Darkness.
You'd think dying would be dramatic—flashing lights, your life replaying like a badly edited movie, maybe even a chorus of angels welcoming you to the afterlife.Not for me.
Just pain, the cold bite of metal through flesh, then… silence.
Until a voice shattered the void.
[Initializing Cultivator Life Simulation System...]
[Binding to new Host: Akuma Nozomi...]
[Warning: Host's mental stability is... questionable.]
Oh, great. Even in death, I can't escape customer support.
I opened my eyes to a sky that was a little too blue, the kind that felt photoshopped. A gentle breeze ruffled my hair, carrying the scent of blooming cherry blossoms. Idyllic. Peaceful. Suspicious as hell.
"...Where the hell am I?" I muttered.
[Welcome to Kuoh Town. Local density of supernatural nonsense: High.]
[Congratulations, Host. You've been reincarnated into the world of High School DxD.]
I sat up. "You're kidding."
[I do not kid. I mock, berate, and occasionally give emotional support. Kidding is beneath me.]
I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose. My hand brushed against something cold. I glanced down.
A red gemstone hung from a necklace around my neck, pulsing faintly.
The system's voice practically purred.
[Ah, yes. Your Starter Gift™. The Heart of the Crimson Lotus. Enhances your cultivation speed and makes you look 12% more edgy. You're welcome.]
Ignoring that, I checked my reflection in the window of a nearby store.
Tall, pale skin, long black hair streaked with crimson. My red eyes glowed faintly, like some overpowered anime villain. I looked like the final boss in a dating sim.
"...This is going to be a pain."
[Correction: This will be a delightful pain. For me.]
[Cultivator Life Simulation System - Tutorial Mode]
Mission 1: Attend Kuoh Academy
Objective: Survive your first day without causing a scene.
Bonus Objective: Avoid becoming part of the Occult Research Club.
Reward: Beginner Cultivation Technique – Scarlet Bone Tempering Art
[Advice: Kuoh Academy is swarming with devils. Try not to provoke them. Or do. I'm not your dad.]
I arrived at the gates of Kuoh Academy, the prestigious school that—according to every wiki and unfortunate pervert in this universe—was the starting point of every harem-related headache.
The school looked normal. Too normal. Like the setting of a slice-of-life anime right before the tentacles show up.
"Blend in," I muttered. "No attention. No drama. Just survive."
That was the plan... until I walked into class and immediately locked eyes with her.
Rias Gremory.
The crimson-haired devil princess herself.
She smiled. "You must be the new transfer student. Akuma Nozomi, right?"
I nodded, already calculating my chances of escaping through the window.
"Welcome to Kuoh Academy," she said, her gaze lingering just a bit too long. "I hope we can... get to know each other."
[Alert: High probability of being dragged into supernatural politics. Suggest preparing emergency escape plan.]
I raised an eyebrow, voice dry. "I'm allergic to club activities. And red flags."
She laughed, amused. "We'll see about that."
Later that day…
[Ding! Cultivator Simulation Unlocked.]
[Would you like to begin your first simulated life? Warning: Time will accelerate. Physical and mental strain may occur. Void-related psychosis is a minor side effect.]
Lying on my bed, still processing the fact that my homeroom teacher was a fallen angel and my classmates had more magic than common sense, I sighed.
"…Screw it. Let's simulate."
[Initializing Cultivation Simulation: Life 1 – Wandering Rogue of the Nether Sect]
[Begin.]
And so, while my body rested in a world of devils, angels, and suspiciously friendly girls...My mind descended into a world of blood, betrayal, and brutal cultivation.