Acting on pure physical instinct, who could possibly withstand a situation like this?
Ryuya could clearly feel himself already fully fired up. Under Rias's deliberate guidance, he had practically locked onto the enemy camp—just a step away from charging straight in.
Damn it… if this kept up, there would be no stopping it.
Ryuya hurriedly stopped Rias.
"Wait—don't."
Rias looked at him, her breathing slightly hurried.
"What? Do you think I'm not qualified to touch you?"
"…Of course not. It's my honor, if anything."
"Then lie still and don't move. Just leave it to me."
As she spoke, Rias continued trying to cooperate with him, clearly intent on helping him break through smoothly.
"..."
Ryuya was speechless. This was completely missing the point.
He shifted his position, turning Rias over and pinning her beneath him, his expression serious.
"Let's not do this, Rias. I don't care what happens to me—but I can't mess around with your reputation."
If Rias didn't have that damn engagement hanging over her head, Ryuya wouldn't hesitate for a second. But with things as they were now, there was no way he could indulge her recklessness.
Even if, as Rias said, once the rice was cooked and done, her family would be forced to shut up—it would still be at the cost of Rias's honor.
If word got out, the impact on her would be catastrophic. Every race would be laughing at the Gremory family.
Ryuya didn't care how others viewed him. He had never cared about public opinion in the first place; he only acted ordinary to avoid drawing unnecessary attention and to blend in.
But he cared deeply about Rias and the others. He didn't want them to suffer something like this.
Rias let out a sigh.
"Reputation… even now, you're still thinking about me? If we don't do this, I'll have to marry someone else."
"If I don't think about you, who else am I supposed to think about?" Ryuya replied lightly. "Besides, this scorched-earth approach of yours is really the worst possible option."
He smiled and gently kissed Rias on the lips.
"Didn't we agree? If things really became impossible, you'd leave it to me."
"…You?"
Rias fell silent. She genuinely couldn't imagine how Ryuya planned to deal with this situation.
Her confusion and doubt were obvious, and Ryuya naturally noticed. He simply smiled gently.
"You don't believe I can handle it? Same question as always—when have I ever let you down?"
"..."
Rias hesitated.
She stared at Ryuya, and she could feel it—he truly was confident.
"Do you really have a way to resolve this?"
"Yeah." Ryuya chuckled softly. "All that hard training of mine wasn't for nothing."
"…Really? That's wonderful."
Unable to hold back, Rias hugged him tightly. The heat from her alluring body was unmistakable, enough to stir anyone's blood.
"Mm… don't rub like that," Ryuya said quietly. "I won't be able to hold back."
"..."
The girl blinked, finally understanding.
After thinking for a moment, she whispered,
"Should I help you like last time?"
Ryuya pressed his lips together, hesitating a little.
"Maybe… better not. Your technique isn't very good, and your teeth are kind of sharp…"
"Uh… I'll be more careful this time!" Rias said with a smile in her eyes. "But you have to help me too."
"…Help how?"
"Same as me, of course. For now, this is all we can do…"
So… sixty-nine?
Ryuya understood immediately and let out a soft snort.
"Fine. I'll help."
...
After indulging themselves thoroughly, Ryuya lay together with Rias, holding her in his arms.
He glanced toward a corner of the room and suddenly curled his lips.
"Someone seems to have been waiting a bit too impatiently…"
Rias followed his gaze, then lightly pressed her lips together.
"Come out."
A magic circle lit up, and someone was teleported in.
The newcomer was a woman with striking silver hair cascading down her back. She wore a perfectly fitted maid outfit, her appearance beautiful, yet her expression was meticulous and severe.
She seemed to carry the aura of a powerhouse—just looking at her made one instinctively feel how formidable she was.
"Lady Rias, to think you would do such things with a lowly person like this… If the master knew, he would be heartbroken."
Rias stood up without yielding an inch, positioning herself directly in front of the woman.
"My body belongs to me. Who I do this with is not for anyone else to decide."
Her voice was icy, her presence no weaker than that of the domineering maid as she spoke with clear displeasure.
"And furthermore, I cannot forgive you for calling my servant a base person. Even if you are the 'Queen' who serves my brother, it makes no difference—Grayfia. In my eyes, he is far better than those filthy-minded people."
Rias spoke earnestly, anger lacing her words, causing the maid called Grayfia to fall silent.
She seemed to sigh softly, then bent down to pick up Rias's clothes from the floor and stepped forward to drape them over her.
"No matter what, you are the future head of the Gremory family. Please conduct yourself with dignity."
After saying that, she turned her gaze to Ryuya, examining him from head to toe.
Ryuya sat calmly on the bed. Although the woman before him gave off an extremely dangerous feeling, he showed not the slightest hint of fear.
"So this is the brat you quarreled so fiercely with the family head and the master over?"
Her tone was calm, but the disdain she held for Ryuya was unmistakable.
Just as Rias was about to speak, Ryuya calmly opened his mouth.
"You seem to have misunderstood something. Rias isn't doing this for my sake."
As he stood up, a flash of light enveloped him, and a set of well-fitted clothes appeared on his body. He met Grayfia's pressure-filled gaze head-on without flinching.
"Rias is resisting for her own sake."
Grayfia stared at Ryuya in silence. She said nothing, but the oppressive aura surrounding her grew heavier and heavier, as if her gaze alone could crush someone to the ground.
Ryuya felt that pressure as well, but intimidation was the one thing he cared least about. He directly supported his will with his Sacred Gear, staring back at Grayfia without yielding an inch.
"That's enough! Grayfia—even if you are the strongest 'Queen' in the entire Underworld, my affairs are not for you to interfere with."
For the first time, Rias spoke with complete resolve.
"If there's anything to discuss, we'll do it at my castle. I'll bring Akeno with me as well. Any objections?"
Grayfia lowered her gaze slightly, as if conceding a step.
"You are, after all, a high-class devil. Bringing your 'Queen' is only proper."
"Then fine. Let's go there and lay everything out clearly. I've had enough," Rias said coldly, taking Ryuya's hand and activating teleportation first.
Grayfia followed immediately. Everyone gathered at the castle—Koneko Toujou and Asia Argento were there as well.
----
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