Chapter 25

-Rias POV-

I waited, hoping he might come back even at the last moment, but he never did.

"Fufu~ Rias-chan, are you still waiting for Ryou-kun?" Akeno's teasing tone broke through my thoughts, and I couldn't help but pout in response. Of course, Akeno would notice. They all did.

At that moment, Grayfia arrived, her face completely void of emotion.

"Rias-sama and her peerage, please step forward. I shall now send you to the game field." I silently hoped Ryou was at least watching.

Issei clapped his hands together. "Let's kick that chicken's butt!" His enthusiasm earned a small smile from all of us as we arrived on the field.

The terrain was set to resemble our school grounds. Wasting no time, I began issuing orders.

"Issei, Koneko, head towards the gymnasium. Akeno, keep an eye on the skies but not too high, so you don't get spotted. Yuuto, patrol and intercept anyone other than Riser or Yubelluna. Asia, you'll stay with me."

A resounding chorus of "Yes!" came from my team.

'Ryou-kun, I'll show you just how much I've improved.'

-Ryou POV-

"Fucking damnit, Azazel! That's my cup!" We had already finished off the Plum Wine and Devil Wine that Azazel had stocked, and it turns out my alcohol tolerance is ridiculously high.

So, Azazel, being the good host he is, brought out some "Fallen Angel Liquor," and we kept drinking while watching the Rating Game progress.

Issei and Koneko were fighting in the gymnasium against one Rook and three Pawns. Koneko was handling the three Pawns, taking them out swiftly. Issei, on the other hand, was getting his ass kicked by the Rook. She was skilled using fire to strengthen her attacks, which was a smart move. Issei didn't have much experience fighting someone with martial arts, and it showed.

But, I guess some things never change. Just as Koneko was about to help him, Issei managed to touch the Rook, snap his fingers and shout, "Dress Break!" As the name suggested, all of her clothes disintegrated, shocking her long enough for Issei to boost and fire a "Dragon Shot" eliminating her from the game. Afterward, they started running out of the gymnasium.

What led to Azazel and me fighting though, was when Yubelluna showed up and bombed the gymnasium from above. I guess her title "Bomb Queen" fits. Akeno appeared to intercept her, firing a bolt of lightning and forcing Yubelluna to dodge. That was when Azazel decided to get up from the couch, slam his hand into the table breaking it, and causing our drinks to spill all over each other.

"I can't believe I forgot! I was supposed to deliver a package to her in secret!" he shouted, and all I could say was, "The drinks!"

Azazel quickly realized what he had done. "No! The drinks!"

And that's how we ended up here, arguing over whose cup was whose. Why Azazel didn't just use magic to clean them up was beyond me.

"No, no, I'm sure that cup is mine!" he pointed at the cup in my hand.

"No, this is my cup!"

Our argument came to an abrupt stop when we heard Grayfia's monotone voice from the TV. "Riser Phenex has won."

We both looked at each other. I summoned Muramasa and lunged at him. "You bastard! You made me miss the best parts that could've happened!"

Azazel, showing why he's lived so long like a slippery worm, dodged my attack. "J-Just calm down, Ryou! It's not all bad—Ah!" I launched a "Cursed Slash" at him.

"Get your ass back here!"

-Grayfia POV-

Azazel, the Governor-General of the Grigori, was a respected figure among the leaders, even with his unique behavior. However, the scene we arrived at was completely unacceptable. In a letter, Azazel had mentioned he knew someone who could help Rias, so Sirzechs and I came to the warehouse where he was staying.

What greeted us was chaos. There were holes in the ground, and the earth was carved into strange patterns. Near a broken couch, a shattered TV, and a splintered table, I found two people surrounded by a sea of alcohol jars. Azazel, the Governor-General, was one, and the other was "Ryou Sasaki," a human I had seen only once before. There was nothing remarkable about him, at least nothing that stood out except for the cursed blade he possessed.

Sirzechs awkwardly chuckled at the scene as we approached them. When we were about five feet away, the human was the first to stumble up.

"T-told you, old m-man, urgh, I would w-win!" he exclaimed, only to promptly fall back onto the broken couch. How unsightly.

-Ryou POV-

Why did I think it was a good idea to drink so much? We had decided to forgo using cups and started drinking directly out of the jars of liquor. My vision was hazy and wobbly, so when I turned my head on the couch, I saw someone with red hair.

"A-ah, Redhead, sorry about that Rating Game," I mumbled. I didn't really know what to say to her; we didn't know each other that well other than that one time we talked. How do you comfort women?

Azazel, having heard me, stood up as if he weren't even drunk and paled when he saw who was there. 'What?' I looked closer at Redhead, and next to her no, him was a woman with long silver hair and cold grey eyes. Oh god.

I flared a bit of my magic through my body, clearing my drunken state, and stumbled next to Azazel.

In front of me were Sirzechs Lucifer and the Ice Queen.

"No need to be so tense, Ryou-kun. I'm only here to talk and request something from you. Azazel speaks highly of you." Sneaking a peek at the mentioned Fallen Angel, I saw him with his head turned away from me.

"It's a p-pleasure to meet you, Lord Lucifer," I greeted as respectfully as possible without bowing, something Grayfia picked up on and slightly scowled at before returning her face to normal.

"Again, no need to be tense. Please call me Sirzechs. Just look at it like an informal meeting." He gestured to the broken couch, so I sat down on it while he took a seat on the broken table in front of me.

He looked at me, then sighed. "I've heard from Azazel that you are friends with my little sister Rias, and I'm sure you've watched the Rating Game." I sent a subtle glare at Azazel. "Rias doesn't want to get married to someone she doesn't love, but with her losing the Rating Game, she can't protest against it anymore." Right, Issei had barged into the wedding ceremony and fought Riser after Sirzechs interfered. "I need you or Issei to protest against the wedding."

I frowned and thought about it. 'In canon, Issei had to make a pact with Ddraig and give up his left arm, and Akeno had to help him get rid of the dragon power that built up in it.' Making up my mind, I said, "All right, I accept to help. But you owe me, Sirzechs-san."

He just laughed in response while Grayfia twitched an eyebrow. "Of course! I'll have Grayfia here pick you up in a few hours." With that, he walked over to Grayfia and teleported away.

"Azazel, you better start running!" I shouted, starting to chase after him while he laughed.

'Guess it's time to show the world its future Strongest Human. Watch out Vasco Strada' I thought with a smile.