Rias doesn't like Cid!!!
That was the conclusion Rias reached after her second interaction with him.
When they first met, her impression of Cid was that he was a shy, somewhat timid, and inexperienced boy with rather weak strength. Still, she believed that as long as he was willing to work hard and not give up on himself, she would treat him as family all the same.
So even though she knew that having Cid train alone, while letting Claire join first to build coordination, was a reasonable strategy for victory, she still went to find him out of guilt. She wanted to explain things and make sure he wouldn't harbor resentment toward them.
But that meeting didn't go the way she had imagined. The scene where she would act as a caring older sister, guiding a gloomy boy, never happened. Instead, she found herself developing a sense of rejection toward Cid.
Rias was proud to be part of the House of Gremory, yet she also hated that very name, because it bound her wherever she went.
Having A+ level strength at such a young age should have earned her praise anywhere. Yet all people ever said was, "As expected of the Gremory family's princess."
That single sentence summed up all the effort she had put into surpassing her peers.
She wanted to break free from that label. She wanted everyone to see her as "Rias," not "Rias of the House of Gremory."
In that sense, she and Cid were alike. To others, Cid was "Claire's younger brother," while she was "Rias of the House of Gremory." Both of them were defined as someone else's attachment.
That was why she reacted so strongly when Cid said he had everything because of his sister. She couldn't deny it. She couldn't deny that she had accepted Cid into her Peerage partly because of Claire. That meant she had placed the same label on him.
And when Cid said he was already used to it, she began to reject him.
Because that was a denial of her own goal.
She didn't want to become what Cid called "used to it." She needed achievements. She needed to use her accomplishments to break free from the "Gremory" label.
And her first achievement would be defeating Riser.
Until… the match began.
Knocked to the ground by Riser, watching his attack closing in, regret filled her heart, along with a faint urge to give up.
Just give up.
Even if you win, people will only say, "As expected of the Gremory princess."
You will never escape that label.
Yeah… maybe giving up is fine. Why not just accept being Rias Gremory?
But… it's so frustrating.
Her Magical Power gathered and collapsed at the same time. Lying on the ground, she prepared to self-destruct as Riser drew closer.
"Whoosh!"
A silver sword cut through the air and knocked Riser away. Someone she never expected appeared before her.
"I'm going to beat you to death for daring to hurt my treasure, you (shadow profanity). Prepare yourself."
Despite the blood pouring from his wounds as if they didn't exist, Cid spoke with fury.
Treasure… me?
The thought surfaced instinctively, but she immediately dismissed it. Rias was proud, but not foolish. She had barely interacted with Cid, and he had never shown any affection toward her.
So… he must be here because Claire paid a heavy price.
Seeing the wounds covering Cid, who should have been watching alongside Ravel, and recalling Claire's sudden, overwhelming power, combined with her understanding of Riser, Rias quickly pieced everything together.
"Thud…"
Having understood it all, she fell silent, watching that figure fall again and again, only to stand back up each time.
"Bang!"
Their fists collided. Cid's burning gaze, filled with anger, shone brightly.
Now, who could say that the boy before her was merely Claire's shadow?
He fell once more, ignoring his wounds, and charged forward again. Compared to the exhausted Riser, the boy looked more like a phoenix that refused to die.
I want it. I want it. I want it!!!
Her longing gaze locked onto Cid, who had already brought Riser down.
Whether it was admiration, desire, or something closer to reverence, Rias understood one thing clearly.
Cid, I want you to become my family!
…
"I'm sorry!"
After apologizing, the red-haired beauty awkwardly brushed her fingertips through her hair, then pressed her hand against her ample breasts. She took a deep breath, lifted her head with a determined gaze, and extended her left hand toward Cid.
"Cid, become a [Pawn] in our country's international tournament."
What are you even saying?
…
"You look completely out of it. Still thinking about being kicked out by Rias-senpai?
Take it easy. I watched your match, Cid. You already did really well. Anyone with a good eye wouldn't think it was your fault.
If no one wants you in the future… then join my team. I'll save you a spot."
A light tap on his shoulder snapped Cid out of his thoughts, followed by Asagi Aiba's bright, cheerful voice.
"I'm not bothered by what happened with Rias-senpai. I was a bottom-tier student to begin with. I've just gone back to square one.
...Asagi, from the sound of it, you're planning to compete for Evil Pieces."
He removed the hand resting on his shoulder, catching the implication in her words, and raised an eyebrow.
"…Yeah. Sometimes you have to fight for it. Otherwise, it just doesn't sit right."
After a brief pause, Asagi Aiba nodded, admitting it. But as she spoke, her gaze unconsciously drifted down to the side.
Cid noticed, but didn't expose it. He simply smiled and offered his blessing.
"Then… I hope you get what you want soon."
"Hey, don't act like me getting an Evil Piece is some kind of fantasy. I just said I'd save you a spot if I get one. Shouldn't you be a little grateful?"
"Evil Piece…"
Give me a break. If this happens again, even if you're my mob friend, Asagi, I might just release the Evil Piece and let the transformation go through, even if it means you die from the backlash.
"Aaah… I know that with how crazy the price of Peerage Pieces is right now, saying I'll get one on my own sounds unrealistic. But can't you at least root for me a little? If I actually pull it off, you'll get a Pawn position for free."
It seemed Cid's muttering hit a sore spot. Asagi Aiba slumped onto the desk, looking completely drained as she complained.
"Just a Pawn?"
"What? Isn't Pawn enough? After being Rias's Peerage once, did your value go up or something?"
"Fair point."
Cid felt a bit miserable. Even as a mob character, he had been assigned the Pawn role twice in a row. It really felt like he had sunk to the level of a complete extra.
"Hmm… what did you mean earlier about Peerage Pieces skyrocketing in price? Did something happen recently?"
As his thoughts turned, Cid caught onto another piece of information she had casually revealed.
"You… forget it. You just woke up, so I won't make fun of you."
Asagi Aiba looked like she wanted to complain, then suddenly held back.
"Hey, cut me some slack. I'm still recovering, you know."
Noticing her hesitation, Cid immediately shot back.
According to his plan, he had slept for several days. But the moment he woke up, he was greeted by Rias acting strangely, saying a bunch of confusing things and inviting him to join her in a future international tournament.
For a moment, he thought his plan had failed, that his body hadn't developed the Power of Destruction rejection trait.
Only after she explained did he realize that Rias wasn't inviting him to become her Peerage, but to join a team for an upcoming international tournament, something like the Olympics.
This international tournament was essentially a large-scale Rating Game held between different factions. Unlike normal Rating Games, participants wouldn't fight as Peerage, but as teams.
In other words, even Rias's own Peerage could leave and join other competitors' teams, potentially facing her, their King, in battle.
While Cid was unconscious, Rias had tried multiple times to fuse an Evil Piece into his body, but every attempt failed. When she sought Beelzebub's opinion, she was told only this:
"The rejection is too strong. The failed reincarnation likely caused a mutation in a body that was originally unsuitable for it, which intensified the rejection."
After hearing that, Rias became completely absent-minded day after day. Seeing his little sister like that, Sirzechs couldn't bear it and told her about the international tournament currently in preparation.
Although team bonds in the tournament wouldn't be as close as those formed through Peerage Pieces, it at least gave Rias some comfort.