I sincerely apologize for the lack of updates over the past two years. During this time, I've been immersed in an intensive process of learning the English language, which allowed me to enhance my communication skills in this language. Additionally, the global pandemic has also impacted my routine and availability, presenting unexpected challenges in my ability to stay up to date. I appreciate your patience and understanding as I worked on improving my abilities and dealt with the changing circumstances. I'm excited to continue with this story and make it understandable for you. While English is not my native language, it's no excuse to provide subpar work. Without further ado, enjoy the chapter.


Chapter 3: The beginning oath

Kaneki had left school, and to say he had a strong migraine was an understatement. He was acutely aware that he had been discovered by the last person he would have suspected. Obviously, he knew that carelessness had its consequences, and this lapse was coming back to haunt him. Sometimes things could slip your mind when you had a lot of work to do. His inconsiderate mistress had him fill colossal mountains of papers about any nonsense that happened at school, and he couldn't refuse. After all, Sona had convinced Azazel to provide him with his special sustenance. Anyone might think it was a kind gesture, but the harsh reality was different. Unfortunately, in the world of mortals and the underworld, things were the same. Everything had a price, and nothing was free, which affected demons even more, of course.

And now the idea of having to endure Serafall's idiocy all through Saturday echoed within the walls of his skull, mocking and surpassing at intervals his threshold of pain, a symptom far more intense than what they commonly called a migraine. The former investigator brought a hand to his temple: his eyes burned even by just glimpsing the clear sky with the sun at its peak, since he had spent the whole damn night in the student council room doing paperwork left and right. Sona wasn't stupid; despite her young age, she knew perfectly well how to make deals and how to get the most out of those negotiations, something she had learned well by practicing her profession as a teacher at Kuoh during this period of time. You could say that the young girl had found a way to punish the ghoul for his rebellious behavior, and that frustrated him greatly.

Surely, many would wonder how he could leave early. Two hours ago, his new mistress came in with good news: there were no documents to review or sign for the entire morning session, and he only had one class to teach, unfortunately, it was in the classroom where that brat with the sealed "welsh dragón" But what did it matter! He would only focus on giving his class and getting out of here as soon as possible. Definitely, things like this were something that, for a person as busy as him, was reason enough to celebrate.

And that's how our dear Kaneki had left the damn school to get a breath of fresh air and avoid having to see the faces of the bunch of idiots he had as classmates. However, there was another of his headaches, many were excited that this was going to be a great weekend, but that wasn't the case for the ghoul. As mentioned before, he had to spend mandatory "quality" time with a certain Maou. He tried to forget about it for now and just continued on his way.

"Is this a joke? Still don't have the money?" He abruptly stopped walking and observed what was happening in one of the many apartment complexes that lined the route he used to go home.

Ken could see his coworker's face overflowing with concern and a hint of fear. He looked at a chubby man who was reproaching her for something; his tone was despotic, and he wasn't being kind to her. There was something that prevented him from standing idly by in the scene he was witnessing right now; he had to intervene. Although a part of him refused to help the valkyrie because he was the servant of the other "annoyance" that bothered him sometimes.

"Give me the keys!" ―Demanded the man, raising his hand, his gaze betraying annoyance with dealing with Rossweisse.

The valkyrie didn't know what to do; this was her apartment, and if she was kicked out, she wouldn't have anywhere else to rent. Interestingly, her mistress had provided her with accommodation, of course within the Sekiryuutei's house, but if there was something that characterized Rossweisse, it was the fact that she was quite conscious of her professionalism. Another part found it improper for a group of young girls to live with a single boy, so with a firm no, she decided to try her luck on her own. No one warned her that the prices for renting a reasonably decent apartment were very high in that city.

It took her nearly a whole week to find that place at a reasonable price. The problem was that her payment had been delayed due to issues at the school.

"B-but s-sir, I'll p-pay you t-tomorrow, I swear" the valkyrie tried to convince the man in vain – There was an issue with my job, and they will give me the paycheck tomorrow.

"GIVE IT TO ME NOW!" ―the apartment owner was assertive in his demand "I don't have time to waste with delinquent people like you!"

Rossweisse was on the verge of tears, something the ghoul observed quite well. It was a feeling he shared with her and knew all too well: the feeling of helplessness, the helplessness of not being able to do something in the face of injustice. Unconsciously, his mind wandered to a few yesteryears back, specifically remembering the day his aunt had adopted him when his mother had passed away, which, by the way, that wretched woman had dared to kick him out of her house because she made her useless cousin who did nothing but play video games look like an idiot. And that hurt him a lot because he had worked hard to get good grades to show how grateful he was. If it weren't for Hide, he would have spent the night sleeping on a park bench, and now that the scene was repeating itself, he felt the need to help her. Seeing his own reflection in the silver-haired woman, he decided to throw caution to the wind and intervene.

"Don't do it" Just as Rossweisse was about to hand over the keys, she saw her fellow teacher approaching with that neutral expression on his face and that carefree stride.

"What the hell did you say, bastard?" ―The apartment owner said, looking at the black-haired man with hatred, while the latter completely ignored him - "Mind your own business!"

"You don't have to give him anything, in fact, he has no right to throw you out like this," Kaneki said as he held his hand with the apartment keys, causing her to put them back in her pocket.

Of course, she was stunned because she didn't expect this behavior from her colleague. Ken nodded calmly, calming the nerves and fear the young teacher felt at the moment. Naturally, this act of interference infuriated the man to the point where he grabbed Kaneki's shirt in not very pleasant terms.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" ―The man displayed his strength, slightly lifting Sona's Tower of a man―. Do you want to get into serious trouble?

What you're saying is complete nonsense, in summary; bullshit," Kaneki replied apathetically, showing that he was not intimidated.

Amid the commotion, a group of people was paying attention to the quarrel happening there. The valkyrie was surprised by what the ghoul was doing, who simply continued to speak.

