Chapter 45: Contract Dissolving and Challenge

Issei then shouted, "How is this possible!?? How can he have a Harem but I can't even start one. How is he so good that all the girls voluntarily join his harem?!! Is he using some kind of charm magic to brainwash them?"

But his statement earned the cold glare of all the girls in Riser's peerage. Riser changed from his gentle smile to cold look. He then turned to Rias and said, "Heiress Gremory, please take control of your peerage member. If not, I will take this as an insult to the pure-blooded devil and retaliate against this lowly devil. I'm starting with a warning because of my respect towards Gremory family and you are my fiancé. Or else, all who disrespected my love for my peerage were and will be burned to ashes immediately."

Rias came out of her enraged state. She immediately understood the implication of what Riser was saying. And he has all the rights to kill Issei then and there. It was the privilege of pure-blooded devils. And Riser here is a royal one at that. So, she immediately reprimanded Issei, "Shut up Issei! You are not allowed to disrespect Riser. If you open your mouth again, I will punish you."

Issei got angry and depressed. Rias never got angry at any of them form all the time they have know her. But due to Riser, Rias shouted at him. He was angry but decided to keep quiet as Rias was glaring at him. 

Rias then took a deep breath and turned to Riser. She then said, "Anyway, sorry for his disrespectful behaviour. I will make sure he knows the knowledge about the etiquette of the underworld. But, why are you here Riser?"

Riser then donned a mischievous smirk and said, "Oh it seems Lady Grayfia has not informed you about the news. It seems my father and your father decided to move forward the date of your marriage. We have agreed to get married after you finish your do called High school. But they seemed to come to a decision that the marriage will be held in 2 weeks from now and you will be allowed to finish this high school thing or whatever it is called."

All of Riser's peerage got shocked. Rias turned to Grayfia in the hopes of her denying Riser's statement. But to her dismay, Grayfia only looked at Riser with an annoyed gaze. But Issei got the most shocked. After joining Rias's Peerage and after the late-night visit from Rias, he thought Rias belonged to him. But now some one came suddenly and telling him that Rias was already betrothed and she will be marrying someone else. He was unable to accept this.

After going through multiple emotions, due to his scared gear, anger and Pride got the best of him and he shouted, "NO!! THAT IS NOT HAPPENING! Hey fried Chicken! You listen to me now! Buchou is going to marry whomever she wished to marry. No one going to force her to marry anyone she is not okay with. So, why don't you get your ass back to underworld and not disturb Buchou form now on!"

All were shocked from Issei's outburst. Rias was shocked and showed an angered expression. But inside she was happy and even her heart skipped a beat. She was in dismay about what to do but Issei just blurted out whatever what she wanted to say.

Even though she only visited Issei two days ago to do something selfish, she did not expect Issei to do anything for her. She did like all her peerage members equally. But now she was feeling loved and protected from Issei's statement. She was sure that he will be punished for the disrespectful attitude towards a pure-blooded devil. But she will make sure to save him for that.

Ravel on the side was both angry and impressed. She was angry because if Issei called Riser fried chicken, that was in default disrespecting her. But she was unable to get angry because, she was impressed by the brave display of his thoughts to a pure-blooded devil even though he might face punishment later on. What she did not know was that Issei was not aware of the consequences of his action.

Riser was pissed off by the derogatory comment that was made towards his race. But inside his heart was mostly elated. He was not sure if it is his luck or this is normal. All the things happening are going well despite him doing nothing. He wanted to stir up trouble to make Rias talk. But everything happening is helping him to make the next move without him trying to cause trouble.

Riser then coldly looked at Issei and moved fast. Only Grayfia was able to see what happened. But net thing happened was, Riser holding up Issei by his neck and flames started to form on his other hand. He then said slowly, "It seems that you did not hear me clearly. All disrespect to me or my peerage will be dealt with death without fail. So, goodbye to whomever you are."

All were stunned and Rias was scared. She was afraid that Riser will kill Issei here and now. She wanted to stop what was happening. But she was not sure how. Before she could move, Grayfia was infront of Riser stopping him from harming Issei. Grayfia was instructed by Sirzechs to save Rias's peerage incase of something bad happens.

