The human world.
Kuoh Town, just after school.
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the old school building as Sona slowly pushed open the door, the hinges creaking softly. She adjusted her glasses, her violet eyes carrying an expression of indescribable worry.
"Rias... is there any news on your side?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with two weeks of mounting anxiety.
"No. Still nothing."
Rias's voice was tight, her usual confidence replaced by visible distress. Her crimson hair seemed to have lost some of its vibrant sheen, matching the exhaustion in her blue-green eyes.
Takeyo hadn't come to school for two weeks. Neither she nor Sona had been able to find him despite exhausting every resource at their disposal.
"I remember your engagement deadline is approaching. What do you plan to do?"
Sona sighed, the weight of helplessness settling over her shoulders. What could they do? They'd exhausted all their strength and connections, yet Takeyo remained missing without a trace.
"What can I do?" Rias's eyes blazed with determination despite the desperation. "Of course I'll resist with everything I have."
She refused to give up on her freedom, refused to surrender to her fate. Not without Takeyo, and certainly not because of his absence. That wasn't who she was.
"Lord Ajuka has made contact from the Underworld."
Sona's voice softened slightly. She'd tried everything she could think of to find Takeyo, even swallowing her pride to ask her sister Serafall for help despite their ongoing cold war. But even that had yielded no results.
Now her greatest hope rested with the Devil King Beelzebub. Takeyo was Ajuka's disciple, after all. Perhaps the master had methods to track his pupil's whereabouts that they couldn't access.
"I believe senpai is fine. He must be in trouble somewhere, unable to return..."
Koneko sat on the sofa, hugging her pillow tightly, her usual stoic expression fractured by worry. Her golden eyes held unwavering faith.
She refused to believe that senpai would disappear for no reason. And the idea that he'd run away out of fear? That was completely contrary to everything she knew about him.
Besides, senpai had successfully defeated the White Dragon Emperor not long ago. How could someone of that caliber disappear out of cowardice?
"Anyway, let's see what Lord Ajuka has to say."
Sona sighed again, sharing Koneko's faith but unable to escape the creeping dread. She believed Takeyo wouldn't abandon them without reason, but where was he now? What kind of trouble had trapped him?
"That's all we can do..." Rias's gaze drifted toward the window.
Have you forgotten our original agreement? Or do you have some reason for leaving that you couldn't tell us? Or... or are you no longer in this world?
The last thought made her chest tighten painfully.
Sona didn't know how to comfort Rias. She herself was in a situation where she needed comforting rather than being able to offer it.
The soft beep of the communication device cut through the heavy silence.
Sona pressed the activation button with practiced precision, and the magical communication circle flared to life, projecting Ajuka's image.
The green-haired Satan appeared in the glowing circle, his expression grave.
"Rias, Sona... the search results have come in."
Ajuka sighed, his tone measured but weighted with unfortunate news. Of course, he personally refused to believe Takeyo had simply died. His disciple was far too exceptional, far too resourceful for such a mundane end.
"What's the result?!" Rias demanded, leaning forward urgently.
Sona remained silent, but a single crystal tear traced down her cheek.
The fact that Lord Ajuka hadn't immediately announced good news spoke volumes. After so long searching, if there were positive developments, he would have led with them.
"I'm sorry to inform you, but the Underworld's investigation has yielded no results. We cannot rule out the worst-case scenario."
Ajuka's words were clinical, professional. But his eyes held genuine regret.
In truth, he firmly believed Takeyo wouldn't die so easily. The boy had too much potential, too many advantages. But facts were facts, and he had to report them accurately.
"Doesn't rule out the worst case?! That means...!"
Rias's blue-green eyes filled with tears threatening to spill over. So that was it? Takeyo's fate was being decided just like that?
"Based on currently available information, this is the only decision we can make."
Another figure appeared beside Ajuka, a red-haired Satan whose presence commanded immediate respect.
"However, we will continue investing resources into the search until we find him."