First of all, you can't evict one of your tenants abruptly. Kuoh's housing law stipulates that you must give a 72-hour notice for the tenant to have time to pack their things. But I bet you didn't know that because you don't strike me as the type who reads," despite the man being older and physically stronger, holding him by the shirt hadn't fazed Kaneki in the slightest. "Not to mention that you're violating an important law. I see there's also some unethical behavior on your part. The witnesses who have observed how you treat the young lady next to me will support my claim. You can imagine the possible consequences when the police find out about this little incident." He smiled slyly, making the man nervous. "Who knows, you could lose your job, and perhaps your wife will leave you for the third time."

The man's demeanor changed radically; he had a grimace of clenched teeth, not out of anger but of fear and shame. How could that brat know about his personal life? Meanwhile, Rossweisse covered her mouth with her hand due to the revelation. With nothing more to argue and visibly defeated by Kaneki's blackmail, he chose the most prudent option and let him go.

"Well, maybe I can reconsider and turn a blind eye if you agree to let the lady pay you tomorrow," the voice Kaneki projected at that moment was as intimidating as possible. "Do you agree?"

"Alright... I... I'll wait for payment tomorrow!" the man grumbled in resignation.

The chubby apartment owner made his way through the crowd that had gathered around the three of them. Once the argument was over, Rossweisse's legs gave way under her own weight, an action that did not go unnoticed by the now literature teacher, who simply sighed when he saw how violently the young woman was trembling from the shock of being evicted.

"Come on, it's not that bad," Ken bent down slightly, extending his hand to help her up. "Take my hand, please."

"Th-thank you very much, Kaneki-san!" A bright smile adorned Rossweisse's beautiful face.

Ken felt a slight pang in his heart when he noticed the genuine gesture that the young valkyrie was giving him at that moment. Part of him felt good sensing Rossweisse's honest feelings, but the other part told him that he had to maintain appearances and distance since he had other objectives in mind. And a problem on his hands.

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Sona's second tower lay sprawled on his bed, contemplating whether he should even bother getting up. There were no classes today, yet despite living in Kuoh for some time, he still hadn't gotten used to the infernal cold in that old apartment that his "mistress" had kindly arranged for him some time ago. While life in Kuoh wasn't necessarily better than in the Tokyo districts, he could at least consider himself fortunate to have a place where he could be at peace and alone without any students bothering him.

When he began his career as a teacher and serving Sona with certain tasks, curious neighbors knocked on his door one day. They took a look at the reaper and to break the ice, they dared to ask about his family, what he did, whether he worked or studied, and especially if he was single... In short, they bombarded him with countless questions to the point where he grew tired of the intrusive neighbors. He decided to dismiss them with no tact or courtesy whatsoever, and from there, the whole neighborhood hated him for being a jerk in every sense of the word... And rightly so, since later on, he analyzed what had gone wrong and figured that not being in his apartment much and being one of the tenants who always paid their rent on time must have aroused suspicions, or well, at least in that twisted society he was living in, it seemed that way.

He glanced at the calendar hanging in one of the upper corners of the room just to confirm the day. He had a slight suspicion about the date, but he wanted to verify his worst fears.

"Talk about my luck," the ghoul thought, bringing both hands to his face in a clear sign of distress. If there was something he hated more than giving explanations to people who had no business meddling in his affairs, it was what that date brought with it. "Can't things get any worse?" he thought with annoyance, dragging the words out with disdain. To top it off, Serafall had told him, or rather ordered him, to meet at one of the metro stations.

He got up slowly from the bed and, out of inertia, let himself fall back again, showing his enthusiasm for the event he was being invited (forced) to attend.

"She said today was going to be a very special day," he said to himself mentally, looking at the calendar on his wall again, and he ended up giving himself an unpleasant answer. "Crap."

He cursed under his breath as he got up again and walked towards the small window in his apartment. Outside, he could observe how life itself had a peculiar course. Cars, as always, were jammed due to the excessive traffic in the city. People were walking calmly down the streets, which surprised him a bit since they were usually in a hurry. He glanced at the clock hanging above a small bedside table and saw the time: 11:00 a.m.

"No wonder" he thought before looking back outside, trying to forget about the appointment he would have in a little while.

As he headed to his closet to find something to wear, he gave a brief glance to the wooden dresser beside it. He knew that a giant mansion was just a few meters away; he assumed that's where the guy named Issei lived, who by the way turned out to be a complete annoyance. He stared at the colossal mansion for a while. Apparently, his mistress cared a lot about him to build that mansion, but he didn't care much as he had other concerns. Once he found suitable clothing, he headed to the bathroom to take a shower. As he came into contact with the cold water droplets falling from the showerhead, he let out a few curses. While it was true that today was going to be a shitty day with all that the particular day entailed, he consoled himself with the idea that at least Sunday would be a peaceful afternoon.

"Mou, I don't know what to choose... Ken-chan, should I go with the green or the yellow one?" – The Maou asked with an innocent smile, which, by the way, managed to get on the ghoul's nerves.

Kaneki just wanted to go home once and for all. To make matters worse, they had been in that damn cosplay store for over two hours, and she still couldn't decide which dress to buy. To Ken's torture, the Maou would also buy the accessories for the magical girl that had been released two weeks ago, which would easily take another two hours or more.

"Why don't you just take both dresses and be done with it?" He sighed with annoyance while watching Serafall, who was very focused on trying on the dresses in front of the mirror.

"It's because you don't understand," she pouted childishly, to which the black-haired young man raised an eyebrow. "You have to choose the right dress, the colors must stand out, and I also want to buy Miru Miru's magic wand, so the dress must match the occasion. Do you understand?"

Kaneki sighed wearily, massaging his temples as he typically did during these last few days of impending migraines.

"no, I don't get it," Kaneki said dryly, to which Serafall looked at him as if he had insulted something sacred.

