14CHAPTER 1
I shouldn't have chosen [YES] back then.
The first thing I noticed when I woke up to this new life a few weeks ago was a bright white ceiling.
My first thought back then was that maybe I survived after all and that I just hallucinated to those words somehow and that I was in a hospital.
I was wrong.
It only took me a few seconds to find out that something wasn't quite right when a beautiful woman with blonde hair —who I also now know is named Risa— called me her little bird.
Well that and seeing that the sky isn't blue anymore was a good indicator. Although to be fair, maybe the sky turned purple somehow sometime after I died. That would still mean that this isn't exactly the time I was expecting to go to when I chose to restart my life.
I didn't want to dwell on the implications of what this meant for my family back in my previous life, but I've always been close to my family so I couldn't help it. I knew lingering on it wasn't good for my mental health, especially now that I'm —for all intents and purposes— a baby again. All I can do now is go with the flow, and make the most of this.
"Lord Ruval is here, milady." My musings were cut-off as one of the maids came into the room. Risa nodded at the servant. The name Ruval does sound vaguely familiar to me, although exactly how I can't say for sure. I'm pretty sure he isn't my father in this life, since I've already seen him and he was never really referred to as Ruval by any of the servants.
"Come my little bird, your cousin Ruru came to visit." I hear Risa say as she picks me up.
As we made our way through the corridors, it still amazes me how expensive looking everything around the mansion is. I'm pretty sure I was reborn into a noble family of some sorts, with how many maids and butlers I see around the mansion and with how they address Risa. That or they're—or rather we're, I corrected myself— just a filthy rich family.
Eventually we arrived at a really luxurious looking room. Ornate decorations and furniture filled the room as far as what I could see from Risa's hands. Fancy chandeliers, vases and plates that all looked like they were their weight in gold. There were a couple of people in the room too, mostly servants, but there were two people that stood out to me.
One was a handsome young man, with blond hair and blue eyes similar to Risa's. He was dressed like one of those bigshot CEOs of big companies back in my previous life, tux and all. And while his demeanor looked like he was really easy going, it was also easy to see why for some reason he was called a Lord by the servants.
The other one sat beside him, a beautiful lady with long white hair, similarly deep blue eyes to that of Risa and and uh, some impressive assets. I really shouldn't be thinking about this, I'm still a baby for fuck's sake. Anyways, she wore a fancy looking black dress with some frills towards the bottom.
I could feel the gazes of both of them go between me and Risa.
"Auntie, how are you and Uncle doing?" The man asked as he turned his attention to me. "And is this my cousin? What's his name?"
I squinted my eyes at his question. I actually didn't know what my name in this life is either. Both my parents have always called me by nicknames. At least I'm pretty sure my name isn't Little Bird.
Please.
"Oh he's such a cutie, Lady Risa. It looks like he has Lord Ichiro's eyes though?"
I'm cute, huh. Well I am a baby so I guess thank you, miss. I wonder what they meant by my eyes though.
"Ruru, Mira." Risa greeted them. "And thank you Mira. I'm sure my little bird appreciates the compliment." The pretty lady, Mira, smiled at me. "And yes, it looks like he got his eyes from Ichi. I'm glad though, it is a nice change of pace from the usual in our family. A red-eyed Phenex."
Wait, what? Did my mother just say 'A red-eyed Phenex'? And that we usually have blue eyes? Why does that sound really familiar?
"Quite fitting, if you ask me."
"Indeed."
"So his name is Ragna," my cousin said. "A powerful name, Auntie. After our ancestor?" Risa nodded.
"Ichi was going through some tomes in my personal library here a few weeks ago, and found my great grandfather's journal. We initially wanted to name him Raizen, but my Ichi really took a liking to Ragna." A soft smile made it onto my mother's face. "And I supposed I took a liking to it too."
Ragna, huh. I'm not gonna lie, it does sound pretty cool. Thank you great great grandfather in this life, for your cool sounding name.
