"In the name of Sitri, I declare the final victor of this Rating Game to be... Mori Ayato."
Sona's slightly trembling voice echoed through the empty alternate dimension.
The next moment,
A magic circle's light bloomed beneath Ayato and his group, making their figures vanish from the alternate dimension.
When they came to...
Ayato saw the familiar figure of Rias.
"I knew you would win."
Rias approached Ayato, looking into his ruby-like eyes as she reached up to cup his face.
"You used up some magic power just now, didn't you?"
Rias's eyes were seductive as she leaned in slowly.
"So... how about I replenish you?"
"I'll leave it to you, then."
Ayato smiled back.
"Mmph!"
Rias's eyes widened slightly.
'This rascal. He was getting much more skilled at replenishing.'
Thinking this, Rias gently closed her eyes.
Sona's eyes were wide as dinner plates as she watched Ayato and Rias.
'Replenish?'
'Ayato had only attacked once. What replenishing did he need?'
'You two, could you please take your PDA somewhere else?'
Even as she thought this, Sona's ears were bright red.
'President Rias is so bold!'
Nearby, Koneko's cheeks were flushed. She fidgeted uncomfortably, feeling hot all over.
After a moment...
Ayato pulled back from Rias's lips.
Seeing her nearly breathless, he helped tidy her slightly disheveled hair.
"So, how was that reward?"
"Huh? Isn't this just replenishing?"
"If it's a reward, shouldn't it be at night?"
"Huh?"
Rias was confused for a moment, then realization dawned. Her body trembled.
'This big idiot! Why was he saying things like that out loud?'
'There were people all around!'
Even though they had done everything there was to do, she wasn't that thick-skinned.
Rias stepped back slightly, adjusted her breathing, and pouted. "You just do whatever you want."
"Really? That's not what you said the other night."
Ayato looked innocent.
Sona's face flushed red. "You two, enough! Can you watch the situation?"
This was moving way too fast.
She was an innocent Devil maiden who had never experienced anything like this.
"Alright, stop joking around."
Rias shot Ayato a reproachful glare before turning serious. "But killing Raiser might bring you considerable trouble."
"Trouble or not, he had to die."
Ayato's answer was resolute.
Raiser was a pure-blood Devil with considerable family influence.
So what?
He had dared to set his sights on Rias. That was unforgivable.
Rias felt that Ayato was too assertive!
But she loved it.
Even though she knew killing Raiser would have consequences, Rias couldn't hide the smile that tugged at her lips.
Hum!
Just then, the light of a teleportation magic circle appeared in the Occult Research Club room.
All eyes were immediately drawn to it.
The next moment...
A handsome man with long crimson hair slowly materialized.
"Nii-sama, what are you doing here?"
Rias looked at the newcomer with surprise.
"Nii-sama?"
Utaha was taken aback, then her beautiful eyes widened.
'Rias's brother!'
'That meant one of the current Four Great Satans?'
'This Rating Game had drawn the attention of such a high-ranking figure?'
"With such a big incident, could I not come?"
Sirzechs smiled wryly, then looked at Ayato. "I didn't expect you to possess the power to kill Raiser."
"But this has stirred up quite a hornet's nest."
"Long time no see, Sirzechs."
Ayato greeted him with a smile. "Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for you."
"If they have a problem, they can come to me directly."
"..."
Sirzechs was slightly stunned, then gave Ayato a long, deep look.
'Ayato seemed... different somehow.'
"Don't worry, I can handle this much."
Sirzechs waved a hand grandly, smiling. "Although things turned out unexpectedly, I've made ample preparations. The old fossils won't find a reason to complain."
"Since you've already solved it, why are you here?"
Rias glared, dissatisfied. "Did you come just to scare Ayato?"
Hearing this, Sirzechs gave his sister a complicated look.
'She wasn't even married yet, and already she was siding with an outsider?'
After releasing a tired sigh, Sirzechs said,
"I also wanted to meet my future brother-in-law. My appearance here serves to support Ayato and warn off the old guard."
Ayato nodded. "If that's the case, you should come by often."
Sirzechs smiled wryly. "Don't push it. I just hope you don't go overboard in the future."
He could see it now.
His future brother-in-law seemed easygoing on the surface.
But deep down, he was incredibly dominant.
More importantly, he had the right to be dominant.
There was a power within Ayato that even Sirzechs couldn't fathom.
Presumably, that was what killed Raiser.
Whether it was a Longinus or something else...
"As long as they don't bother me."
Ayato offered a faint smile.
He just wanted to enjoy his harem; he wasn't looking for trouble.
"I hope so."
Sirzechs twitched his lips, then waved his hand and vanished into the light of the magic circle.
"Either way, everything is resolved."
Rias felt refreshed. Her beautiful eyes looked at Ayato. "How about we celebrate?"
"Where?"
"My place, of course. It's spacious enough for a party."
"Sounds good!"
Having decided, the group left Kuoh Academy in high spirits.
Even Sona, at Rias's enthusiastic invitation, came along to the villa.
"So, since we're celebrating, there's alcohol, right?"
Leone's eyes gleamed as she looked at Rias.
"Of course."
Rias nodded. "Akeno, would you mind?"
"Okay!"
Akeno immediately cast a teleportation spell.
When she returned, various alcoholic drinks were piled up all over the floor.
"Hey, is this really necessary?"
Sona looked helplessly at the alcohol.
For some reason, she had a bad feeling about this.
"I'll take care of the cooking."
Akame grabbed a kitchen knife and charged into the kitchen.