Serafall was genuinely offended. How was it possible that this young man was not moved by the majesty of Miru Miru? Anyway, that's why she was here. She had hopes of making Sona's servant see the light, even if she had to tie him to a chair and force him to watch her private collection of magical girls.

"You're hopeless, but don't worry, Sera-chan will make you see the light!" – The last comment made the ghoul sweat profusely, magically changing his expression.

"The yellow one looks better," he said, trying to sound friendly and not as exasperated as he did a few minutes ago.

Serafall seemed to contemplate it for a few minutes, and that's when she discreetly smiled, noticing the good taste of her new butler... um, servant to her sister.

"Actually, on second thought, I'll take the green one!" – Laughing like a child, she ran to the fitting room. "By the way, don't you dare spy on me... heh!" – She said, winking.

He sighed with exhaustion and went to one of the couches to sit for a moment to collect his thoughts. However, he didn't count on another guy spotting the same seat. Noting the guy's perverse intentions, he gave him a cold look that made the young man who was trying to steal his seat reconsider.

"Get lost, the girl I'm with is looking for a dress that suits her, and that's going to take a long time," he said sinisterly, leaving the guy speechless. "Find another place."

Nodding in fear, the guy disappeared from there in a matter of seconds. Sighing tiredly, he sat in the small armchair and massaged his temples. This day was going to be very long. While he waited, he began to recall the first days at his new job.

*Flashback*

Since he was reborn, he never thought that in order to blend in, he would have to work as a teacher. He also didn't expect his new master to be so attentive. Despite the fact that in their first encounter, he threatened to kill her, it was unusual to receive so much attention from Sona Sitri. Even in the CCG, they didn't go to such lengths with him. To be precise, Sona practically arranged everything for him to be able to teach. He tried not to wonder how she managed to get him on the staff, but as the young heiress sought perfection in all aspects, she made him sign a proper contract. When he saw the salary he would receive for teaching... he simply couldn't refuse.

You can hear the whispers of all the students when something new happens. For Rias and her group, this wasn't novel, as all the members of the Gremory group knew about any school matters before they became public.

"Hey, good-for-nothings, did you hear the good news?" – Aika asked the trio of perverts who, as always, were arguing about any nonsense (i.e., a woman's best attributes). "It's said that a new literature teacher is coming today, and the best part is that he's under 23 years old."

Issei knew perfectly well who they were talking about. He hated the guy, considering him a true enemy to defeat, even more so than the White Dragon Emperor. He was irked by that excessively cold and deliberately disdainful attitude toward others. But what irked him the most was not being able to do anything about it. After all, he was still a low-class devil, and his opponent was on a different level of power.

However, his frustration disappeared instantly due to the shameless comment made by the girl with glasses.

"I wonder how big his manhood is. You know what I mean, right? Will it be 'big' or 'small'?" – She emphasized by making a gesture of separating both index fingers and bringing them together as if measuring something.

Matsuda spewed his entire drink onto Issei's face, who didn't react despite the sticky liquid on his face from the unbelievable comment. Motohama dropped his half-eaten sandwich.

"YOU'RE SICK!" – The three of them shouted in unison, quite horrified.

"Sick? Me? HA! Don't compare me to you good-for-nothings," Aika was greatly offended as she dramatically touched her chest.

But then she limited herself to smiling with marked cynicism, something quite characteristic of her. She wasn't depraved; she just had a hyperactive imagination like any 17-year-old girl. In fact, she didn't understand why some people compared her to those three idiots who would never be able to take a woman to bed even if their lives depended on it. No, sir! She wasn't a pervert. Saying that she had a vision that allowed her to see men's manhoods wasn't something a pervert would say. Of course not! It was something special, almost prophetic, a power granted by the very biblical god. Therefore, she had to bring it to its full potential.

Unaware of the quartet's conversation, the rest of the whispering continued around the school.

"Is it true that a very young teacher is coming?" – One of the girls commented loudly, drawing a group's attention.

"I'm telling you, it's true," another student confirmed with pride.

"Is he handsome? Is it true that he's under 22? Is he coming from a foreign country?" – All these questions were the topic of conversation in Issei Hyoudou's class, who simply limited himself to grumble annoyed. That didn't catch anyone's attention as all the students in the classroom mimicked his action.

"I heard that his next class will be with the student council president!" – And again, the girls squealed with excitement, with a loud and resounding "Kya!"

It was around nine in the morning, and in the hallways, a young man with hair as black as the night was approaching. His eyes were silver, like freshly minted silver medallions, bright and intense enough to almost hypnotize you. He wore reading glasses that gave him a more mature and intellectual air, capturing the attention of the young ladies who started fantasizing about private tutoring sessions. Everyone watched his elegant walk while he read a book, but above all, what stood out the most were his gloves, white with the Sitri family crest on the back. Despite being the center of attention, the situation went unnoticed by the literature teacher, as he was engrossed in his reading. He continued on his way to the teachers' lounge without bumping into anyone. He stood in front of the door that led to the Sekiryuutei's classroom.

Upon entering, he once again heard a second, even louder "Kya!" He made sure he was finally alone and couldn't help but roll his eyes. If there was something Kaneki hated, it was noisy and annoying people, like those naive and clumsy female students in the hallway. After his personality had been definitively defined during the "awakening" of that "dream," he began to see things quite differently. Life had taught him through blows and mistreatment that adults acted like children and children acted like idiots. But if you asked him, he would definitely prefer to be a child. He would never understand adults, after all.

"Well, well," the unofficial member of the perverted trio licked her lips when she noticed the presence of her new teacher. "I never imagined that his size would be quite impressive."

After discussing for ten minutes, Aika touched her shiny glasses while keeping in her mental file the part that her miraculous divine instrument would have managed to scan, a size like that would not have equal, of that she was sure. And once again the trio of perverts are so horrified, feeling that their eyes were bleeding when they saw the look of lust that the brunette had at this moment.