I tuned out the rest of the conversation, as Risa laid me on a crib which I'm not sure where it came from, since I'm pretty sure it wasn't there when we first arrived at the room.
While I laid on the crib, I pieced together the pieces I've figured out so far about the situation I find myself in. Ruval Phenex was a big clue. I still don't wanna make any conclusions until I've gotten more pieces but I think I have a good idea of where I am, though there's still a big chance that all of this could just be one big coincidence.
If I am correct though on where I think this place is, then I'm absolutely fucked. Whether it's in a good or bad way remains to be seen.
I turned my attention back to the other 3 people that were having a conversation.
"I apologize I wasn't able to visit two weeks ago, Auntie."
"Me as well, Lady Risa."
"It's fine Ruru, Mira. I know how busy you are these days, you have your duties as heir of the clan. And I am partly responsible for it."
"Nonsense Auntie, I wouldn't be in this position if it weren't for you."
The rest of the conversation between Risa, Ruval, and Mira wasn't much of interest, it was mostly them catching up and some other mundane topics. Although what I learned from them is making my theory of where I am more and more plausible.
Before I knew it, both Ruval and Mira said their goodbyes to me and Risa. I really want to be able to confirm where I am, but I really don't wanna make assumptions. All I know is that I bit off more than I can chew when I accepted to restart. I still wonder about that as well. It specifically said 'GAME OVER', and I can't help but wonder about it.
A person would usually only really encounter something like that in video games. Did that mean my life was a video game and I just didn't know it? I remember reading about gamelits in my previous life, both in books, manga, and even in fanfiction form. If my life right now was a result of a video game, where the fuck is my status screen?!
…
…
…
I was kinda hoping a status screen similar to those in video games would suddenly pop up in front of me if I complained. Guess that was too much to ask. Maybe there was some sort of other trigger? I'm not gonna complain too much at the moment though, I'm still not quite sure where I am but if I really am where I think I am then I was lucky. My family traits, if I'm correct, are pretty strong if I leverage it properly. Immortality and free reign over fire and wind? Sign me the hell up.
"Now that Mira and Ruru are gone, why don't we visit Daddy?" Risa said as she picked me up.
"Milady, there's still one more appointment today." Asked one of the butlers, Reggie if I remember correctly.
"Can it be postponed?" she said, annoyed.
"I'm afraid not, milady. It is Lord Lucifer himself that will be coming."
Lucifer? If he's who I think he is, then it's all but confirmed. Just a matter of when exactly am I in the timeline.
God, I only wanted to resume my old life. Now I can't even drink this shit away. I don't think Risa would allow me even if I could. My mom in my last life didn't allow me either when she was around.
Risa had a thoughtful look on her face, probably considering what she would do. Which makes me wonder. Who was my mom in this life to even think about postponing a meeting with Lucifer himself.
If I really am in DxD, I don't remember anyone named Risa Phenex. Maybe a result of me being here? Or maybe an unnamed background character? Whatever the case, she seems to be an important player in the underworld in this world.
She eventually heaved a sigh. "I guess I can spare some time. Please inform my husband that we'll be late."
"By your leave, milady." Risa nodded, as Reggie left the room. She turned her attention back to me, rubbing her hands on my back. I have to say though, that actually felt oddly comforting.
"Looks like Daddy will have to wait, my little bird. I suppose we need to get you dressed up before our guest arrives." I did not like the twinkle in her eyes when she said that. Not at all.
I was right.
Whatever world or time or era or whatever it is, there seems to be something that possesses women whenever clothing is involved. I'm lucky that I'm still a baby or something tells me that I would have spent much more time getting dressed up by Risa.
It was about an hour later, I think, when Lucifer arrived.
And his arrival confirmed to me that I am in DxD.
Because in front of me and Risa is fucking Sirzechs Lucifer, whom my mother in this life is calling Zechy for some reason.
Lucifer was every bit as imposing as I thought he would be, despite his pretty boy face. Even though it's been years —if we count my previous life— since I touched any DxD related media, I remember that this person in front of me is one of the most powerful beings in the world.
