"All of you did very well today." Sirzechs maintained a firm posture, his gaze passing over each member of Rias's peerage without haste.
The group aligned naturally in front of him.
"Thank you, Sirzechs-sama." Rias responded first, her body straight, without hesitation.
"It was a difficult game." Kiba kept his head slightly inclined.
"But we won." Saji added, closing his fist once before relaxing.
"We did what we trained for." Koneko said without changing her expression.
Asia brought her hands together in front of her body and bowed. "Thank you for trusting us."
Sirzechs nodded once, absorbing each response without interrupting. His gaze then shifted to the center of the formation.
"But, Gasper, you were the one who stood out."
The space did not change. No one moved abruptly. Still, the focus centered on him.
Gasper kept his feet firmly on the ground, his gaze straight, neither lowering his head nor showing unnecessary challenge.
"You controlled the entire field at the decisive moment." Sirzechs continued, his voice steady. "You interrupted multiple targets simultaneously, protected your allies, and created the opening for victory."
Rias slightly turned her face toward him. The gesture was small, but intentional.
"Without that, the confrontation would have dragged on." she stated directly.
"He held everything together." Saji added, crossing his arms. "If it wasn't for Gasper, I would have been crushed."
"I agree." Kiba maintained a controlled tone. "The execution was perfect."
Asia nodded more firmly this time. "He protected us."
Sirzechs kept his gaze fixed on Gasper.
"The Forbidden Balor View is a rare power." he declared. "Very few can use it with that level of precision without losing control or endangering allies."
"The training with Grayfia proved useful, as well as that vampire blood I gave you." Sirzechs maintained the same tone. "You knew how to use both at the correct moment."
Grayfia remained one step behind, her posture impeccable, not interfering with the conversation.
"Yes, without your help and Grayfia's we would not have succeeded, Sirzechs-sama." Gasper replied.
Sirzechs slightly inclined his head, absorbing the answer.
"Is there something I can do for you as a gift for the victory?" he asked directly.
The silence did not linger. The space remained formal, everyone still present.
'This is my chance to obtain my promotion.'
Gasper kept his gaze steady.
"I want to be promoted." he said without hesitation. "I want to ascend to the rank of a High-Class Devil."
The request fell into the center of the room without exaggeration.
Saji turned his head toward him.
Kiba did not shift his posture, but his attention changed.
Asia kept her hands together, her eyes fixed on Gasper.
Koneko did not comment.
Rias did not interrupt.
Sirzechs did not answer immediately. His gaze remained fixed, evaluating posture rather than words.
"You understand what you are asking." his voice came out steady. "A promotion of this nature is not symbolic. It changes position, influence, and responsibility."
"I understand." Gasper replied at the same level. "I want to grow. Not only as a piece. I want the real capacity to lead a peerage in the future."
Rias remained beside him. There was no objection.
Sirzechs crossed his arms.
"You defeated a King of the House of Phenex." he declared. "You used a dangerous Sacred Gear under control. You demonstrated loyalty and initiative."
Grayfia kept her gaze neutral.
"Formal promotions require Council evaluation." Sirzechs continued. "But my recommendation carries enough weight to accelerate the process."
The focus did not shift away from Gasper.
"I will approve your ascension to High-Class Devil provisionally."
The announcement was clean.
"Provisionally?" Saji repeated quietly.
"Until the records are officially updated." Sirzechs completed. "But from this moment forward, your position will be recognized as such."
Rias stepped forward.
"Congratulations, Gasper."
"Thank you, onī-sama." Rias kept her chin raised, posture aligned with protocol. "Gasper helped me. He deserves it very much."
Sirzechs nodded once.
"Without a doubt he deserves it." He adjusted his gloves with a simple motion. "Now, if you will excuse me, I will speak with our father and Lord Phenex." His gaze shifted half a degree backward. "Grayfia, escort them back."
"Of course, Lucifer-sama." Grayfia replied without changing the position of her hands.
Sirzechs turned and left the observation area with firm steps, his presence disappearing through the main corridor without pause or additional farewell.
The space was now limited to Rias's peerage and Grayfia.
Rias immediately turned to Gasper.
"You were incredible." She shortened the distance and wrapped him in a hug without warning, her arms closing firmly around his torso.
