, Silverage is not a pure-blooded Devil and doesn't come from the 72 Pillars, so how was he selected to participate here if Devils give so much importance to those factors?

"I forced them."

"What?"

"Some time ago, I wanted to join the [Rating Game] school, but wasn't allowed because I'm [Extra Demon] with human blood, so I told the teachers that I could beat them in a [Rating Game] if I wanted despite only having my Queen."

"And what happened?"

"He defeated them easily. He's considered the strongest young Devil for a reason."

The strongest young Devil?! Now that I think about, he was going toe-to-toe with Penemue-sama, but that means we have to face someone of that level?!

"Well, since there's nothing more to do here, we're leaving. Akai, Yami, let's go."

"It was nice to see you again Rito."

"Yeah, Akai-senpai."

"And remember: when our teams face off, I'll be your opponent."

"I wouldn't want it to be in any other way."

And just like that, we leave the place to return to our houses. Now we just have to find a way to defeat Silverage and the other young Devils.

Part 2

"Well, we need to find a way to train to be able to defeat Silverage and the others, any ideas?"

Ram asks that to us, so Mint soon raises his hand.

"The most generic way of training is facing against our problems from the past."

We all look at him, since everybody knows he doesn't like speaking about his family, which means that he must have problems with them.

"Oh no, I'm not going first!"

"Come on Mint, seeing your sister again would be nice."

"Wait, Mint has a sister?"

"And a brother, his family is rather important because-"

"Don't say it!"

Mint seems pretty panicked, but Ham continues his explanation anyway.

"Look at his shoulder; he has the Royal Crest of the Borrow family."

I always noticed that weird red tattoo Mint has, but, Royal Crest?

"Fine, I'll say it: I'm a Fairy, the Fairy Prince to be exact."

What? Or rather, what?!

"What?!"

"I abandoned my family when I became a Devil, so I don't know if they would accept me."

"No, that isn't the shocking part, the shocking is that you're a Fairy. I mean, yes, you're short, but weren't Fairies like super small?"

"For the record, to us, you're super big."

"Yes, yes, semantics, I get it. But how are you this tall?"

"Turn around."

When I look back, Ham throws his eye patch, showing his right eye. He has a really weird pattern on it.

"This is my [Sacred Gear], [Dimension Change], it allows me to alter the 3 dimensions perceived by the eye. I only need to see something to be able to change it."

"It should take a while for it to do what you did with Mint."

Ham takes an object out his pocket. It is an eraser.

"Want to prove it? Just take this eraser and put it on the floor."

I do as Ham says, leaving it close to me.

"Now blink."

Just as he said, I blink, but as soon as I open my eyes, the others are nowhere to be seen.

"Where did you go?"

I turn to the right, and see the shocking truth. The eraser from a moment is now almost of my size!

Soon after, I feel the earth shaking! When I turn around, a weird brown giant thing is on my side! Even worst, when I look up, I can see what that thing is: Mint's shoe. I don't even get to his ankle!

"Who is the super small now?"

Soon after that, Mint returns to his normal size, or rather, I do.

"Well, it was good while it lasted."

"So, let's head to Mint's house, Ginger and Lavender will be happy to see their brother again."

As Ham says that, Mint creates a magic circle with a pattern I've never seen before, probably from his family, and teleport us to where his house is.