Chapter 9: Desires, Resolve, and the Overtime Bonus
I woke up with the phantom taste of ash in my mouth.
In my dream, I wasn't a Devil. I was back in my room, watching a screen where a blonde, arrogant prick named Riser Phoenix was burning everything I had come to care about. I saw Rias's hollow eyes as she was forced into a political marriage to save her family's standing.
I sat up, sweat soaking my sheets. The political climate of the Underworld was tightening like a noose. I knew what was coming. The Phoenix was flying toward Kuoh, and if I didn't get stronger, I'd just be a spectator to Rias's misery.
"So, the little spark finally has a reason to burn?" Crom Cruach's voice vibrated in my skull. "Going to train, or just going to keep pouting about your workload?"
'Are you going to give me a Gear like Issei's?' I asked, my heart still racing. 'Something to tip the scales?'
"No," the Dragon spat. "I am not a tool inside a box. But I am your vessel. If you die, my soul drifts into nothingness. I will help you stay alive, not out of pity, but out of necessity."
That morning, in the dim light of my room, the Great Evil Dragon began my true education. He didn't give me world-breaking spells. Instead, he taught me the foundation: Barrier Magic and High-Speed Mana Circulation. He showed me how to control the flow of my energy, making every drop count, and how to use the Dragon's "Heavy Pressure" to parry strikes that should have crushed me.
The Pervert's Path
At school, Issei was in his own world. He had a dream of a harem of 100 women, with Asia as the lead bride. But every time his mind drifted to Rias, he caught himself.
"No, no, no!" Issei muttered, slapping his own cheeks in the middle of the hallway. "The President and Motohama have that... that chemistry! I can't move in on my buddy's girl! I'll stick to the other 99 beauties of the world!"
I walked past him, a bandage hidden under my blazer. I caught Kiba's eyes—the Knight was elegant, calm, and perfectly controlled. Issei looked at Kiba with envy, still stinging from his failure to protect Asia on his own.
Suddenly, a warm, soft pressure leaned into my back. Akeno's arms slid around my neck, her chest pressing against my spine.
"Ara, ara~ The charming prince is so quiet today," she whispered, leaning into my ear. She blew a soft breath against my neck, making me jump and flush a deep crimson.
"W-Why, Akeno? Why the sudden sneak attack?" I stammered.
Akeno giggled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. 'He's just too adorable when he's flustered,' she thought, though she only leaned closer. "Just making sure you aren't overworking yourself, Motohama-kun. We wouldn't want you to break before the real fun begins."
The Sparring Session
After school, at the club, the tension finally snapped. Issei, driven by his need to prove himself, suddenly pointed a finger at Kiba.
"Kiba! Duel me! Right now!"
The room went silent. Rias sighed, looking exhausted. She turned to me and pushed me forward. "Motohama, stop that idiot before he gets himself hurt."
I looked at Rias, deadpan. "My lady, do you honestly think I can stop him once he's decided on something stupid?"
Rias leaned back, a small, playful smile appearing. "Probably not. But it'll be great entertainment."
"You aren't even paying me for this," I grumbled.
"I'll pay you soon! Go, go!" She shooed me away.
I stepped between them and immediately took a stray practice punch from Issei right to the jaw. My face snapped back, but the Dragon's energy surged instantly, knitting the bruise before it could even swell.
"Getting slapped just for walking in?" Crom mocked. "How pathetic."
'Shut up, I'm already in emotional damage.'
The duel happened in the training field. Kiba drew a wooden practice sword, his movements a blur of refined skill. Issei activated his Boosted Gear, screaming "BOOST!" until he was blue in the face.
The skill gap was laughably wide. Kiba danced around him, eventually pointing the wooden tip at Issei's throat. "You lost, Issei. You have the power, but no control."
He helped Issei up, but then Rias's voice rang out.
"Your turn, Motohama. Fight Kiba."
I turned slowly. "Mistress, you haven't paid my salary, you haven't given me my special reward, and now you're pushing me into forced slavery? I'm calling the Demon Police."
Rias smirked, her eyes flashing dangerously. "I am the police here. You get your reward if you survive one minute."
I sighed, dropping into a stance. "Fine. Kiba, don't kill me."
The One-Minute Survival
Kiba didn't hold back as much this time. He sensed the "Heavy" aura around me. I didn't attack; I defended. I used the Draconic Barrier Crom taught me, absorbing the shock of Kiba's speed.
40 seconds. 50 seconds.
At the 51-second mark, I tapped into the Dragon Core. My eyes turned gold, and for 20 seconds, I moved with a predatory speed that forced Kiba to actually parry. But the strain was immense. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant's hand.
At 59 seconds, Kiba's sword tapped my chest.
"Time," Rias called out.
"Damn... I lost the reward by one second," I wheezed, falling to one knee.
"What reward?" Kiba asked, confused.
"A special reward from a certain someone," I muttered, glancing at Rias.
Rias threw a towel at my face to hide her blush. "You meant nothing! Kiba, take Issei and Akeno to the equipment room. Motohama, come to my quarters tonight. We need to... discuss your training."
The Midnight Reward
That night, I entered Rias's private room. The tone shifted instantly. She wasn't the "President" anymore. She was sitting on her bed, her hair loose, looking at me with a mix of seriousness and something softer.
"You're pushing yourself too hard," she said, taking my hand and pulling me to sit beside her. "I see you training in the woods. I see the way you're bleeding internally from that Dragon's power."
"I'm not serious enough, remember?" I joked weakly. "I'm just the guy who does the pamphlets and fixes Issei's mistakes."
Rias leaned in, pinching my cheek firmly. "I was kidding, you idiot. I have high expectations for you because... because I need you."
She leaned in closer, her face inches from mine. The air was thick with the scent of roses. Suddenly, she pressed her lips against my cheek. It was soft, warm, and lingered just a second too long.
"There," she whispered, her face glowing red. "Your special reward. Now don't go on a strike like a corporate employee."
I sat there, frozen, my face burning. Rias stood up and walked toward her bathroom, giving me a playful look over her shoulder. "Goodnight, Motohama."
I walked back to my room in a daze.
"You're pathetic," Crom Cruach laughed. "One kiss on the cheek and your brain turns to mush. You really are a low-tier vessel."
'Shut up, Dragon. This is the best overtime bonus I've ever had.'