Next Life. The Devil of Grigori

Part 1

3 months have passed since our decisive battle with the Seven Sins, and we were transported to the territory of the Glasya-Labolas clan. And by "we", I mean Ham, Mint, Akai and I.

This is something that has been discussed for over a year for Ham and Mint, and something Azazel-sama told Akai and I shortly after our battle with the Seven Sins. We're here to be promoted to Middle-class Devils.

"I must say it's amazing for you guys, who have been Devils for only 5 months, getting promoted so soon."

Ham says that to Akai and I. Well, he's right; it'll normally take many years for a Low-class Devil to be promoted.

"Our performance on the battle against the Seven Sins has a lot to do with it."

"Akai is right. In fact, Denpachi and Nicolas told me that, if I keep doing faithfully the tasks given to me by Azazel-sama, I may be able to become an elite member of Grigori before the year ends."

Well, since we're on September, that means I'll be promoted to elite member in less than 3 months from now. Mint looks at me after I said that.

"What can I say? As expected from The Devil of Grigori."

… He said it! For the first time, someone other than myself has called me by that name!

"Rito, are you crying?"

"Don't worry, Akai, these are tears of joy."

After that joyful talk with my best friends, we finally arrived at the place we wanted to come to: the test stadium.

"Welcome, you must the members of [Team Morning Star] who were going to participate on today's test, right? Please show me something to identify yourselves."

Ham, Mint and I showed him a seal with the Phenex clan symbol, while Akai showed one with the Lucifuge clan symbol. Even when Silverage is a member of the Phenex clan now, he was allowed to keep using the Lucifuge clan symbol as a special exception granted to him thanks to his influence.

"Follow this way, please."

We followed the guide through a corridor made from rocks. Eventually, we arrived at the reception area, which had a couple windows and other test participants talking to the receptionist.

"At the reception area over there, please take the required documents along with the admission ticket for the test. After you are done with that, please go to the floor upstairs, where the written test will be held. The first part of the test will be the written section, while the second part will be practical."

Well, I was explained of that beforehand by Goldentime, who had already approved this test sometime in the past.

"Please hand your report to the examiners, who are standing in front of the room, for the written section of the test."

The report refers to a written essay about a famous Devil. As Lucifer-sama told me it would look like a joke if I wrote about him because it would be an extreme cliché, and since the other cool Devil were taken (Akai took Lucifuge-san, Mint took Asmodeus-sama and Ham took Nebiros-san), I ended up writing about Satanachia-san.

"Then I will pardon myself. I hope you do well."

The one who welcomed us left the place after saying that. I just hope my report is up to the expectations, given I chose a sex symbol of the Underworld. When we went to take the documents we would need to fill for our test, suddenly, Akai stopped us. It's weird of him to ruin a protocol, I wonder what he wants.

"I want to tell you something. No matter what happens from today onwards, we'll never leave the Phenex clan. The four of us, we're going to represent that clan as Middle-class Devils from now on, so I want you to promise me that we'll always be together."

"Well, Ram helped me after I lost my family, so I owe her everything I have now. For that reason, I promise I'll never leave the Phenex clan."

"Losing my throne as the Fairy King doesn't matter now, because what I gained with you has way more value than that. For that reason, I promise I'll never leave the Phenex clan."

"When I was a weakling at Grigori, I believed I'll never be able to safe anyone or achieve anything; but thanks to you, I've become strong, so now I'm able to protect other people and achieve everything I ever wanted to. For that reason, I promise I'll never leave the Phenex clan."

After we joined our hands with those promises, we headed towards the third floor, and entered a room with long desks aligned. After we sat down, the examiner entered the room and began collecting the reports. We gave our reports to the examiner

"It's time. Please start."

After the examiner said that, we finally started our promotion test!

Part 2

"That wasn't hard at all… in fact, it was pathetically easy."

Mint said that in a disappointed tone. We finished the practical part of the test already, and Mint's description of what happened is perfect. Despite the written part wasn't hard thanks to my studies in mythology, the practical part was beyond easy.