"Mou, it's always the same" Rossweisse mentally complained. "There's not much of interest here". She thought with disappointment as all she managed to see was a group of students carrying materials from one place to another and many teachers giving instructions.

Apparently, a festival would be celebrated in a few days. As if her wish were heard by Odin himself, her attention was caught by the new literature teacher entering while reading the book called "Dear Kafka," which happened to be the first best-seller of one of her nightmares' girls. The valkyrie didn't waste time and observed him with great curiosity; a behavior so characteristic of the former investigator, he walked by without caring about the people there, as if no one existed.

"Good morning, Kaneki-san!" —The silver-haired woman greeted her new colleague politely.

"Good morning, Rossweisse-sensei". "The former investigator greeted with calmness "Thank you very much for helping me yesterday"

Fortunately, there were no other teachers present except the two of them, otherwise there would have been a big commotion due to the double entendre in those words. Taking a deep breath, he closed his book abruptly and began to prepare for his next class, which, to his annoyance, was going to be with his group's leader. Once he finished his preparations, he glanced at his watch and noticed he still had ten minutes before his class started. Being the avid book lover he was, he reopened the book at the page he left off, just a few pages away from finishing chapter 5.

On the other hand, Rossweisse watched in awe as the new teacher meticulously prepared everything. The valkyrie timidly approached the ghoul, wondering if her explanation from the night before had been good enough, as his presence was quite imposing. However, he was so engrossed in his reading that he didn't even notice her.

"Uh, I'm s-sorry, I hope I'm not bothering you with my presence". —She apologized, looking somewhat embarrassed as she bowed as a form of apology —But if you still have any questions, you can tell me now?

She waited for five seconds, but there was no response from the black-haired teacher, which made her impatient.

"I guess... not" —She tried to smile to appear friendly in the situation—. I think I'll just stay for one more minute since my classes will start soon...

Kaneki made a slight movement with his long fingers and turned the page of the book. He continued reading.

"Uwa, uwa, Buaaaaaaaa! Has he even heard me at all?" The emotional valkyrie cried mentally, apparently, she had offended the boy quite a bit. That's when she realized why he was giving her the cold shoulder "Buaaaaa, buaaaa, Is he mad at me?"

Ken Kaneki diverted his attention from his reading to focus on the nervous teacher who had surprised him the night before when she appeared in the middle of his apartment looking visibly busy.

When Rias Gremory kindly ordered her to help the new literature teacher adapt to the teaching methods of the Kuoh Academy, Rossweisse agreed without objection. However, no one informed her that it would be all in one night. When they were alone in the apartment Sona had assigned to Kaneki, she felt truly intimidated by his presence and the scrutiny imposed by his gaze.

Trying to keep her composure, Rossweisse took a deep breath and took the silence as a cue to keep talking. She had promised herself that she wouldn't show any signs of weakness in front of a man no matter what.

"I-I don't think we had much time to get to know each other well... you know, because we were working on the curriculum plan yesterday. But now that we're in a different situation, I hope we can... get along?" —She extended her hand to show her politeness, although it was clear that she was on the verge of tears. Nonetheless, Kaneki continued to gaze at her intently "I truly apologize if I offended you."

Only then did Rias' tower light blue eyes lift. She felt the air escape her, and once again destiny showed her in the cruelest way that she might not be capable of getting a boyfriend. But why did this happen to her? Was it some sort of bad omen or curse? The fact that this question wouldn't be answered by Odin himself cut deep within her, really affecting her. Kaneki shook his head.

"You didn't offend me" The former investigator sighed wearily "I'm just finalizing the last details for my class, I apologize if I ignored you"

"Etto.. Are you serious?" —Rossweisse's voice trembled as she tried to confirm what she heard.

"It's true" —Kaneki responded calmly— "I knew this school was demanding, but not to this extent"

"I see..." —Rias' tower smile was nervous. "But I'm sure you'll manage to adapt"

They spent the night awake as the valkyrie put in her best effort to make sure Ken understood the school's teaching method. The young Rias' Tower noticed that her initial impression of her new co-worker was fading, and Ken found Rossweisse's company quite pleasant. Perhaps the factor that helped was that they had gotten to know each other in different circumstances.

"I guess, or rather I should" —The young ghoul approached her to take the reference books when his watch indicated the time for classes to begin "I must go now, and thanks again"

Rossweisse observed the whole process in astonishment. The elegance with which he moved was somewhat unnatural, his stoicism was quite pronounced. She couldn't understand the warnings her mistress had given her about being careful around this person. Ignoring all of that, the young woman had been as friendly as possible.

Kaneki entered the classroom with a sense of indifference, but everyone seemed to be well-behaved, and they more or less understood why the students weren't causing a ruckus, unlike in other classrooms. Once again, they met, teacher and student, mistress and servant. Sona had the habit of being quite demanding and energetic, reprimanding any member of her peerage if they made any mistakes. But for Kaneki, receiving orders from a 17-year-old girl was humiliating.

Why did I even accept this job?... —The black-haired man muttered with a darkened voice, knowing he needed to behave for the sake of his missing friends.

The students stopped talking when they saw the new literature teacher, who left his portfolio on the desk and began taking out markers to use on the whiteboard. They all remained silent, and a slight blush appeared on almost all the girls' faces. He was handsome and projected an intellectual image through his clothing. Kaneki had to admit that his "master" was aware that dressing appropriately would create an excellent first impression. With his gaze, he scanned the third-grade classroom, noting the presence of both Sona and Tsubaki. The former maintained an expectant but well-concealed demeanor, while the latter scrutinized him meticulously, as if she expected her fellow Rook to lose control at the slightest provocation.