Gasper's body lifted half a handspan from the ground from the direct momentum.
Grayfia looked away for a second, then returned her gaze.
"Rias." Her voice was neutral. "I have already mentioned proper posture."
Rias did not release him immediately.
"He deserves it." The reply came quickly, the embrace still held.
Grayfia remained silent for half a second.
Rias released Gasper and placed him back on the ground, adjusting her own wings and aligning her shoulders.
"Sorry, Grayfia." She restored her formal posture.
Grayfia exhaled through her nose briefly.
"Wait until you return to Kuoh before doing that again."
Akeno brought a hand to her mouth.
A short laugh escaped.
"Pervert." Koneko said without changing her tone, her gaze fixed on Gasper.
"Hey, she was the one who hugged me." Gasper opened his hands in a direct gesture. "Why am I the pervert?"
Koneko turned her face to the side and did not respond.
Kiba let out a restrained laugh.
Saji laughed next, the sound coming out uneven.
Grayfia raised her right hand.
"Let us go. Stay together. I will teleport everyone."
The symbol of the Gremory family formed beneath the group's feet, the runes aligning into a precise circle, deep red, without oscillation.
Energy rose in a single pulse.
Space folded.
The observation area became empty.
___
In the infirmary of the dimensional field, the environment remained far too quiet for a place that had just witnessed the end of a decisive Rating Game.
"My apologies regarding the marriage contract, Lord Phenex." Lord Gremory maintained an upright posture, his hands aligned behind his back. "The terms were clear from the beginning."
"I no longer care about the contract." Lord Phenex replied without changing his tone, his gaze fixed ahead. "But that black flame that servant possessed damaged my son's regeneration."
The comment remained suspended between them.
Before Lord Gremory could answer, controlled footsteps echoed through the side corridor.
Sirzechs approached without hurry, his hands resting behind his body, his expression stable.
"Hello. I hope I am not interrupting."
Lord Phenex slightly turned his face.
"Not at all, Lucifer-sama."
Sirzechs inclined his head with minimal courtesy.
"I came to check on Riser." He maintained a cordial tone. "I wanted to confirm that he is well."
"I appreciate your visit." Lord Phenex replied. "But my son and his peerage have already returned home with my wife."
"That is unfortunate." Sirzechs adjusted his posture slightly. "I wanted to say goodbye to him." He paused briefly. "But changing the subject… I could not help hearing you question the power of my sister's servant. For the second time today."
The silence that followed was brief, but precise.
Lord Phenex maintained his steady gaze.
"It is unprecedented." He spoke with controlled calm. "An ability beyond the light of angels capable of affecting the regeneration of the Phenex bloodline." His jaw moved once. "Naturally it draws attention."
Sirzechs kept a restrained smile.
"Naturally." He inclined his head a few millimeters. "Just like the ability of a Phenex heir to endure extreme pressure in direct combat." The pause was calculated. "Exceptional talents arise in every House."
Lord Phenex did not look away.
"Talents must be understood." The response came at the same level. "Especially when they interfere with ancestral abilities."
"Understanding is important." Sirzechs agreed. "But public questioning can be interpreted as doubt about the legitimacy of the result."
The sentence was not spoken as an accusation. It was presented as a fact.
Lord Phenex breathed once, controlled.
"I do not question the result." He declared. "The victory was clear."
Sirzechs nodded.
"I am pleased to hear that."
The air between the three remained stable. No open hostility. No explicit concession.
"Well, you are right, Lucifer-sama." Lord Phenex said at last, ending the exchange with intact formality. "Now, if you will excuse me, I will return home. Farewell, Lord Gremory."
"Farewell." Lord Gremory replied without changing posture.
Sirzechs slightly inclined his head.
"Have a safe journey."
Lord Phenex turned and left the infirmary with firm steps, without looking back.
The corridor became silent.
Lord Gremory turned toward his son.
"Sirzechs… did you do something?"
"I did nothing, father." Sirzechs replied naturally. "But now let my sister marry whoever she wants. That is our private agreement."
Lord Gremory held his gaze for a few seconds.
"I will fulfill my part." He answered. "But remember. The groom must be a High-Class Devil."
Sirzechs kept a faint smile.
"He will be, father."
He turned his face toward the empty corridor.
"He will be."
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