Grayfia said in an emotionless voice, "Riser-sama, I know that the disrespect caused by them in unforgivable. But please forgive him as he was angry for her master and was unable to distinguish right from wrong. And please give some face to Lucifer-sama and please let this go for this once."

Rias was scared and angry. She was scared as if something important will be taken away from her the very instance that Riser tried to kill Issei. And angry because that she is the one who has the right to discipline her peerage and no one else does. Even though that there is a law that stipulates that Pure-blooded devils have to right to tale the lives of reincarnated devils in case of any insubordination or disrespect, she did not take those things to heart.

Rias was beyond angry and started to release her power of destruction and say, "You know Riser, I have tolerated you because of all the things you did and all the pestering that you did get my attention. But coming to my place and hurting my precious servants is something that I cannot tolerate."

Riser was surprised by Rias's action. It seems that one more push is al that is needed for her to go mad with anger and blurt out all her wrongdoings. He thought he need more instigation but he underestimated her arrogance.

Grayfia felt a headache coming and she wanted to do what she came her for. But before she can speak, Riser asked in an amused tone, "Oh then please tell me Heiress Gremory, what is that I did that was against the law that was followed in underworld. As far as I can see I have not acted beyond what was stipulated in underworld."

That was it for Rias, she was overcome with rage and said, "You wanted to know what wrong you did? You came here with your sluts and whores and forcing me to marry you. Then you go so far as to hurt my servants. And that is the servant I fell in love with and went go so far as to give my virginity to him. And you are asking me what wrong you have committed? Now tell me riser what is stopping me from killing you here and now."

Grayfia and Akeno were stunned from Rias's idiotic speech. Even Kiba and Konek were dumbfounded. Issei was happy to hear the confessions. But Riser was getting pissed off but went speechless when she spoke the last part of her outburst. He was not sure what has to say. He was thinking of slowly push her buttons but this was not in his script.

There was a heavy silence in the room and Riser started to speak after getting his bearings right, "You know Heiress Gremory, I always let go of you disrespecting my harem as I thought you were jealous. But I got to know you didn't take them to your eyes even. So, let me answer your questions. You have first disrespected your fiancée's concubines' multiple times and in the presence of outsiders too. 

You have disrespected the marriage contract that was signed by two heads of the family and went ahead and tried to lose your virginity to that lowly servant there. I can even handle your disrespect as you will become my wife soon but I cannot tolerate the disrespect of this servant there who keeps ogling at my harem in an obscene manner and while doing so disrespecting me. So, Heiress Gremory, tell me what I should do now. Shall I take this to the council or our families. Tell me what shall we do here?"

This made Rias come out of her enraged state. Once she started to digest the word spoke by Riser, she got to know the screw up that she caused. She was sure if Riser took this to the council or their families, she will be the one at fault and her brother will not be able to help her. But even if the fault lies with her, her pride does not allow her to admit it. She just stood there looking at Riser.

Grayfia was really having a headache on how to clean up Rias's mess. But she was sure she can settle this with the Rating game that was suppose to get Rias out of her marriage. She was supposed propose a Rating game in which Rias will have the chance to cancel her marriage agreement.

Grayfia then said, "Riser-sama, I apologize for the disrespect shown by Rias-sama and her peerage. But please hear me out. You can solve everything for the solution that I will present. You can also add few terms to it."

Riser was confused now. All his plans worked out but What Grayfia said now will make him do few troublesome things. In order not to disrespect Grayfia, he said, "Go ahead Lady Grayfia, I want to know what is it that you could tell me that can solve everything that happened now."

Grayfia said, "Rating game." This shocked both Riser and Rias. Riser was confused that if he was to go against Rias's peerage, he will completely annihilate them and at the same time he will have the upper hand in setting up his conditions. Rias on the other hand, was elated. She can propose this rating match to end her engagement one and for all. What she failed to consider was that Riser's peerage is the current strongest on the younger generation who is going to set foot on the bigger stage next month. As for her, her peerage is not even complete and was still not trained properly to face such a team.

Rias then said in as elated tone, "Yes! I will challenge you in a Rating match. If I win, you will have to cancel this marriage agreement and apologize to my peerage for hurting them. You will have to compensate me for all the distress you have caused me all these years."

Riser and his peerage members looked at her with a weirded-out face. Riser then asked in a calm voice, "So, what if I win?" Rias said in an arrogant tone, "You will not win. I will never give you the chance to win so that you can marry me."