"Very well" He spoke slowly, while taking out the reference book and reading the topic planned for today. He closed the book and placed it next to his portfolio—. "As you may have noticed, I am the new literature teacher at this school"

Absolute silence. No one said anything; his soft tone of voice made several of the female students present pay more attention than they had originally planned. Sona and Tsubaki both showed slight surprise at the sudden change in the atmosphere. For a moment, both demonesses thought that the person in front of them was completely different from the one they had seen the day before. Kaneki hid the mocking smile he wanted to flash at the two young ladies; he was a professional. Of course, his entire career had been based on a fictional setting, but as an investigator for the CCG, he had learned how to deal with people, especially using masks to deceive them.

"Let's start with something simple. The topic we will cover today is Homer's Epic."—Kaneki said with a friendly smile and a tone of voice that showed enthusiasm.

It was evident that a few students found this enthusiasm a bit strange. The heiress of the Sitri Clan was completely baffled by how someone like Kaneki seemed to be putting effort into his profession, as she would swear that the boy didn't like the idea of being a high school teacher and would prefer to be reading a book rather than teaching. However, despite her feelings, the role of a teacher suited him very well.

Before Kaneki could continue with his class, a girl raised her hand. Like hunting birds, all the girls fixed their gazes on the brave one who raised her hand.

"Um, we still don't know your name, sir." —Kaneki was surprised by this oversight and scratched his head apologetically.

"You're right; I forgot that detail." Taking a brief pause, Sona's tower inhaled deeply and then exhaled significantly to stay focused "jkhbMy name is Kaneki Ken, and starting today, I will be your literature teacher. Please address me as Kaneki-sensei.

The girl nodded slowly, while the rest of the students paid close attention to the now-familiar Kaneki-sensei, who began writing on the whiteboard the topic they were going to discuss.

"As I was saying, today we will be studying the topic of the epic. We are going to delve into a famous and very ancient poem in European literature." —The sound of the marker tapping on the whiteboard mesmerized the students as they watched him write "The narrative revolves around a 51-day period during the Greek siege of the city of Troy. Does anyone know which work I'm referring to?"

The students seemed quite surprised, not just because of how precisely Kaneki explained things, but rather because they were confused. They hadn't heard anything about this work, mainly because most of them preferred more interesting readings suited to their time. Five minutes passed without anyone raising their hand until finally someone did, and it was none other than Sona.

"Yes, Miss Shitori?" Kaneki maintained his role as a teacher and acknowledged her participation.

"Are you talking about "The Iliad," Kaneki-sensei?" —Kaneki was looking at her with such admiration that it didn't go unnoticed by her or Tsubaki.

Kaneki could tell that the girl was a bit confused; in fact, he was as well because she didn't sit down immediately after answering. She blushed due to her mistake, earning several giggles from her classmates. However, he had to admit that the girl had been in one of her moments of vulnerability when she finally broke down completely.

As Miss Shitori mentioned, today we will be exploring the ancient poem "The Iliad," traditionally written by Homer. Composed in dactylic hexameters, it consists of 15,693 verses and revolves around the wrath of Achilles... —The young teacher continued his explanation with great enthusiasm.

The class had ended, and the students, more specifically, the girls in the class, were mesmerized by the teaching style of the black reaper. It was ironic, as showing so much enthusiasm actually helped them understand the content much better—something their previous teacher hadn't managed to do. Even someone like Sona was "enchanted" like the other students. Kaneki's passion and professionalism in delivering the lesson seemed to make even the most reluctant student appreciate the beauty of literature. To say that Sona was impressed would be an understatement—she was truly captivated, and not just anyone could impress her like that.

However, all the charm she had felt vanished when she saw her classmates flocking around her servant, excitedly discussing the class. Ken blushed and politely excused himself. Tsubaki rested her forehead on her desk; she wanted to feel embarrassed by her classmates' behavior, but deep down, she knew she was also yearning to do the same. She briefly considered arguing with Sona about her decision to include the one-eyed ghoul in their peerage—after all, Tsubaki was still not fully convinced that he belonged there. But ultimately, Sona had the final say, and it would destroy any argument Tsubaki had against him.

During lunchtime, Sona hurriedly searched for Kaneki, as he had left his role as the student council supervisor. After searching through the school's halls, she found that the door to the teachers' lounge was closed, and her second Rook was nowhere to be found. Sona was overwhelmed by a mix of emotions—anger, frustration, denial, and helplessness. She felt like she didn't know where to look anymore. Kaneki Ken had turned out to be a box of surprises. Had she made the right decision? She didn't know. Right now, all she knew was that she had to sternly reprimand her Rook, which was probably going to lead to something out of the ordinary.

"I thought you had given up looking for me, Miss Shitori" —Sona turned towards the voice and, startled, took two steps back, accidentally colliding with the closed door of the teachers' lounge.

Kaneki was looking at her with a seriousness she couldn't quite decipher. Quickly recovering from the surprise, Sona cleared her throat before speaking.

"Where were you, Kaneki?" —Sona's authoritative tone annoyed the ghoul, who looked at her with a lack of enthusiasm—. "You're supposed to report to me during lunchtime."

He looked towards the horizon with disinterest, holding a porcelain cup in his hand. Sona noticed the cup had magical girl motifs on it, and she suddenly felt like being swallowed by the ground when she realized that somehow, her sister was involved in the ghoul's annoyance.

"You know? The cup I brought with me for coffee..." —Ken paused as he took a sip from his cup "It got replaced by this one." The young woman averted her gaze, not wanting to face him "I spent a few minutes looking for it, and I got delayed with my duties." —He looked at his mistress as he continued speaking—. I didn't realize you were looking for me. I'm sorry.

"O-okay I'll forgive you for now" She responded, quite embarrassed, but still maintaining her presidential demeanor "Aniway, do you have any news?"

Ken rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"I've just come out of a meeting with the principal," he said, and Sona looked at him quite impressed, which the Black Reaper took as a cue to continue his explanation. "At first, it was tough, and I felt like giving up, but then I thought to myself, 'It wouldn't be fair to let down my dear master,' so I persisted with the director, laying out the pros and benefits of your proposal. It seems he understood and agreed."

