After the incident in the Demon World, the Occult Research Club had been spending its days in peace as usual—until a forgotten matter suddenly dragged chaos back into their lives. That matter was...
"For that reason, Lord Raiser and Lady Rias's Rating Game has been set for two days from now."
"Come to think of it..."
Because of Uchiha Madara, Senju Hashirama, and [Akatsuki], and because such a major incident had erupted in the Demon World, even Rias had completely forgotten about the Rating Game. Well, the Demon World had been the same. But because there was one lone party who had voiced strong objections, the schedule for the engagement-bound Rating Game had apparently been reset.
"I understand..."
"Yes. Then, I'll take my leave."
Grayfia bowed politely and withdrew, and Rias wore a gloomy expression. From a third party's perspective, Rias had played a considerable role in bringing Hashirama here and changing the fate of the Demon World. As a reward, they could have granted her at least one wish. And given that Rias had made it abundantly clear she had no intention of marrying, they could even have treated the engagement as if it had never happened. But the higher-ups had done nothing of the sort. Instead, they had moved the Rating Game forward without even giving her time to prepare. It felt as though they were trying to force the marriage through no matter what. But Rias, out of respect for her older brother Sirzechs and for Lord Gremory, was not the sort to entertain such impious thoughts. So she had no choice but to accept the Rating Game as it had been decided.
"Haah..."
The strategy had been prepared in advance, but with everything descending on her so suddenly, she could only feel confused. In the end, as she sat alone in the clubroom, lost in thought...
"Senpai~"
Issei entered the clubroom with a bright expression. Then—
"Is something wrong?"
"Ah. Issei? No, it's nothing. Welcome."
Normally, Rias would have greeted him with a cheerful smile and said, "Welcome," but today she had been so dazed she hadn't even noticed him arrive. So Issei approached her and checked her expression. Thinking carefully about why Rias might be like this, he quickly saw through it.
"So it's finally happening."
He had figured it out. Considering Raiser's personality, he would have used the Madara incident as an excuse to push even harder for bloodline and racial prosperity, insisting that the engagement had to go through. In the end, the Phoenix family's honor had likely forced the game back on schedule. And Issei was not without dissatisfaction toward the Demon World either, for making such a decision even while knowing what Rias had done.
"Senpai, is this about the Rating Game?"
"So I really can't hide anything from you, huh?"
Because of the Madara incident, and because she didn't want to burden Issei any further, she had intended to keep it secret. But Issei had read her expression instantly, and she looked at him in surprise. Then, seeing the change in Rias's gaze, Issei's expression darkened, and he soon excused himself, saying he had something to do. At that...
"Issei... Right, this has nothing to do with Issei... But still..."
For some reason, her chest hurt. It was a bitter, suffocating, bruised feeling. Issei had only left, yet anxiety surged through her, and the anxiety only deepened.
"Why... do I feel like this?"
Even she didn't fully understand the feeling. It seemed her reason still regarded the human Issei as nothing more than an adorable junior, so she couldn't understand why her heart was reacting this way. But if she thought back on everything that had happened, there were already several reasons she might have developed feelings for Issei. She simply couldn't bring them to mind because the Rating Game had left her so confused. In the end, she decided to cast away all stray thoughts.
"Yes. Winning is the only way."
With strong willpower, she pushed back her unease and began preparing for victory.
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Several days later.
As the sun set and darkness fell over Kuoh Academy, a massive magic circle spread across the center of the school. A magic circle that copied the school itself, creating an entirely new space identical to Kuoh Academy.
"Then, from this moment, we will begin the Rating Game between Team Rias Gremory and Team Raiser Phoenix."
That signal announced the start of the Rating Game, watched by many through monitors. Then the two teams appeared within the created space.
Raiser's fourteen servants and
Rias's three servants.
It was overwhelming from the sheer difference in numbers, and there had been no reduction in Raiser's side for the sake of balance. And so the one-sided Rating Game began. Just ten minutes after the start...
"Queen, Knight, and Rook of Lady Rias Gremory's servants have retired. Three Pawns, one Knight, and one Rook of Lord Raiser Phoenix's servants have retired."