Who also happens to be a big siscon.
Which reminds me, I wonder where I am in the timeline. Has Rias already been born? Or am I older? Now that I confirmed where I am, it would probably be a good idea to find out how much time I have till canon.
"Aunt Risa, I'm happy to hear about your safe delivery. It's good to see you and your son," Sirzechs said, raising a brow as he looked at me.
"Ragna. Ragna Phenex." Risa answered. "And it's good to see you too, Zechy. I'm sure my baby is also excited to see you."
I decided to indulge Risa, and try to smile and nod. I think I succeeded, seeing my mother and Sirzechs both grinning.
"See? My baby is so precious." Risa says with that baby talk voice that people seem to get when talking about cute things like babies, kittens, or puppies.
"I'm glad to see you so happy, Aunt Risa. I know you've been trying to have a baby for years, so seeing you being so happy with one is heartening."
My mom's face seems to soften at that. "Thank you, Sirzechs. I hope you and Fia find some luck soon."
"We appreciate it, Aunt Risa. We're definitely trying, so have my parents." Sirzechs shakes his head. "No luck, unfortunately."
Risa only looked at Sirzechs with a sympathetic face. I realize now that it probably took my parents centuries just to have me. If I remember correctly, with all the power that they have, devils here in the DxD universe have a low fertility rate. Siblings here can have decades if not centuries in between them. Like Sirzechs and Rias, or Serafall and Sona.
"I heard from my father that he and Lord Phenex had set up a marriage contract between our families, do you happen to know anything about it?"
Oh? So the arrangement happened even before Rias was born? I actually didn't know that.
"I'm afraid that I wasn't involved with whatever that brother of mine and Zeoticus had set up. And you know that I try not to involve myself much anymore with clan affairs."
Sirzechs sighed at Risa's answer. "I know. I was just holding onto hope. You know that it's either gonna be my younger sibling or my child that's gonna be involved with that contract. And neither of those prospects sound good to me."
"You should be used to it by now, Sirzechs. You were the clan heir of the Gremory's at one point."
"I know, auntie. But you know me. I don't think I could look my child or my younger sibling in the eye knowing that could have been me in their place, and that I myself married for love. And you know with my standing that I can't do much without being seen as playing favorites."
Politics, of course. I can't claim to be the best at it, but I still think he could do more being the literal lord of the devils and all. Not like anyone in the Underworld aside from Beelzebub can do shit against him in a fight if push comes to shove.
"I suppose I get your point. I'll see what I can do, but no promises."
"That's all I ask, auntie." Sirzechs stood from his chair as he gave me and my mother one last look before saying his goodbyes. My mother did the same, and then sighed when Sirzechs teleported away.
"I hope you know what you're asking Zechy. You'll owe me big time." Aside from apparently being the sister of Lord Phenex, it's not the first time today that I wonder who exactly Risa Phenex is. That's probably something I'll try to figure out when I get older.
Anyways, I feel like what just transpired here is gonna be something important in the future, considering what happened in canon. But that's future Ragna's problem. Not mine.
Still, this conversation had been very enlightening. It at least answered one of my questions somewhat. That I'm at least older than the main cast. Which is good, it gives me more time to train and grow.
Honestly, this really wasn't what I had in mind when I chose [YES] but I guess this is my life now. I suppose it could have been worse, I could have been a human with no sacred gear or zero magical talent. Being a devil is a huge boon already, and the clan traits I could potentially have through my mother's side alone was strong. It's no Power of Destruction but Immortality was pretty cool. I wasn't counting my eggs just yet since I know it's possible to not inherit it like what happened to Rias' cousin—who I can't recall the name of at the moment— but I am hoping to have inherited all 3 traits of the Phenex clan, and whatever traits I can inherit on my father's side. This world is dangerous, and I'm more than willing to stack the deck as much as I can to my end.
I didn't wanna die an early death again.