Chapter 57: If You Don’t Take the Offer, Others Will—The Twelve-Winged Fallen Angel Transformation!

"Lucien-kun, do you think… lying is fun?"

Raynare pursed her red lips, her voice carrying a hint of grievance.

Lucien, however, remained calm as he looked at her.

"So, Raynare, it looks like you've finally learned what you needed to know."

It was his first time seeing Raynare in her Fallen Angel form—and he had to admit, she really was beautiful.

"That's right! I know everything now! You knew who I was from the very beginning! You were lying to me this whole time!"

Raynare accused him outright.

But Lucien? He obviously disagreed.

"Lying? What are you talking about?"

"When did I ever say I didn't know you were a Fallen Angel? You never asked me that question, did you?"

"..."

Raynare was speechless.

…Damn it.

She really never asked.

If anything, she had just been playing a romantic game with herself this whole time.

But if she could play this game—

Why couldn't Lucien?

Lucien glanced at Raynare but had no intention of continuing the conversation.

"Sorry, if you want to talk, we can do it later."

"I have more important matters to deal with. There's a monster even stronger than Kokabiel waiting for me."

Raynare was not happy with that answer.

"Hey! Are you seriously trying to brush me off?!"

"One question! Just one!"

"Why did you accept my confession? Why did you so naturally enter a relationship with me?"

"So, in the end, you really were just playing with me, weren't you?!"

This question had become her biggest frustration—she needed an answer from Lucien himself!

"Why did I accept your confession?"

Lucien looked a little puzzled.

"…Didn't I already say it before? Because I thought you were really pretty."

"Huh?"

Hearing such a straightforward answer, Raynare's face instantly flushed red.

But the moment she processed what he meant—

She clenched her teeth.

"So you're saying that as long as someone's pretty, you won't reject them?!"

"That's exactly what I'm saying." Lucien nodded.

"Not only will I not reject them—"

"I also won't allow anyone who's already with me to leave."

As he spoke, Lucien took out three black chess pieces.

"So—"

"Since you're already my lover, I won't let you leave me."

"Raynare, you and the other two—become my followers."

The three chess pieces floated into the air.

"…I need to think about it."

Raynare's emotions were complicated.

If she were to ask herself whether she liked Lucien—

The answer was definitely yes.

But—

She didn't like the idea of throwing herself at him.

Raynare hated feeling like she was chasing after someone.

However…

Even if she didn't take the offer—

There were plenty of others who would.

Two black shadows darted past her.

Mittelt and Kalawarna each grabbed a chess piece and absorbed them on the spot.

"You two—!"

Raynare's beautiful eyes widened.

This was what she called best friends?!

When she needed them the most, they never sided with her!

When it came to Lucien's identity, both of them had already known—she was the only one left in the dark.

And now, when she was hesitating, they went and joined him immediately?!

Did they not realize how awkward this made things for her?!

Watching her two closest friends absorb the chess pieces, Raynare felt even more conflicted.

If she didn't become Lucien's follower, then from now on, she'd be on her own.

And…

There was a high probability that the Fallen Angels would start hunting her down.

Azazel had given her Sacred Gears—but that was only because he wanted to repay a favor to Lucien.

It had never been about helping her escape.

As she was still struggling with her decision, Raynare suddenly noticed—

Lucien's figure was fading.

He was teleporting away?!

"Hey! You're leaving just like that?! Aren't you worried I won't take your chess piece?"

Raynare pouted, puffing up her cheeks in frustration.

Lucien was seriously looking down on her!

"You can refuse."

Lucien's voice was calm.

"But I promise—once I'm done with my business, I'll personally hold your head down and make you accept it."

His smile was gentle—

But at the same time, absolutely terrifying.

"I already said—I don't allow what's mine to leave."

"That's final."

"Whoosh~"

Lucien's figure completely vanished.

The last Soldier Piece, now devoid of support, fell to the ground.

Raynare remained silent.

She walked forward and quietly picked it up.

"Whoosh!~"

A burst of wings unfurling.