With the commentator's announcement, Rias was left alone on the field against Raiser Phoenix's servants. Before she had even fought Raiser himself, she had already suffered injuries all over her body, and her school uniform was in tatters.
"Look at this, Rias! This is the difference between you and me!"
"But I won't give up! I'll carve out the future with my own hands! I won't lose to the likes of you, Raiser!"
Standing behind his servants, Raiser tried to make Rias understand the difference between them, but Rias never lowered her resolve and had no intention of giving up. Then—
"I was going to treat you well if you'd just obediently become mine, but I see that won't do. I'll have to use a rougher method."
At last, Raiser himself stepped in front of Rias. Then—
"Eat this!"
"Ggh!"
Rias could barely endure the flames he casually created in his hand with a defensive magic circle. She had already exhausted nearly all her strength fighting his servants, and the fact that she was still standing at all was a miracle. Raiser gradually increased the intensity of his attacks, and with each strike, Rias's stamina and the clothes on her body were stripped away. Then—
"The one they called the Ruin Princess, reduced to this state. Well, that only makes it better!"
Rias, now nearly naked, endured even the shame as a woman and held out to the end. Raiser licked his lips at the sight of the body that would soon be his, and finally...
"I... will never... never..."
Rias lost consciousness and collapsed.
"Rias Gremory has retired. The winner is Team Raiser Phoenix."
With the commentator's announcement came the result. And there was one person who could not bear to watch the video and had only listened to it. The moment he heard the result, he ground his teeth and vanished from his seat, suppressing the overflowing rage all the way to the next step.
And after some time had passed since the Rating Game, a banquet was underway in the Demon World. It was the engagement ceremony meant to unite the House of Gremory and the Phoenix family. Devils from the Demon King Sirzechs's family, the Phoenix family, and the noble houses had gathered in one place, chatting merrily.
And among them were three people wearing dark expressions, completely unlike the cheerful atmosphere of the social gathering.
They were Himejima Akeno, Kiba Yuuto, and Koneko Toujou, Rias Gremory's servants. The reason was Rias's forced engagement. Even though they served the future head of the House of Gremory, they were attending their master's engagement ceremony against her will, so of course they could not look cheerful. And what they resented most was their own helplessness, unable to do anything. And especially unbearable was...
"Rias, that's a beautiful dress. The goddess of beauty must be talking about you now."
Raiser was reveling in his victory, touching and groping the exposed skin visible through Rias's gorgeous, revealing dress. Her eyes had already lost their light. Rias had resisted as much as she could with her own will, and this was the result. She had tried to accept it, but she simply could not. Her body was here, but her heart was already elsewhere, and Raiser said to her...
"Even if you resist like this, in a few months you'll be sharing a bed with me~, and after that you'll bear my child. Wouldn't it be better for both of us if you gave up sooner?"
Though she was his fiancée, he shamelessly molested her, even touching her buttocks, but Rias showed no reaction at all.
"I'm looking forward to the first night when the proud you finally ends up crying as my property."
Raiser kept choosing only the most unbearable things to say. In the end, Rias's servants waiting outside the room could no longer stand it and decided to act for her. And at that moment—
"W-who goes there!"
"Catch him!"
Suddenly, there was a commotion at the entrance, and everyone's attention turned there. What they saw was...
"Move."
A black-haired boy radiating killing intent from his entire body, and soldiers who lost all fighting spirit and staggered backward just from being glared at by him. The boy, still exuding that murderous aura, walked toward the center of the venue, where the Demon Kings were gathered.
"You are... Hyoudou Issei..."
When Issei stopped in front of Sirzechs, Sirzechs—who could never have forgotten his face—welcomed him with a smile as if he had been waiting for him.
"I have come with one request, Lord Demon King."
"What? Is that not a human!?"
"How dare a human come here!?"
"Guards! What are you doing? Seize him at once!"
When the human boy stood straight before the Demon King and spoke, the surrounding devils erupted in fury and ordered the guards to act. But the soldiers who had already experienced Issei's killing intent could not even bring themselves to approach him. Then—
"Let us hear it, Hyoudou Issei."
"Sirzechs-sama!?"
"What is this! We don't need to listen to the words of a human!"