Thanks to my Holy Lightning – Dragon, Akai's Fallen Angel light, Mint's [King's Spear] and Ham's 300 Blows Technique, we ended up winning our matches on the first move. In fact, since the entirety of Ham's battle happened on stopped time, he has the record for the shortest battle, as he won on less than 1 second.

"Well, at least we can be sure we passed the test."

"You're right, Rito. Now we only need to wait for it to become official."

As Ham said that, we saw two familiar faces. They're a young man with blue hair and a girl with silvery white hair; our beloved Kings who are couple, Ram Phenex and Silverage Lucifuge Phenex. Behind them are the Phenex peerages.

"How did you find us so quickly?"

"I came here before when Goldentime became a Middle-class Devil, so I know the way."

Silverage answers my question with the most logical answer. On her part, Ram gets close to me.

"I'm so proud of you, not only defeating my uncle, but also gaining Lucifer-sama's recognition."

"Please, Ram, you don't need to fake it any longer. You can call Lucifer-sama by the name you call him in private in front of us."

Now that the seal on her back has been released, Ram is unable to hide her true nature as a Lucifer. As such, I don't see any point on her hiding it to us anymore.

"Sure, I'm sure Lucifer-ojiisan would want it that way too."

After that, Mint summoned [King's Spear] for no apparent reason. If it was to catch our attention, he nailed it. As Mint appeared to want to start a speech, we paid attention to his words.

"Guys, I normally don't like talking about my feelings, but I want to tell you something important to me: my dream. I… I want to become a High-class Devil, and I want all of you, Ham, Akai and Rito, to be with me, to work with me, to fight with me! If we want to together forever, this is the best way!"

So Mint's dream… is to become our King. A proper dream for a prince, one could say.

"You're my best friend, so I'll follow you wherever you go."

"Thanks, Ham. I knew you'll say that."

"I was the one who proposed us to be together, so if this is the way it must be, I accept."

"Thanks, Akai. Even when you had no other choice, it's nice to hear you're actually willing to accept."

After those two decided to help Mint to accomplish his dream, the trio looked back at me.

"And what's you answer, Rito?"

Being asked this important question, whose answer will change my destiny forever, I spoke my truest feelings.

"Everybody needs someone to follow, someone to look up to. That's what a leader is. After all, the world needs order, laws, and someone who can manage those; only this way, the balance of justice and equality can be maintained. For those reasons, everybody needs a leader. And those people who don't need them, those people who don't need someone else to manage law and order, those people who don't need someone else to maintain the balance of the world, those people are the ones who become leaders. Azazel-sama, Lucifer-sama, Ram, all of them has been my leaders, so I want you to be my new leader, Mint, since I'll be willing to serve you as your Pawn."

With those words taken from the bottom of my heart, Mint started crying.

"Thanks, Rito. Your words mean a lot to me. I'll do my best to become the greatest leader you have ever seen."

After wiping the tears from his eyes, Mint looked at us once more while pointing [King's Spear] on our direction.

"Then, what about having a battle right now? Those weaklings from the test left me a bad taste of my mouth."

Ham put on fighting stance, Akai took out his sword, and I summoned [Destiny Deck].

" "Sure!" "

"Oh, I'll join in too!"

Silverage, holding his long Dragon Slayer sword, came to our side, clearly decided to fight against us! Then, we heard a deep and manly voice arriving at the place.

"Sachiel told me you were here, but I didn't expect this development."

The people who appeared were no other than Tatsuya alongside Tenshi-kun! As Tenshi-kun got close to the rest of the Phenex peerages, Tatsuya got close to us.

"However, as an Angel who is a pious servant of God, fighting against Devils and members of Grigori is my daily work, so I'll join this battle with my friends too."

Tatsuya then created a light spear to join our battle! Yeah, this is us! Our group! Only a few are able to fight at our level!

Tenshi-kun, Rina, Xie, Haruka, María, Jin, Yami, Kaihaku, Tsubasa, Nero and Goldentime face palm at the same time looking at our behaviour. You're my friends, but these people who are fighting against me are my best friends!

"These boys… they will never change."

As Ram sighed towards our actions with those words, we charged at each other to have a proper fight!

Seven Sins – End