Chapter 9: A Challenge from Sairaorg!
After bringing Kingu back to the Gremory residence and settling everything, the night passed quietly.
The next day, Kingu's return caused another stir. Rias and the others were particularly shocked when they saw her. Kingu's face was eighty percent identical to Enkidu's, the only difference being the shift from gender-neutral to feminine.
Since Akira had previously inherited Enkidu's template, he also shared a sixty percent resemblance with Enkidu. This led Rias and the others to have no doubts about Kingu's identity.
Furthermore, they were stunned once again to discover that Kingu could also manifest the Enuma Elish: Chain of Heaven.
Venelana, specifically, started forming her own little plans. Both siblings could use the Chain of Heaven. Did that mean this "Sacred Gear" could be passed down through bloodlines? If so, could the Gremory house obtain it in the future?
Just as the Gremory family currently possessed the "Power of Destruction" from the Bael lineage, adding an inheritable Sacred Gear would mean the Gremory house would surely skyrocket in influence over the next century.
At midday, following lunch, a visitor arrived. In the Gremory parlor, Akira sat across from Sairaorg. Tea and snacks were served between them.
Sairaorg had visited once before, but due to the chaos surrounding Tiamat's arrival, he had been overlooked. He understood that the arrival of one's mother would involve many affairs, so he had chosen to leave early. Today, he had returned.
"Sairaorg, what brings you here in the middle of the day?"
"I didn't come for anything else. I've come to deliver a formal challenge to you."
"Huh? A challenge?"
The answer caught Akira off guard. The two of them were on good terms and had no conflicts. Why the need for a challenge?
"Because you are strong. You defeated the Evil God of the North and the God-Slaying Demonic Wolf. Facing a powerhouse like you, how could I not challenge you?"
As he spoke, Sairaorg's tone grew increasingly heated and passionate.
Akira understood immediately. This battle-maniac simply wanted to fight for the sake of the fight itself. For someone obsessed with combat, challenging the strong was of paramount importance.
The pressure exerted by a powerful opponent allowed them to grow; as the saying goes, without pressure, there is no motivation. Coupled with Sairaorg's sheer enjoyment of battle, he couldn't hold back after learning of Akira's strength.
It was only because the Gremory house had been so busy lately—with Rias's coming-of-age ceremony and that troublesome first Rating Game—that he had waited until now to visit.
"I'll be blunt, Sairaorg. Right now, you aren't a match for me at all."
"I know. I know how strong you are. You possess a Longinus, the Boosted Gear, and you are this generation's Sekiryuutei. You have a second powerful Sacred Gear, and your own power has already reached the Maou-class. I am indeed no match for you."
Hearing the words "Boosted Gear" and "Sekiryuutei," Akira fell silent for a moment. He had actually left the Boosted Gear back in Orario with Hephaestus. As of now, Akira was no longer the Red Dragon Emperor.
"If you already know that, then why challenge me? Do you have some kind of masochistic streak?"
"It's precisely because your strength is so overwhelming that this challenge is necessary. I want to know exactly where my current limits lie. Therefore, please, lend me your strength."
With those words, Sairaorg stood up and gave Akira a deep, ninety-degree bow.
The gesture left Akira feeling somewhat overwhelmed. It was almost like being cornered into agreeing. However, despite the headache, Akira didn't dislike this side of Sairaorg.
Back when Akira had first crossed over into this world, in order to gain inheritance levels, he had spent every night wandering around to lure out Stray Devils, growing stronger by hunting them down.
Even after arriving in the Underworld, it was the same. Stronger opponents yielded higher inheritance rates. This was no different from Sairaorg chasing after powerhouses now.
"Fine, I accept. You name the time and place."
"Everything is already prepared. Tomorrow morning, at the specialized combat arena of the Bael family, I shall await your arrival."
"You... you had it all set up before you even met me. Weren't you afraid I'd turn you down?"
"We are the same kind of people. Because of that, I knew you wouldn't refuse."
The absolute conviction in his voice made Akira pause. If anyone ever called this man a "meathead" who only relied on muscles, Akira would personally set them straight. A meathead? Far from it.
"Alright, I get it. Rias knows the place, right?"
"Rias is also a daughter of the Bael line; of course she knows where the Bael arena is."
"Fine then. I'll be there tomorrow morning."
"Then I shall look forward to your arrival. Please excuse me, as I still have a few arrangements to finalize."
"Yeah."
Sairaorg bowed once more and departed, his goal accomplished. However, their fight tomorrow would certainly cause a significant stir, especially since it was being held at the Bael estate. It required careful management.
For Sairaorg, tomorrow wasn't about winning—it was about building his reputation. Because he hadn't inherited the Power of Destruction, even though he was now the successor of the Bael house, his reputation was still low because he was considered "incompetent." Strength was one thing, but lacking the signature trait of the Bael family made people view him as talentless.
By standing out at the previous party with Akira's help, even if he lost tomorrow, as long as he could showcase his true power, he would be able to silence his critics.
Though the dissenting voices wouldn't disappear entirely, he wouldn't let even the smallest chance slip by in his quest to become a Maou.
Anyone capable of becoming the successor to a Great House couldn't possibly be a fool. Wherever there are people, there are struggles and schemes—especially within an ancient, pure-blooded Devil family.
If Sairaorg didn't have a brain, he would have died a dozen times over during his transition from a pariah to the clan heir. A brute isn't scary; what's scary is a brute who knows how to think.
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