Sirzechs Lucifer's voice was firm and reassuring.
"Onii-sama? Can you really find him?"
Hope flickered in Rias's expression, her voice rising with desperate optimism.
"I can only guarantee that we won't give up." Sirzechs's tone was honest, refusing to make promises he couldn't keep.
He genuinely hoped to find Takeyo. The efforts of the Four Great Satans couldn't be allowed to go to waste. Besides, if things worked out, Takeyo might become his brother-in-law someday.
"Won't give up..." Rias's eyes lowered, understanding the implication.
That meant the chances of finding him were slim. They would search, but success wasn't guaranteed.
Suddenly, crimson flames ignited on the Occult Research Club floor, crackling with magical energy.
Beneath the flames appeared the distinctive crest of the Phenex family.
"This crest is..." Akeno's eyes narrowed behind her usual pleasant smile.
She and Rias both recognized it immediately. That symbol was burned into their memories.
Seconds later, a figure emerged from the magic circle with theatrical flair, exuding wild confidence and barely restrained arrogance.
"Ah, it's been far too long since I breathed the air of the human world."
The young man stretched languidly before noticing the communication circle still active.
"Oh? The two Satan-samas are communicating? How rude of me, Riser Phenex, third son of the Phenex family, offers his greetings to the honorable Demon Kings."
Riser's tone shifted to something more respectful, though his natural cockiness still bled through.
Despite his position, he had to show proper deference to the Satans. Outwardly, at least.
"Riser Phenex. I've heard of you, quite active in the Rating Games, I understand. No need for excessive courtesy."
Ajuka smiled diplomatically.
Politically, he had to oppose Riser since his disciple Takeyo was theoretically Riser's rival for Rias's hand. But on the surface, proper etiquette had to be maintained.
"Thank you for the kind words, Beelzebub-sama. I merely fight for the honor of the Phenex family."
Riser's lips curved into a self-satisfied smirk.
Though constrained in the presence of the Satans, he was fundamentally someone who thrived on attention and lived by his own rules.
"Riser! What is your purpose in coming to the human world?"
Rias stood, her voice sharp and demanding.
It was a leak in the house during a rainstorm, with Takeyo missing, Riser chose now to appear!
"My purpose is quite simple, my dear Rias. I came to see if you're prepared to be my bride."
Riser's tone turned frivolous, his words dripping with presumption.
In truth, he didn't particularly care who his fiancée was. What mattered was the honor of the Phenex family and the political advantages of the match.
That said, since his arranged partner was so beautiful and powerful, marrying her as the centerpiece of his harem wasn't unappealing. After all, he was a thoroughgoing playboy.
The prospect of acquiring such a magnificent mistress for his collection was genuinely exciting.
"When did I ever agree to this engagement?"
Even before the two Satans, Rias gave her unequivocal response.
Impossible!
She had her own dreams, her own standards for a spouse. She would never marry someone as frivolous as Riser!
"Now, now, now..."
Riser shook his head with exaggerated patience, as though dealing with a stubborn child.
"This is a matter decided by our respective family heads. When pure-blooded Devils are scarce to our current level, what we carry isn't just our own futures, it's the future of the Underworld itself."
He spread his hands as if the logic was self-evident.
"Actually..." Ajuka interjected with a slight smile, thinking privately, The future of the Underworld that you imagine means nothing to us. The future that the Four Great Satans unanimously believe in is Takeyo himself.
But he kept those thoughts internal.
"I only know that my marriage is in my own hands, and I have the right to fight for my own future!"
Rias glared, pulling away sharply when Riser attempted to touch her hand.
Watching the interaction between Rias and Riser, Sona's eyes flickered with complex emotions.
Part of her wanted Rias to end up with Riser. If that happened, there would be no competition for Takeyo's affection...
But Riser's reputation as a frivolous womanizer was well-established. Was it really appropriate for Rias to marry someone like that? This internal conflict was the source of Sona's hesitation.