White-stockinged loli Mittelt and black-stockinged mature beauty Kalawarna had fully absorbed their chess pieces—

And grew eight Fallen Angel wings each.

"No way!"

Raynare suddenly doubted her entire existence.

Fallen Angels who absorbed Devil Pieces were supposed to become half-Devil, half-Fallen Angel!

How were they advancing as pure Fallen Angels?!

"Hell yeah!"

Feeling the new power coursing through her body, Mittelt jumped in place excitedly.

"Peak High-class Devil strength, plus eight wings as our base form… I bet we'll reach Ultimate-class Fallen Angel status soon!"

Kalawarna also nodded enthusiastically.

"Once that happens, we'll have Ultimate-class Devil strength plus Dragon King-tier Sacred Gears! We're set for life!"

Mittelt spread her legs, put one hand on her hip, and dramatically pointed toward the sky—

Looking every bit like she had just conquered the world.

"Oh, right."

As if suddenly remembering something, Mittelt turned to Raynare.

"Hey, Raynare, if you're not gonna use that chess piece, can I have it?"

Her smile was particularly… sweet.

"Give it to you? What for? A person can only absorb one chess piece."

Raynare clutched the piece tightly.

"I can't use it, but… I can give it to a friend."

Mittelt's tone remained innocent, but her eyes held a mischievous glint.

"I'm sure that after you run off, Azazel would be thrilled to send another Fallen Angel our way."

Mittelt had plenty of friends among the Fallen Angels—

More than just Raynare and Kalawarna.

"Tch! Keep dreaming!"

Raynare hurriedly absorbed the chess piece.

There was no way in hell she was letting these two traitorous 'best friends' snatch it away!

"Hehehe~ I knew you'd do that."

Mittelt grinned slyly, flashing her cute little fangs.

She knew Raynare's personality all too well—

Her pride.

Her jealousy.

And most importantly—her ego.

"Whoosh!~"

Ten Fallen Angel wings burst forth!

Raynare gazed in shock at her own sleek, pitch-black wings, gently running her fingers over them.

Ten wings!

This meant that as long as she continued growing, she was guaranteed to reach Demon King-class!

"…Are these really Devil Pieces?!"

Raynare couldn't believe it.

Lucien's pieces were clearly beyond ordinary.

Watching her ten wings, both Mittelt and Kalawarna immediately cursed.

"What the fuck?!"

"Why do we only have eight wings, and you get ten?!"

"Maybe because… I'm just prettier than you two?"

Raynare smugly caressed her wings.

Now that her power had advanced, they were even smoother and shinier than before.

"…Why is Raynare stronger than us?"

Mittelt squinted at Raynare, carefully analyzing her.

"What's the difference between us? Why did she get ten wings, while we only got eight?"

And then—

Her eyes lit up.

She finally understood.

"Oh?! So that's why!"

Kalawarna raised an eyebrow.

"What did you figure out?"

"I finally understand why Raynare is stronger than us!"

"It's because… she used to be Lucien-sama's lover!"

"Huh?"

Kalawarna didn't get it.

"You're so dumb!"

Mittelt crossed her arms, looking extremely pleased with herself.

"Let me ask you—what's Lucien-sama's power?"

"Uh… Purification and Evolution?"

"Exactly! Purification and Evolution!"

"Remember when Raynare came back to the base a few days ago? She mentioned that after getting close to Lucien-sama, she awakened her Fallen Angel innate talent."

"At the time, I thought it was weird, but now, I finally get it."

"Raynare is stronger than us because she's had intimate contact with Lucien-sama! His power—Purification and Evolution—affected her, making her stronger!"

Mittelt's entire reasoning process was dead wrong.

But—

Her conclusion was completely correct.

Her logic was flawed because—

Raynare was stronger simply due to her role in the original story.

She had more screentime, more plot significance, and more luck—which naturally meant she received higher-tier Devil Pieces upon reincarnation.

However—

Her final answer wasn't wrong.

Simply being around Lucien for long enough could indeed make people stronger.

