Someone else's normal life, begone!

To the club I went.

It was too early for the scheduled meeting, so I took my time on the way, thinking about the magic I just acquired.

Thinking back, taking things slow was indeed very stupid, even if I want to master them one by one there's nothing stopping me from doing while having access to every Ancient Magic, alter had every right to be angry.

I have to reflect on this accident.

Slow or fast, eventually the things I plan to make will turn the balance of the world upside down, it's not about the strength of my creations, even though they will be very powerful, it's about quantity, everything Alter makes can be mass-produced.

I'm going bit off-topic here, the point is if I'm to become something ridiculous I might as well go all the way in.

While mulling over this kind of thing, I have already arrived at school

'I sketch something while I wait, I guess...'

In the club room, there was only president, she was looking over some documents

"Good evening"

I greeted

"Hajime? You're early"

She looked up, a puzzled look on her face, early indeed

"Haha, had nothing else to do"

I answered with a dry smile

To be honest, there were some things I'd like to do before coming here, but because of alters outburst I just had to change the subject and coming here was the first thing that came to mind.

Not much of a problem, as I said, I'll do some sketches for the future,

Since I'm here...

"By the way president "

When called out the president merely glanced at my way, motioning me to continue

"How exactly are we doing recruitment?"

Other members didn't tell me much, but I know that all of us were in pretty bad shape when we got 'scouted', I was told that this time is different, though without details I can't tell much

"We gave him a pamphlet this morning, I expect him to use it soon, once he does I'll give him an offer"

She answered

That makes sense, but what if his wish isn't so grand that he'd have to become a devil, the contracts work on equivalent exchange principle, I don't know the whole history of contracts, but something like that doesn't happen that often

[She didn't think this through, simple as that]

'You think so?'

[Is there any other explanation? she's so used to always getting everything that she doesn't even consider a failure ]

Alter said with a rather harsh voice

'... You know, I noticed you're always so aggressive when it comes to the president, I've thought about it and it doesn't make any sense'

[Huh... am I?]

'Seriously...?'

[... Maybe I am, after all, she just sounds so much like a hopeless pervert that I couldn't help it]

A hopeless pervert...?

'... She doesn't really...'

[It's a VA joke]

'...Erm...'

[Don't worry about it]

Anyway, I'll see myself how she deals with it

.

.

.

Well this is unexpected

The new member, a fellow pawn, that just summoned us is a member of the infamous perverted trio.

And he's laying in a puddle of blood if the hole in his stomach's any indicator, his own blood.

President on her part is very calm, even monologued about becoming her servant, not really surprising, she does have plenty of experience with this

"Was this... part of your plan?"

I asked in a low voice, while she approached the laying body with evil pieces in her hand

"No, it wasn't"

She replied just as simply

'This is... conflicting'

[You're giving this to much thought, even if she did plan this, then what of it, it shouldn't matter to you, you aren't even close with him]

Alter's making a valid point, but...

'I can't take seeing people suffer in front of me'

[... I used to be quite the masochist, huh.]

'What does masochism has to do with this'

[Shut up, you dogeza bastard]

!?

'Ah, you did that too, huh'

I'd rather not be reminded of that.

Anyway, the president sure takes her time, implanting an evil piece shouldn't take this long

[She seems to be facing quite the predicament]

Alter said

I don't know what kind of face she's making, but looking at her back she seems to be panicking?

"Something wrong?"

I asked but didn't get any answer

'Alter'

[You gotta give it to the boy, who'd thought that mongrel would have such a potential]

'!? You didn't mean...!'

[Indeed, She doesn't have enough pieces]

That is... not good

If the president didn't save me, maybe she'd have enough for him, someone who needs eight pawn pieces will eventually be very strong

This leaves a bad taste in my mouth... on one hand, I'm happy I survived and will do everything in my strength so I won't die in the future, but I can't help but feel that somehow I'm also responsible for this

It's strange, there's nothing wrong with me surviving, I got attacked by a supernatural being, I couldn't do anything about it, but so is Hyoudo, doesn't he also deserve to survive?

[Don't bother with 'what if' scenarios, what happened happened, she decided to save you of her own free will, she doesn't have any right to regret her decision]

My thoughts must've been easy to read, Alter even tried to cheer me up(?)

'...Alter'

[...]

'I...'

[I know what you want, give it up. at your level, there's nothing You can do]

'I know, but...'

If this happened in the future, I'm positive I'd have some recovery method by that time, something like 'Bel Agartha' can easily revive dead in masses, alas it's not that time now

'You can'

'Bel Agartha' is indeed a powerful artefact, but something as complicated as that is unnecessary, Alter is a synergist and a master at that, strengthening something as simple as a chess piece is a child's walk for him

[Che, damn dogeza bastard]

'Don't remind me of that'

[Fine, I'll save that mongrel, but I can't do that in this state...]

'And'

[Give me your body for a bit, will ya]

I was wondering how he would help in a spirit form, I just need to give him my body for a bit, makes sense...

'Wait! we can do that!'

[As of a couple of hours ago, yes. Now gimme the string wheel]

.

.

.

Rias Gremory was very distressed at this moment

No way in hell did she ever think that the boy she thought had hidden potential would cost this much, the more pieces she gave him the better her mood became, she desperately needs strong members for her peerage if she wants to escape her predicament

Her mood plummeted when even seven pieces were enough.

Would she succeed if she had all eight pawn pieces with her? or was the hidden power in this boy so grand that she wouldn't succeed either way? she doesn't know

'This... can't be'

Lamented rias, given into despair

And there was quite a lot to despair about, not often does one meet someone that need more than seven pieces

"Let me see them"

The suddenness of the call caused her to jump back a little

"Hajime...?

She called out to her newest servant, he was the same age as her, but not many would know this at first glance due to his short height

"What are you..."

Hajime didn't respond, he picked up on pawn pieces and started to toy with it, rotating it left and right, observing it with sharp eyes

This was quite the change from his usual behaviour, his face which constantly had a wry smile on it now was as still as stone, his tired eyes now held uncanny sharpness to it, overall Hajime's aura has changed beyond recognition

Rias continued to stare at Hajime as he played with the piece

Until finally Hajime uttered a single word

"Transmute"

The chess piece lit up in crimson light

He eyed the piece a little more

"This should do it"

And carelessly tossed it to rias, who caught it with bewilderment

"I'll be taking my leave then, see you later"

Hajime said and left, leaving a baffled Rias alone

"This is...!"

The chess piece in her hand was... stronger, it had the same feeling as a mutation piece

'This doesn't make any sense'

It doesn't and it shouldn't, whatever Hajime did should be impossible

Such thoughts plagued Rias's mind, but she soon stopped, there was a far more important thing to do than standing and contemplating

She quickly rushed over to Isseis unmoving body and performed a ritual one more time

It... succeeded, all the wounds have been healed and Issei was breathing rhythmically

"Haha...haha"

All Rias could do was to laugh in amazement, fate has been kind to her, not only did she obtain someone with incredible potential, but as it turns out her other servant that she didn't think of much at the beginning was incredible as well.

Fate has indeed been very kind to her, she will be able to save herself from an unwanted engagement, that Rias is sure of.