And that was all he said, as he felt that he had no more obligations towards her, he needed to enter the teachers' lounge.

Sona appeared... annoyed, so to speak. It was the first time that one of her subordinates acted in such a manner. Normally, many reincarnated devils embraced the idea of being demons with greater acceptance, but the ghoul before her had a different approach. Despite the warnings from her father, Lord Sitri, and her sister, Maou Leviathan, about the consequences of reincarnating the infamous CCG reaper who had gained recent fame for his cold and ruthless attitude, she insisted on making him her own. She had decided on it, as she believed Kaneki's power would be of great help. Additionally, there was the risk that someone from the Khaos Brigade would steal his body for study, and she couldn't fathom the consequences. She had put in a lot of effort to prove to her father and the elders of her family's council that she too would contribute, that she wouldn't remain idle, and that she could handle the infamous character in question. Even though her life had been in imminent danger, she had prevailed in her idea and desire. But there was something more behind all of this; she wanted to be on par with her childhood friend/rival since she had the Sekiryuutei. Therefore, she took the liberty of possessing the CCG's Black Reaper.

But now, she was experiencing firsthand what she had been warned about—feeling the hatred her second Tower had for this situation. The young man had chosen to ignore her completely, something that had become quite common in the past couple of hours. What irritated the demon the most was that she couldn't distinguish which of the many facets of the ghoul's personality was the true one, and that was starting to exasperate her. So much so that she exploded in anger.

"I haven't given you permission to leave yet!" She exclaimed in frustration, adjusting her glasses and causing Kaneki to halt in his steps. "How many times do I have to repeat myself? You're under my command, and you should act according to my will. Do you want me to remind you of the unbreakable oath again?"

"Ah, the oath. I remember it well, how could I forget that oath." Kaneki pulled out a sheet from his carefully maintained portfolio. "As you know, Miss Shitori, I'm prioritizing the work you've assigned to me. I apologize if my performance isn't up to your satisfaction." Sona glared at him with anger, noticing the sarcasm in his words. "And if you want your proposal to be approved as quickly as possible, I must work on the document as soon as possible for the director to sign. So, if you'll excuse me..."

Before Kaneki entered, the girl grabbed the doorknob and closed the door, causing the young man to direct his gaze at her face with a slightly furrowed brow.

"I thought I made it clear to you as well that you should address me as kaichou," she reproached, looking at him squarely in the eyes, using that tone of voice once again.

"And I told you that wasn't going to happen, Shitori-san," the president huffed irritably. That Ken was an ass, but somehow she felt like she deserved this treatment.

The worst part was that he knew how to handle things with great precision, and for that reason, it was difficult to get through to him. She had to admit that at least he put effort into the student council activities. With nothing more to say, the teacher entered the teachers' lounge and closed the door. Sona shook her head in annoyance and, with no other choice, left the teachers' lounge. At least she wouldn't have as much work for the rest of the day. In the end, Ken chuckled softly, noticing how the young woman was learning a bit about dealing with him as her servant. The fact that she couldn't distinguish between his "masks" helped him quite a bit.

##################

Rossweisse tensed her back muscles as water freely cascaded down her body, gazing up at the glass-covered ceiling. The glint of the setting sun hurt her eyes a bit, as its light streamed through the window. The water filled her ears, and she could barely hear the muffled voices coming from the club room, typically revolving around the ridiculous disputes between Rias and Akeno to get the attention of the Sekiryuutei. It was past 5 in the evening, the time when she usually met with Rias and the others to discuss club-related matters. However, all she could witness were the absurd arguments between the two great onee-samas and the other female members. The reason for this unusual behavior was more than obvious—they were all fighting over Issei. Normally, she would try to calm the waters, but in these moments, a bitterness ran through her entire body that couldn't be shaken off. A little voice whispered to her that she wouldn't succeed. A voice remarkably similar to Odin's, "The Father of All."

She had lost. She felt like she had lost. The water, for now, was the only thing that calmed her; taking a good bath to wash away her troubles, the harmonious sound of droplets falling making the world disappear. She grabbed the shampoo and began to lather her platinum hair.

"Why don't you find yourself a boyfriend, Rossweisse?" "Not even a poor soul would dignify you with attention." "When you get a boyfriend, it'll be after Ragnarok happens." "Don't worry, Ross-chan. Someday, someone will notice you. Haha, how naive." The voices of her Valkyrie companions had surfaced deep in her mind, reminding her of how pitiful her life was. What did it matter if she was good at her job and her salary provided her with a decent life? All they cared about was the fact that she was single. She'd had enough. She left the bathroom to get dressed and then entered the adjoining room, looking around.

"Roseweisse-san?" The chestnut-haired boy approached the Valkyrie when he managed to escape from being sandwiched between oppais. "You look terrible. Is something wrong?"

The history teacher looked at him with a sad expression, though she quickly managed to compose herself.

"Yes," she responded mechanically. "It's just that I remembered a bit of my past."

"Ah, I see," the young man scratched his head lightly.

The Valkyrie blinked, unsure if she should confide in her student, but as many say, it's better to let it out. Perhaps the Red Dragon could console her for a while, although she wasn't very keen on the idea. She sighed softly, shaking her head.

"By the way, do you know the new Tower of Sitri-san?" Rossweisse fiddled with her fingers. "He's a very pleasant person, although not very talkative..."

Issei stared at her with his mouth open, and after a moment of hesitation, his personality burst forth, interrupting his fellow classmate, who looked at him with some apprehension due to his outburst.

