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"Riser, what are you doing here!"
Rias stood up, her face grim as she looked at the blonde man in front of her.
"Heh heh, I finally made it to the Human World. Aren't you going to offer me some tea? You, woman, make me a cup of black tea!"
Ignoring everyone else, Riser dropped onto the sofa and arrogantly pointed at Sakuya, who was already preparing black tea.
"Riser, Izayoi Sakuya is not my servant — she is a guest. Mind your manners, or I won't be so courteous to you." Rias turned to Akeno. "Akeno, go prepare some tea."
"Yes, President!"
Akeno gave Riser a pointed look before going to prepare it.
"Is that so? Fine. I'll give you that much, Rias."
Riser waved his hand dismissively. A moment later, Akeno set a cup of black tea in front of him. He picked it up, took a sip, and let out a satisfied sound.
"Oh, the tea brewed by Rias's Queen is delicious!"
"The pleasure is mine."
Akeno bowed slightly and returned to her place behind Rias.
"Riser. I've told you before — I won't marry you."
Riser spread his hands with a mocking expression.
"But Rias, your family's situation is too dire to allow you to be so headstrong."
"I don't intend to destroy my family." Rias's voice was firm. "Even if I have to marry into another house, I can accept that. But I will only marry someone I choose."
Riser clicked his tongue.
"Preventing the pure-blooded devils from disappearing entirely is a matter for all of us. Their numbers fell so drastically in the last war. Your father and Lord Sirzechs arranged this marriage with the future in mind."
"Click... clack..."
Rias lowered her head.
"Father, my brother, everyone in the clan — they're all too anxious."
She looked up, her expression resolute.
"I won't repeat myself, Riser. I will not marry you."
"Click... clack..."
Riser stood up, his face darkening.
"Rias, I carry the Phoenix family name. I cannot let the family lose face."
"Click... clack..."
"And can you two crack sunflower seeds somewhere else?" Riser's eyes snapped to the side, a flash of genuine killing intent crossing his face. "If it weren't for Rias, I'd have killed you both already."
Kaito and Rimuru sat side by side, each methodically cracking sunflower seeds, sunflower shells scattered across the floor around them, watching the confrontation with great interest.
"Hey, what's this guy's name again?"
Akeno stepped forward quickly.
"This is Riser Phoenix, the third young master of the Phoenix family — a pure-blooded devil house from the Underworld."
"Oh, Phoenix." Kaito's expression didn't change. "That's the family full of turkeys, right?"
"What did you say, you bastard! How dare you insult the Phoenix family!"
Riser shot to his feet, a ball of Phoenix Flame flaring in his hand.
"You're dead today! Don't think Rias can protect you!"
Rias stepped in front of Kaito immediately, facing Riser with a set expression.
"No one touches them today. Kaito-sensei, Rimuru, Sakuya — please step back. With me here, he won't lay a hand on you."
Riser's anger only grew.
"Hmph. You can protect them — but can you protect everyone? What happens when I go after your servants instead?"
"You... that's despicable!"
Just as the two were about to come to blows, a teleportation magic circle flared to life between them. The light faded, and a silver-haired woman in a maid's uniform stepped through.
"Lady Grayfia!"
Everyone who recognized her bowed at once.
Grayfia, however, wasn't looking at Rias or Riser. Her gaze had drifted to Sakuya, who stood quietly nearby. The similar uniform, the silver hair — for a moment it was like looking at a smaller reflection of herself. The others in the room felt it too. The resemblance was striking.
Grayfia composed herself and addressed Rias and Riser.
"I am here on Lord Sirzechs's orders. He foresaw how this moment might unfold, so I was sent to implement the final measure of judgment."
"Final measure?" Rias frowned. "What does that mean?"
"If the young lady insists on her own decision, both sides will settle the matter through a Rating Game."
Akeno and the other servants immediately tensed.
"A Rating Game? The President only has a handful of us — that's completely unfair!"
"Exactly. This is just deciding her fate for her!"
Riser smiled with satisfaction.
"I agree to it." He glanced at Grayfia, then let his gaze slide over to Sakuya standing behind Kaito. A smug smile crept across his face. "But first, the one who insulted my family still needs to pay for it."
He paused, clearly enjoying himself.
"Out of respect for Rias, I'll spare your lives. But that maid becomes my servant from here on. Quite the honor, wouldn't you say?"
"Impossible! Riser, you've gone too far!"
Rias shouted, completely unaware that the expression on Kaito's face behind her had gone very cold.
"So." A flat, emotionless voice came from behind her. "You want Sakuya."
"Hmph. Offending the Phoenix family and only losing a maid is getting off easy. Be grateful."
"Are you ready to die, turkey?"
The moment Kaito's words landed, a terrifying aura exploded from him. The pressure hit everyone in the room like a physical blow — no one could breathe. Even Grayfia, who carried the power of a Devil King, felt it.
This was already Kaito holding back. Had he not, everyone present would have been crushed to nothing.
"This... this... who are you!"
Riser ground out the words through the crushing weight bearing down on him.
Kaito walked past Rias without a word and stopped directly in front of Riser.
"I asked how you want to die, turkey."
"I... I... I..."