Grayfia said in an annoyed tone, "Rias-sama, can you keep your mouth closed." She was fed up with Rias and glared at Rias. Rias looked at her and know that she messed up and one more word from her will make her face Grayfia's wrath. Grayfia turned to Riser and said, "Riser-sama will get to marry Rias-sama the next day of the match and no one will stop you."

Riser looked at Grayfia with a deadpan look and asked, "Lady Grayfia, are you taking me as a fool. Even if I don't agree to this Rating game, I can marry Rias because of the marriage contract. Do you think that you can fool me such conditions."

Grayfia was stunned by the rebuttal. She was sure that Riser will take this condition and be done with it. She did not take in account hat riser will start to think about the loose condition set for him. She then asked, "It was not my intention Riser-sama. Please let me know what you wanted in case of your win."

Riser nodded and started, "First of all, who said marrying her was my intention. My first condition is that I will have the right to cancel this marriage agreement in front of the whole underworld." This stunned all those present in room. Riser continued, "Heiress Gremory should make a public apology to all my peerage members publicly for insulting them. I want the Gremory family to transfer the abandoned territory and the two more lands surrounding them."

This shocked all those present except for Riser's Peerage. Risa was stunned because Riser's demand for cancelling the marriage contract. But was also angry at Riser's demand for her apology. She was not concerned about the last demand.

Grayfia was stunned by the request and immediately asked, "Riser-sama, did I not hear correctly or did you say you want the marriage contract cancelled? May I ask why and why do you need the abandoned land and the lands surrounding them?"

Riser looked at like she was an idiot and said, "I don't mean any disrespect Lady Grayfia but are you seriously asking such a foolish question? I mean, Heiress Gremory was ready to give her virginity to someone else just so that she can get back at me and others.

What are the odds of her not cheating on me after married to me so that she can disrespect me. I know the rumours about my peerage members going around in the underworld that I am using them to pleasure other contestants so that I can win against them. But you know that is not true and I don't have the intention of sharing them with others. 

And I am afraid that she will do that so that she can shame me and since I'm getting married into your household, I will not be able to ask her anything even if she do that in front of my face. So, I put that demand first and for the land, I will soon be moved to the branch family due to my marriage falling through. I have plans for branching out far from my family lands so I need those lands."

All of those present there, even Ravel, except for Riser's peerage got angry at his statement. Before Grayfia could speak Rias shouted, "How dare you say that about me and how dare you ask me to apologize to these sluts and whores!! I am not like this sluts and whores!! If you want, we can just cancel this marriage contract her and now and go our separate ways."

Riser looked at Rias and said coldly, "Heiress Gremory, this is the last warning I will give you. Next time you disrespect them I will make sure to send all the recording I have here to the council and family to get justice for myself. And do you have such a deep sense of double standards?

I mean, you told me that my peerage members are sluts and whores but what you did is no different from them. If you are allowed to draw conclusions about me and why am I not allowed to draw conclusions about you. And you can ask me to apologize to your peerage and I'm not supposed to ask you to apologize to my peerage. What is the deal here?

Lady Grayfia, do I take it as the Gremory family's response and go to the council then? It is not like Gremory family and Phenex family will get me justice."

Grayfia was shocked by all the statements that are put forth by Riser. All the Satans knew the truth about him and let the rumours run due to request of Sirzechs so that he can cancel this marriage contract. She was just surprised that Riser can also be manipulative and cunning when needed to be.

Grayfia then said, "Riser-sama, this is not the response of Gregory family. Rias-sama is just blined with anger and was not able to articulate the correct sentence. All your demands are reasonable but we have to speak when both the family heads are present. So, can we take this decision to the underworld on a later date?

And Rias-sama, please keep quiet and let me do the talking. Please don't make thing difficult when all were difficult already. And I'm letting you know that I will be speaking with Vanalena-sama about your conduct. Please be ready for your punishment."

Rias wanted to shout but was silenced by Grayfia's words. But then paled when she heard the last part of the statement. She was sure that she will be facing hell like punishment due to the amount of trouble caused now. But she transferred all the anger towards Riser as it was his fault to begin with according to her. Riser looked at her glare and was confused what she was angry about now.