Grayfia was a prime example—

She had raised Lucien from his egg form, which had directly contributed to her becoming far stronger than in the original timeline.

Hearing Mittelt's theory, Kalawarna's eyes also brightened.

"So Raynare is stronger because she's been… physically close to Lucien-sama?"

"Exactly!"

Mittelt pumped her little fist.

"So that means—"

"If we spend more time getting close to Lucien-sama than Raynare did, we can surpass her!"

She already had nine different strategies planned to 'steal' Lucien from Raynare!

"..."

Raynare went silent for a long moment.

And then—

She said something that her past self would never have imagined saying.

"I think… we shouldn't fight each other. We should work together."

"Hah?!"

Mittelt and Kalawarna were dumbfounded.

Was this really Raynare speaking?!

"You didn't hear wrong. I said we should work together."

Raynare took a deep breath.

"You've noticed it too—we absorbed Soldier Pieces."

"If we fight separately, we might not be able to compete with the other high-rank pieces. But—"

"If we work together, I believe that with our Fallen Angel charm, we can make sure Lucien-kun's attention stays entirely on us."

Mittelt and Kalawarna were stunned for a moment.

Then—

Mittelt gulped.

"Raynare, I never thought you were this smart."

"Agreed. We need to think bigger."

Kalawarna nodded seriously.

And thus—

The "Unbreakable" Fallen Angel Sisters Alliance was formed!

Sure—

This same alliance had collapsed before.

These two had backstabbed Raynare more than once.

But that didn't matter!

Starting today—

They would once again be the Unbreakable Trio!

Meanwhile.

As Lucien traveled between worlds, a system notification sounded in his mind.

[Ding!][Congratulations! Villain Sign-In Completed!][Sign-In Rank: Silver.][Sign-In Type: Event Sign-In.][Event: Initial Map—Complete Fallen Angel Collection.]

[Ding! Bonus Conditions Met! All three reincarnated voluntarily! Rank upgraded to Gold!]

[Congratulations! You have obtained: Twelve-Winged Fallen Angel Transformation!]

[Twelve-Winged Fallen Angel Transformation: A supreme Fallen Angel form—Peak Super Demon King-Class.]

Lucien smirked.

Now this was an interesting development.

[Twelve-Winged Fallen Angel Transformation Details]

Duration: 10 minutes per use. Cooldown: 24 hours. Scaling: As strength increases, transformation duration extends. Energy Consumption: None. Even if all magic power is depleted, the transformation can still be used. Modes: External Form: Manifest as a separate avatar. Internal Fusion: Merge directly into the body.

Note: If not used in battle, the transformation can remain active indefinitely.

Lucien narrowed his eyes as he read the system notification.

"So… Raynare finally made her decision and absorbed the chess piece on her own."

His reward this time—

Twelve-Winged Fallen Angel Transformation.

A Peak Super Demon King-Class form—

Beyond what he could normally achieve at his full power.

"But compared to combat… this transformation has another use."

"For example…"

Lucien's lips curled into a knowing smirk.

"…Infiltrating the Fallen Angels."

"Taking over the Fallen Angel faction."

"Turning them into my personal army."

With his engagement to Rias, he had gained the freedom to develop his own faction.

However—

The Underworld wouldn't just let him expand without limits.

If he could take control of the Fallen Angels, though—

That would be a different story.

With them under his command, he could expand endlessly—without interference.

The Khaos Brigade was already terrifying with just Ophis.

But Lucien?

He had Ophis, plus something even more dangerous—

The ability to enhance others' potential.

"No need to waste time. I should start working my Fallen Angel connections right away."

He took out a communication tool.

"Hello? Nao?"

"Do me a favor—check my drawer and take out that ice crystal."

"It's a contact tool for Lavinia Reni, the 'Ice Princess.'"

"Tell them I'm the Devil who helped them before. I need a favor."

"Here's exactly what I need you to do…"

Lucien's smile deepened.

The pieces were falling into place.

And soon—

The Fallen Angels would be his.