Even after the recent disaster, they still looked down on humans. As expected, they were just high nobles who only knew how to bark from a safe place. Sirzechs ignored them and raised a hand to silence their objections. Then he said...
"I object to this marriage of Rias Gremory."
"Oh? And why?"
"Because... I love Rias Gremory more than anyone else in this world! So please cancel Rias Gremory's marriage!!!"
Issei shouted so loudly it seemed the ceiling might collapse, and the entire venue fell silent. Hearing a familiar voice from the waiting room, Rias...
"Issei?.. No way!"
In an instant, light returned to her eyes, and she hurriedly ran out.
"W-wait! Rias!"
As Rias suddenly dashed out, Raiser hurried after her. When they arrived, they found Issei facing Sirzechs.
"Issei!? Why are you here..."
"You bastard! How dare a human come all the way here!"
Rias was shocked and overjoyed to see Issei. The moment he appeared, just when she had been ready to give up everything, light returned to her eyes, and as she tried to move closer to him, Raiser stepped between them, flames bursting from his whole body. Then—
"Lord Raiser."
"S-Sirzechs-sama!"
Seeing Sirzechs step in to mediate, Raiser hurriedly extinguished his flames and knelt. At least he still knew his place.
"I also happened to have something to say to you. I, too, had objections to this marriage from the start."
"W-what!"
"And Hyoudou Issei, you have light within you. If it were not for you and Lord Hashirama, our Demon World would have been destroyed by Uchiha Madara and [Akatsuki] by now. It is no exaggeration to say that the reason we can all gather here today is thanks to you and your master. Wouldn't you agree as well?"
"W-what did you say? Then that boy is..."
"The disciple of Senju Hashirama?"
"..."
The nobles who had first dismissed him as a human instantly changed their attitude. Raiser also looked at Issei in shock.
"So, I would like to offer Hyoudou Issei-kun a proper reward for saving the Demon World. If there is anything you desire, speak."
When Sirzechs made his offer, Issei answered without hesitation, as if he had been waiting for this moment.
"Yes! There is only one thing I want! Please make Rias Gremory's marriage disappear as if it had never happened!"
"Issei..."
"W-what did you say!? Do you even know what you're saying, human!?"
At Issei's demand, Rias's eyes grew moist as she looked at him, and Raiser finally exploded in rage. But—
"Calm yourself, Lord Raiser. From the start, forcing this through for the sake of the family without considering the feelings of the person involved was the mistake. However, simply calling off the engagement would also stain your family's honor. So, I have a proposal."
"A proposal?.. What is it?"
"If you defeat this boy in a duel, I will personally approve your marriage to Rias. But if you lose, then give it up cleanly."
"...You think I'd lose to a human like this?"
Apparently, Raiser had not seen the power of the ninja with his own eyes, so he did not know his place. And since Issei was said to be that man's disciple, he looked down on him even more.
"That works for me. I have no intention of losing to a guy like this."
"Good. Then I accept as well. It seems I'll have to show this inferior human the power of an upper-class devil. I, Raiser Phoenix, shall present you with a splendid dance in the face of this thousand-year engagement!"
When Issei provoked him, Raiser accepted just as easily, and the duel between the two was approved.
"Issei..."
"Don't worry. I'll definitely win."
He reassured the worried Rias with a bright smile, and the two were then transported to the hastily prepared virtual duel arena. Then—
"A human may have spirit, but there is a decisive difference between humans and devils! You humans are inferior beings!"
Perhaps because he had failed to control his anger any longer, Raiser struck from behind the moment they arrived, before the signal to begin had even been given. It would have been natural to stop him for foul play, but because his opponent was a human, no one intervened. On the contrary, they even cheered for Raiser to crush the human's arrogance. But—
"Who are you calling inferior?"
"What!?"
Raiser's flames seemed to strike the back of Issei's head, but Issei vanished with an afterimage and was already behind him.
"Ghk!"
As Raiser turned around, Issei's punch slammed into his face, sending him flying against the wall against his will.
"I've been waiting for this moment... The moment I'd trample on senpai's feelings! The moment I'd ignore senpai's will!! The moment I'd send you flying for treating senpai like an object!!!!!"
"W-wait... Ghk! Kgh! Kugh! W-wai... Kgh!"