"Oh, come on, are you serious? Did you try talking to him?" Issei was very upset, which startled the Valkyrie a little. "But he's a complete jerk! He's so detestable!" His fists were clenched tightly. "I remember perfectly well that time he was revived. I'll never forget it, and especially..." The image of how Ken had defeated all his friends and, most importantly, himself appeared in his mind. "Besides, you were dealing with the CCG's Black Reaper, you know? A famous and ruthless killer from that organization. He's so inhuman, he's so idiotic and cold. What were you thinking?"

"Well, I...," the silver-haired woman tried to calm Issei's anger a bit.

"And I bet he completely ignored you, ugh! I hate him! He thinks he's better than all of us!" By forcefully striking one of the classroom walls, he managed to calm down a bit.

Rossweisse let out the breath she'd been holding in her lungs. Issei's words had irritated her, and remembering her awful past didn't help much either. She definitely needed some time alone. Moreover, it was the first time she had heard the Sekiryuutei speak like that; it was as if he genuinely hated Sona's Tower.

I... I have to go. The young Valkyrie lowered her gaze, hiding her frustration.

Issei's eyes widened at her response, and suddenly his expression calmed down. However, what worried him the most was the reaction of his history teacher.

"Leave? Oh well, did I say something wrong?" Roseweisse said nothing, picked up her towel from the floor, and fled before Issei could say anything.

Hours passed, and it was around seven in the evening when she decided to leave the club. She definitely didn't feel like staying there any longer. In truth, she had taken advantage of these peaceful moments to reflect on things. Remembering how Odin taunted her, how her prolonged singleness was ridiculed, just the memory of that voice so full of mockery left her more than disappointed. She walked toward the one place where she would possibly be alone—the school library. She would find a book and read it until everything was over. Then she would go back to her bed, sleep, and another day would have passed. Everything in order, everything calm, and she would remain single, as always.

She searched among the rows until she found a book she hadn't read in a while: "In Praise of Shadows." The title wasn't bad, and it looked interesting. For some strange reason, she felt like a hopeless romantic at that moment amidst all the loneliness. Perhaps reading something so far removed from herself like that book would make her feel better until sleep arrived. When she reached for the book, she heard footsteps outside the library. Rossweisse immediately dropped the book in alarm, torn between whether she should go into the hallway to investigate.

She shook her head; perhaps it was just her imagination. It was better to postpone reading for now. Maybe preparing the topic she would teach the next day would be a good idea. She sat down in one of the chairs and leaned in to examine the images in the book that depicted events from the Yayoi period. She closed her eyes and sighed; she really tried to get those taunts about her singleness out of her mind. But it was impossible! She bit her lower lip. She didn't know how it could affect her in the long run. Then she realized something important... she was alone, in the library, it was dark, and she wasn't even paying attention to the book in front of her. She noticed that the sun had set, giving way to the night. The Valkyrie decided it was a good time to leave and tend to her demon duties. Once again, footsteps were heard in the adjacent hallway.

She quickly left the library, guided by her curiosity. She decided to follow the pattern of the sound echoing in the hallway, to be more precise, the noise was coming from the teachers' lounge. She was sure someone was in there; if so, what the hell were they doing at this late hour? She approached because she could hear noises coming from inside the room, and she could confirm that the door was timidly ajar. She timidly approached to see who the intruder was.

The noise of a falling book was all Kaneki could hear, and then he saw the Valkyrie, who stood frozen, looking at him with panic and alarm. There was the silver-haired woman, her gaze directed at the only person in front of her. Her soul seemed to leave her with a stifled gasp that escaped her. Roseweisse saw it. The way the globe of the teacher's eye remained black and his ocular veins were a bright red, just like his pupil.

Her blood ran cold as she looked at him up close. She'd heard rumors that Sona was seeking a special kind of creature, but she didn't understand what type it was. She assumed that Kaneki was a member of that species and was having his dinner—her heightened senses provided her with the information she needed to figure out what her co-worker was eating: human flesh. After several seconds had passed, Roseweisse reacted clumsily.

"I'm sorry! I didn't know anyone else was here. I shouldn't have entered, I know. But I heard footsteps and saw that the door was open." Kaneki cursed; he'd been careless. The Valkyrie fell silent, fearing that the young man would unleash his fury. "I'll just go. Excuse me." Before she knew it, the Valkyrie had fled the scene.

"That idiot Azazel... he assured me that no one would come at this time of night." Damn it, I was careless. The young literature teacher watched as the silver-haired woman ran off.

The young ghoul didn't hesitate to compare this moment to the encounter he had with Hinami. He chuckled slightly at that memory; surely the same feelings he experienced upon being discovered were what little Fueguchi felt. Slowly, he approached the object the Valkyrie had left behind due to her nervousness, contemplating the book and deciding that he needed to have a conversation with her.

It was Monday, and Roseweisse was at the table having lunch, next to Rias and her whole court, when Kaneki stood in front of her with the same book she had been reading the night they accidentally met. The rest of the guys who were sitting at the table stared at him in astonishment, still with a mouthful of spaghetti. In contrast, the black reaper didn't take his eyes off the valkyrie who was beginning to get nervous.

"Can I talk to you for a moment, Weiss-sensei?" he asked, and upon seeing Rias open her mouth to speak, he added, "Alone."

This was when the Sekiryuutei reacted violently. In fact, all of Rias's servants positioned themselves between the two young adults. Irina, on the other hand, looked puzzled at this reaction; the literature teacher had seemed calm and kind. He had even recommended several interesting ecclesiastical books to her.

"What do you want with her, you bastard?" Kaneki's gaze shifted to the brunet, his expression was terrifying, indicating he was in a foul mood. He really wasn't in the mood to put up with Issei's nonsense. "Nothing that concerns you, idiot," he retorted, giving him a sidelong glance.

Issei clenched his teeth forcefully, and all the girls frowned upon hearing the literature teacher insult their beloved Issei.

"You son of a..." The brunet clenched his jaw, visibly annoyed by the insult.

"Enough!" the valkyrie intervened, stopping Issei. "I won't be long, just a moment." She could tell that the others weren't entirely convinced, but after all, Roseweisse had made up her mind.

