Troublesome

And because of that, along with her current position, she understood why…

'…I stopped looking for Euclid all this time,' Grayfia thought as a small sigh escaped her red lips. 

Thinking about this wouldn't do anything, she knew that at this moment there was only one thing she could do with the facts in front of her and that was to walk ahead.

"Let's go and meet your brother," Grayfia looked up at Adam and nodded, that was all she could do right now.

And as Adam was getting ready to leave with Grayfia, Rias stood up.

"I am coming along as well!!" Rias wanted to go as well, she had her reasons for doing this but there was no way she could come.

"Don't you have to talk with some Church Affiliates today?" Adam said and Rias froze on the spot, that was indeed the case and that is why.

"You can't leave your post like this Ojou-sama," Grayfia chided Rias lightly making her shoulders drop further, these two were just hitting her where it hurt.

"We'll be back in no time," Adam said lightly kissing Rias's forehead, "Just wait for me." he smiled in the end looking in her blue eyes.

"..A…Alright," Rias immediately blushed and looked away, there was no room for any denial left in her body after that and she could just nod.

'To do that so ...openly,' Rias was left blushing because of this open show of affection, even though she liked this since it gave her peace of mind, but she couldn't help by be embarrassed by it as well. 

This was mostly because Grayfia, who was like a mother figure to her was standing there, and so it made her a little, just a little more self-conscious of that calm gaze.

'I suppose they are doing just fine,' But she didn't know that Grayfia was actually relieved to see this, her heart was heavy because of what she was doing, and even if Rias forgave her, she wouldn't be able to if her actions ended up creating a potential rift between them.

'It just means that I have to repay that kindness in the future,' Grayfia thought as Adam towards her with a smile, she knew that was time to face her brother when the ground lit up.

"Here we go," Adam announced and with the circle below their feet glowing dimly, then in the next instant the two vanished from the room.

"I really …wanted to go," Rias muttered being left in the room alone again.

The reason she wanted to go was different from what it may seem…

'It is not that, I don't trust Grayfia… if I didn't I wouldn't do this after all….' Rias pouted because…

"I want to spend more time with ...him," She was unhappy that she had to stay behind because of work, this was an especially strong feeling because Adam left early last time, and she had been constantly troubled with difficult thoughts thanks to Grayfia's request.

In a way, she didn't want it to happen and wanted to refuse it because it didn't sit well with her. She can somehow swallow the fact that Adam does that job out of her sight as she knows that he doesn't have a chance to refuse it. And will only move forward with a woman when he is interested unlike what it may seem.

But she wouldn't want to be the middleman in his Contracts, much less introduce someone she is acquainted with, knowing full well what will happen between them.

And Grayfia wasn't just a casual acquaintance to her, she was her family which is why this decision was tough for her. 

But it was also the fact that Grayfia was her family, that she chose to do this.

"Ara? This is quite a mess, isn't it?" Rias looked up as the door was opened by none other than Akeno, "Did they leave already?" she asked that question because, she already had an idea of what happened in this room.

"…Yes," Rias remained unaffected even with the teasing look on Akeno's face, because she had something to say, "Akeno the next time you notice Adam appear behind me, don't forget to notify me."

"Ufufu, So, you are embarrassed to show such a side to him after all," Akeno giggled much to Rias's dismay.

'I don't want to give him the impression that I am being lazy, that's all,' Rias had been working hard to be better than before, preparing to train daily, while also taking her duties more seriously. Which is how she ended up having to deal with the Church Affiliates this time.

All of this was done to impress Adam the next time he came, but he came back only to see her whining about how she didn't want to do her work.

"So, did they make the contract?" But Akeno didn't really think too much of it, she knew that Adam wouldn't think much about the things Rias was concerned about.

'In fact, I think he would like it if she depended on him more,' But Akeno wouldn't say that out loud, Why? 

'There would be no fun in that~.'

"…The Contract….." And these words got Akeno out of her devious thoughts.

"What?" Akeno tilted her head, she was confused by that reaction.

"They didn't make any…" Rias said and Akeno blinked a few times.

"I guess they'll make it later," Akeno sighed but she understood.

"…I guess..." Rias muttered, because she wasn't so sure about that after what she had heard from them.

'Are they really going to make a contract?' Rias couldn't help but get anxious about it now.

"Rias I think you can leave the thinking for later," Rias looked up quickly, and immediately understood what Akeno was talking about.

"What… happened here?" Sona Shitori the school president, better known as Sona Sitri the heir to the House of Sitri was here.

And it wasn't her alone….

"President!! Are you okay?!" Issei ran in scared and nearly slipped on the ice, thankfully he was grabbed by Yuto.

"This magic power…." Shinra Tsubaki, Sona's queen muttered looking at the room, this magic power was the reason why all of the devils in the school gathered here.

They were stopped outside of the room by Akeno who had arrived before them somehow, and she had stopped them this entire time from going in.

"Well…." Rias's lips twitched because…

'They really dropped something troublesome on me….' Now she had to make up a story to explain what happened to these people, this wasn't going to be easy.

***

Nilrem's headquarters, ???.

Khaos brigade, a terrorist organization with its members hailing from different races as well as descendants of mythological and legendary heroes within its ranks.

This organization was formed to create an opposing force for the various mythological groups around the world, or so it was on the surface.

The sole reason why this organization existed was to create chaos for the sake of their Leader.

And Nilrem was one of the Magician factions in the Khaos Brigade; this was a place where stray magicians and wanted criminal magicians, who were chased by the other factions ended up. Since there was no one else who would accept them.

The group was led by none other than…

"Euclid Lucifuge," The handsome-looking young man with silver hair looked up after he was called. He was the right-hand man of the Leader of the Khaos Brigade as well as the leader of Nilrem, and he was one of the key contributors to creating this organization.

"Who …are you?" Euclid tilted his head making his long silver bangs sway, he tried to gather information on the person who had invaded his lab so blatantly like this.

"How did you get in here without setting off a single alarm?" The calm way Euclid was talking may make it appear that he wasn't bothered by the sudden intrusion, but, "I don't think our security is that bad." The truth was he was far from calm because of what happened.

"You call that security?" The White-haired man in front of him tilted his head and it irked Euclid even more, it even seemed like it was done on purpose but it wasn't.

He had done his best to make sure that those security measures were top-notch, no one could come in this place without him knowing but here a guy was standing in front of him, and he didn't notice him until he was called by said man. 

What was worse for a magician than to have someone invade their lab, and then be questioned by the invader whether they were even properly securing it? Because they didn't even think that there was any security, since it didn't take much effort to break through.

'But he even knows me…' Euclid observed the man in front of him, how did this unknown man get hold of his name? Especially when he was supposed to be dead in the outside world?

"Well, leaving that aside, there is someone who wants to meet you," These words brought Euclid out of his thoughts.

Euclid was about to lose his cool because not only did this guy come in himself, but he also brought someone with him.

"What do yo-"