Issei hurled himself at the pinned Raiser, drove both knees into him to hold him down, and kept raining punches on his face. Blood burst from Raiser's lips and nose, and though he struggled, Issei's fists never stopped.
"Kgh! Ghk! Cough, cough, kuhk!"
Even the wounds torn open by Issei's fists regenerated with the Phoenix flames, but Issei simply smashed his fists into the regenerated flesh again, inflicting pain over and over in relentless repetition. Raiser seemed to finally feel fear, and he erupted in flames all over his body in resistance. But—
"Die! Die! Die!"
Like a madman, Issei kept hammering Raiser's face while engulfed in flames, and Raiser's flames gradually shrank.
"S-save me... Ghk! Plea-se! Kgh! Me! Ghk!"
He had apparently thrown away all the pride of an upper-class devil, because in the end he begged Issei for mercy. Hearing that, Issei stopped his fists for a moment and said...
"You want me to save you? Why would I?"
"W-what..."
"Sure, this was a duel. But no one said I couldn't kill you, did they?"
"W-what are you ta..."
Looking down at Raiser with a cold expression straight out of a horror film, Issei made him feel the threat of death from the deepest part of his instincts. Those eyes were like a predator treating a herbivore as nothing more than prey, carrying out a one-sided slaughter.
In a desperate bid to survive, Raiser made one last struggle.
"I surrender! I surrender!! I surrender, damn it!!"
But his voice could not escape the barrier Issei had already set up. Then a blue mass of chakra began spinning in Issei's hand.
"I surrender! Please, just process my surrender!! I don't care what happens after that, I'll give you as much money as you want! Just spare my life!! Ghk!"
Issei's Rasengan slammed straight into Raiser's abdomen. The moment it touched his skin, the organs inside twisted and contorted. Then Issei's Rasengan came crashing down again and again on his arms, legs, neck, and head. Raiser could feel, with absolute certainty, that he was facing a genuine threat to his life. He understood that if this continued, he would truly die. And in the instant before that life was severed...
"Kuhk, cough, cough, cough... Kraaah..."
When Issei's attack paused for a moment, Raiser could only emit dying groans, unable even to open his mouth properly. Then—
"When I think about how much pain you made senpai suffer, I want to kill you right now. But I don't want to dirty the air with the blood of someone like you. Never approach Rias Gremory again. If you ever show your face before her, that will be the true end of you."
"Grrrrr..."
Whether he heard it or not, Raiser could only make dying noises. Then, just as Issei turned to leave—
"!! You turned your back on me! You really are looking down on me!!"
"!!"
In an instant, flames erupted from his entire body and he stood back up as if nothing had happened. Indeed, no matter how small a fry he might be, the power of the Phoenix was immortality itself. Having healed his wounds in one go, Raiser ground his teeth over the humiliation he had just suffered and lunged at Issei's back. Issei, who had truly let his guard down while preparing to deliver an emotional speech to Rias, had no time to form hand seals and hurriedly raised both arms to guard himself, but—
"Kgh!"
"Die, you inferior creature!!"
He was struck head-on by the full force of Raiser's flames as Raiser unleashed all his magic power at once. The entire field was then swallowed by Phoenix flames, and after the fire swept through, within the smoke...
"..."
There stood Issei, both arms scorched and burned. Then—
"Issei!"
"P-please stop!"
"But Issei!"
Rias, seeing his burned arms from the stands, tried to rush in to help him, but the soldiers blocked her path. The reason she worried was simple: devils were sturdy, so something like that would not kill them. But Issei was human. A human could die from a devil's flames fired as a joke, and no matter how much ninjutsu he used, taking that kind of attack head-on was naturally terrifying.
"Hahahaha! Look at this! This is the difference between you inferior beings and us upper-class devils!"
Raiser laughed uproariously at the sight of Issei grimacing with his scorched arms, then formed a massive spear of flame in one hand.
"I'll finish this now!!"
He aimed straight for Issei's front, but at that moment—
"Shinra Tensei."
"!!"
With Issei's low murmur, the spear of fire was instantly annihilated by something unseen. Startled, Raiser broke into a cold sweat and looked ahead. There, Issei stood with [Rinnegan], his expression cold and his killing intent pouring out like a flood.