Knowing in advance what all of this was about, before following Kaneki, who walked towards the cafeteria exit without waiting, she looked at her companions one last time. They went up to the second floor, to the teachers' lounge. When Roseweisse entered, the young man closed the door immediately and put the key in one of the pockets of his black jacket. He gave Roseweisse a cold glance, and she, already nervous, took two steps back until she bumped into the professor's desk. They were alone, and her nervousness was compounded by the information about Ken's nature, and above all, because it was the first time she found herself alone with a man, a very handsome one according to the general opinion of the female students.

His gaze remained fixed. His face was just as she had seen it the first time she laid eyes on him, calm and friendly. And even though she had seen that analytical gaze before, this time it was different, with a strange, somber aura tinged with a certain nostalgia. For a moment, she wanted to flee, but she remembered that Kaneki had closed the door; there was no way out. Long seconds passed with her in that position. What bothered her most was that Kaneki didn't move either, seemingly lost in his thoughts. She attempted to approach, but her legs wouldn't respond. Sona's servant took deep breaths before continuing.

"Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you," Ken said solemnly. Roseweisse wasn't sure what she had heard. "I suppose they've already told you what kind of creature I am." The valkyrie nodded silently. "Well, before you get alarmed, I assure you I haven't killed anyone."

Ghoul, a creature that feeds on humans to survive; that was the explanation Rias had given her about Ken Kaneki. It seemed strange to her that someone like him could be something so sinister and dark. The man in front of her had a distant temperament, but in the days they had spent together, he had been quite polite to her. Of course, they had also told her that he had practically defeated all of them in a humiliating way, which was why they had become enemies with him. Part of her understood his initial reaction to his resurrection; she had kindly given her opinion on that. Not everyone wants to return to the world of the living, and one's desire to die should also be respected.

But as their own nature dictated, demons are irrational and greedy. That's why she decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.

"I... no, yes! Um, yes, I believe you," Kaneki raised an eyebrow expectantly. "Don't worry about that, it's just that I was really impressed."

She was truly a peculiar woman, so he thought of a way to persuade her.

"I've heard that you're going through a very difficult emotional situation," he alluded to the times he had seen her crying pathetically when fate cruelly mocked her singleness through the sweet couples she saw at school and other places. "It would be nice to go out for coffee together this afternoon. I suppose you don't have plans for today, right?"

The silver-haired woman widened her eyes in surprise. Was a man actually asking her out? A faint blush appeared on her cheeks, and she discreetly smiled at the novelty.

"I think it's a good way to get to know each other. In fact, I intend for you to see for yourself if all ghouls truly seem like ravenous beasts," the young ghoul smiled genuinely. "What do you say? Will you go out with me?"

*End of flashback*

Kaneki snapped out of his train of memories when he noticed Serafall arriving with a huge number of bags in each hand. He grumbled irritably at the thought of serving as a pack mule, but he remembered that this was also part of his punishment for rebelling against Sona the first time they met, or was it the second time? Part of him wanted to refuse, but he recalled that the creature accompanying him was at the pinnacle of her species. In fact, it was his knowledge of her nature that prevented him from escaping.

Well, Ken-chan... Did you enjoy me modeling for you?" The Maou squeezed her breasts against the ghoul's arm. "Not everyone gets to admire my beautiful body."

"It's delightful to know that." Ken replied with annoyance and sarcasm, choosing his words carefully. "I think I'll sleep well tonight."

"Heh heh heh." The Leviathan's titleholder chuckled lightly. "I hope you dream of plenty of dirty things."

Sighing in defeat, Sona's tower regretted that the eccentric personality of her master's older sister made things difficult. No matter how he insulted her, she seemed utterly unfazed. He had to admit, though, that her company was more tolerable than the rest of his court companions, aside from their attempts to convert him to the magical side, of course. His "date" continued for several more hours, during which the young ghoul had to admire new outfits that Serafall was trying on from casual dresses to the most provocative lingerie. Somehow, Ken didn't get bored spending time with the young Maou. He played his role as a pack mule so well that Sona's older sister even gifted him an ancient book.

Part of him realized that this was the reward he had earned, and a gift was a gift after all.

As dusk approached, the dark-haired woman decided to release Kaneki on his day off. The young man walked, browsing through his book, swallowing his pride when he noticed it was a first edition of William Shakespeare's "King Lear". He was about to head home when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He reluctantly took it out, hoping it wasn't either Sona or Serafall, and he didn't even want to see the names of the other servants of his mistress.

When he saw the sender, he sighed in relief. At least the place and company he would have at that moment would be worth sharing his loot.

Rossweisse was incredibly nervous. In fact, every time they met after work and their respective duties for their masters - which they both kept secret - she couldn't help but compare their situation to the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Although they were just friends, over time she sought to solidify her place in the ghoul's life. Smiling, she couldn't help but remember their first date. She looked up to see Ken Kaneki arriving, smiling in a way that only she could see. With a radiant smile, she stood up from her seat to greet the literature teacher from Kouh Academy.

"And all of that started in a discreet café."

I If you've made it this far, congratulations! I'm glad to have brightened your day. sincerely want to thank all those who have been following this story. I deeply regret the delays in updates, but I bring good news. The original fic already has numerous chapters, which will expedite the translation process. This means you won't have to wait as long for new content.

I want to assure you that I am fully committed to providing more frequent updates and maintaining the pace of this narrative without interruptions. Your support and words have been invaluable to me.

You can be sure that the wait will be worth it, as the story will continue without significant breaks. I want to thank each and every one of you for your patience and enthusiasm throughout this journey. Your unwavering support motivates me to deliver the best possible content.

In the future, my goal is to establish a more consistent update schedule. Your understanding and encouragement are essential to me. Thank you once again for your continuous support. Anticipate exciting new chapters coming soon.