A trace of dissatisfaction flashed across Riser's face at Rias's defiance.
"Rias, you should understand what you're saying. If you want to fight for your rights, you need to prove it with strength. And the method everyone recognizes for such matters is..."
"Rating Game, right? I'll use a Rating Game to reclaim my future."
Rias's declaration was absolute.
"Hahahaha! My dear, sweet Rias? Are you sure you're not teasing your future husband?"
Riser laughed loudly, genuinely amused by what he considered absurd bravado.
"I'm well aware, Rias, that your peerage hasn't been completed yet. Are you certain you want to challenge me? I'm an adult Devil who's already competed in professional Rating Games. My chess pieces are all gathered. I have a complete team."
His tone was patronizing, as though explaining basic facts to someone naive.
"I don't need you to worry about that!" Rias shot back, her aura of defiance visible even to the Satans still observing through the communication circle.
Perhaps her confidence came partially from having the two Satans as her audience, one her own brother, the other her potential mentor-in-law.
She genuinely believed she had a fighting chance. Koneko's psychological barrier had been removed, her heart knot untied. If Koneko could reach her sister Kuroka's level through intensive training, defeating Riser wasn't impossible.
The strategy was clear: use Senjutsu to destroy Riser's vitality from the inside, causing his regeneration to fail.
Of course, this was the ideal scenario. Reality might not cooperate.
"Miss Rias, please don't be willful."
Another magic circle activated in the Occult Research Club, this one projecting an entirely different presence.
"Ugh..." Sirzechs's expression turned subtly uncomfortable at the sight of the newcomer.
"Grayfia!"
Rias's eyes widened in shock.
The woman who appeared was none other than Grayfia Lucifuge, Sirzechs's Queen, his wife, and the strongest Queen in the entire Underworld.
"Miss Rias should understand her current situation, correct?" Grayfia asked with formal precision.
"I only know that if I don't fight now, I'll definitely regret it for the rest of my life! Even without Takeyo, I will win this battle!"
Rias's determination burned bright.
"Takeyo? Who is this Takeyo you speak of, Rias? Why have I never heard of this chess piece?"
Riser's curiosity was piqued by the unfamiliar name.
"Lord Takeyo is Miss Rias's peerage member who consumed eight Pawn pieces, one Rook piece, one Bishop piece, and one Knight piece to successfully reincarnate as a Devil."
Grayfia explained with her characteristic detachment, her tone completely formulaic.
Now that Takeyo had disappeared and was almost certainly deceased, there was no need to conceal information about him.
"Hey, hey, hey... While I want to believe the words of the Underworld's strongest Queen, do people who consume that many pieces actually exist?"
Riser's skepticism was obvious. Though he meant no disrespect, the claim sounded completely nonsensical.
What, did you reincarnate the Infinite Dragon God or something?
"Such an individual does exist. But he's currently missing." Grayfia's response was matter-of-fact.
"Missing? Could he have become a Stray Devil? Well, well, Rias, you need to manage your peerage better, or people will question your qualifications as a King, you know?"
Riser laughed, seizing the opportunity to needle his fiancée.
"That's none of your business! Riser, I will defeat you with my own strength..."
Rias's eyes blazed with fierce determination.
"Good, good. Then I'll wait and see how you plan to defeat me while missing so many chess pieces!"
Riser performed the minimum required courtesies toward the two Satans and the strongest Queen before disappearing into his transport circle.
"Rias, are you certain you want to do this?"
Sirzechs asked quietly once Riser had departed.
From his perspective, Rias's peerage simply didn't have the strength to challenge Riser's experienced team, even if they unlocked Gasper's potential.
"Actually, you shouldn't all be so pessimistic." Ajuka spoke up thoughtfully.
"According to the two girls in his household, Takeyo should still be alive. Although they don't know his precise location, they can clearly perceive his continued existence."
"Eh?"
Rias's eyes widened, hope flooding back into her expression.
Takeyo... Takeyo is still alive?!
☆☆☆
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