After the Rating Game

[Rating Game] Board.

"{[King], Riser Phenex has retired. The winner of this [Rating Game] is Rias Gremory.}"

"I... Won..." Rias said in a state of disbelief. "It's over, I'm finally free."

"Hell Yeah~~!" Issei cheered loudly with his fists raised in the air. "We showed that Yakitori bastard!"

At the same time Issei cheered, the reality of the situation finally hit the rest of the peerage. Asia immediately pulled Koneko into a hug while continuing to heal her injuries. Yuuto and Issei exchanged high-fives. Gasper was overwhelmed by the happy cheers and yelling. Then, Akeno flew up into the air and wrapped her arms around Rias, who was still floating after releasing that last attack.

"We... really won, right?" Rias said, still not snapping out of her disbelief. "Akeno, am I really free?"

"Fufufu." Akeno giggled at Rias' cute reply. Then, she whispered into her ear. "If you find James, I bet he'll let you know if it's real or not."

Hearing that, the color of Rias' face matched her hair in an instant. At the same time, Akeno laughed at her [King]. Eventually, Rias recovered from her embarrassment and joined Akeno in laughter. After a few moments, Rias and Akeno landed on the ground. A moment later, the rest of the peerage huddled around them. Then, in classic fashion, Rias was lifted by the group and thrown into the air, repeatedly.

Human World, Japan, Kuoh.

In the Student Council office, James, Sona, and Tsubaki were smiling as they watched Rias and her peerage celebrate their victory. Eventually, Sona broke the silence and spoke.

"It looks like I really need to step up my training." Sona said while adjusting her glasses. "Although it hurts to admit it, my peerage and I would have lost against Riser."

"Unfortunately, that's true." Tsubaki said while also adjusting her glasses.

"I think you're being too hard on yourselves." James said before patting Sona's head. "Your peerage has only been training for a year and a half at most. Other than Tsubaki I mean."

"I guess that's true." Sona said while leaning back on James' chest. "Most of my peerage was recruited after enrolling in Kuoh Academy."

"Speaking of enrollment, how are things with that Saji Genshirou?" James asked curiously. "Did you convince him to join your peerage yet?"

"I did actually." Sona said with a mischievous smile. "He seems to have quite the crush on me, too."

"If you're trying to make me jealous, you'll have to try harder than that." James said as he pinched Sona's cheek playfully.

In response, Sona simply pouted at her failed attempt. Recovering quickly, Sona looked into James' eyes and spoke with a smile.

"I think we should head home." Sona said while standing from James' lap. "If we're not at home by the time Rias returns, she's gonna have a fit."

"You're probably right." James said as he also stood up. "I'm really glad Ri Ri won."

"So, you can have her, too?" Sona said with a teasing smile. However, her expression froze when she looked back and saw James' face.

"So, I wouldn't have to take things into my own hands." James said solemnly. "I don't think the Underworld would have liked the way I resolved that situation."

Hearing the cold tone of in James' voice, Sona had no doubt that James would turn the Underworld upside down for those he cared about. Even if they were not his lovers. Just thinking about that, Sona could not help but smile.

"Anyway, let's go home." Sona said while taking James by the arm. "Look, Tsubaki is already gone."

When James looked around, sure enough, Tsubaki was nowhere to be seen. Shaking his head, James allowed himself to be pulled along by Sona with a smile on his face.

Underworld, Satan Territory, Capital City, Lilith.

"How is this possible!?" Lord Phenex shouted angrily. "How did they so easily overcome the regeneration of my Phenex Clan?"

"Lord Phenex, I think you should calm down." Zeoticus said with a gentle smile on his face. "Though it's a shame that our Clans will no longer be united through marriage, I'm sure we can remain on good terms, right?"

"Good terms? Why would we remain on good terms?" Lor Phenex roared in anger. "That little girl of yours has dragged the Phenex Clan's reputation through the mud."

"And how exactly did she do that, might I ask?" Venelana said, inserting herself into the men's conversation. "Was it when Riser arrogantly chose to fight an entire peerage by himself? Or was it when he could barely break even with two middle-rank devils? Please, tell me. How was it that our Rias humiliated your Clan?"

Hearing Venelana's scathing words made Lord Phenex's blood begin to boil. As his anger rose, so did the pressure he output. However, no one present was weak enough to be affected by his pressure.

"Since you cannot answer my question, how about I tell you how Riser has been humiliating his fiancée. I'm sorry, former fiancée." Venelana said as she narrowed her eyes. "Would you mind explaining why Riser was allowed to publicly indulge in his peerage. It is no secret that he was engaged to Rias. Yet, before every [Rating Game] he has been shown in a matter similar to tonight."

"Hmph!" Lord Phenex snorted in disdain. "As the wife of a High-Class devil she should be prepared for such a thing."

With that statement, the room fell silent. As the silence continued, the pressure in the room began to increase. Eventually, Lord Phenex finally realized he said something he should not have, in his anger. When he felt the rising pressure, he began to grow pale. Then, before he could try to fix the situation, Zeoticus spoke angrily.

"It seems you've forgotten two things, Lord Phenex." Zeoticus said in a low, menacing tone. "First, Rias and Riser are both High-Class devils. In fact, Rias' status is higher than that of any Clan's third son. Or does the status of heir mean nothing to you?"

"No, that's not what I..." Lord Phenex attempted to backpedal. However, Zeoticus was not yet done speaking.

"And second, why do you make it seem as if Rias would be marrying into the Phenex family?" Zeoticus asked angrily. "According to our agreement, Riser would be joining the Gremory Clan. So why have both of you been acting as if things were the other way around?"

With that, cold sweat began to form on Lord Phenex's forehead and back. On top of that, the hostile stares from Zeoticus, Venelana, and Sirzechs made him wish to return home immediately.

"*Sigh* As long as Riser doesn't cause any trouble when we cancel the engagement tomorrow, we can let this slide." Zeoticus said unhappily. Then, he turned to his wife and spoke. "Come, Lana, let's go and congratulate Rias on a job well done."

"Yes, Let's." Venelana said with a smile.

Then, hand in hand, Zeoticus and Venelana walked out of the viewing room.

"I may have been separated from the Gremory Clan on paper." Sirzechs said quietly after sending his parents off with a smile. Then, he turned back to Lord Phenex and continued. "But do you really think I would stand by and watch my family be hurt? Especially Ria-Tan. Do you really think Riser would have lived after doing what he planned to do to my sister?"

Hearing the wrath in Sirzechs' voice, Lord Phenex could not help but tremble in fear. The fear of what could have happened to the Phenex House if his stupid plan had succeeded.

"I wouldn't have even had to act to make Riser disappear." Sirzechs said softly as he turned away from the Phenex couple. "He would have disappeared shortly after the end of the [Rating Game] if Riser had won. James would never allow him to hurt Rias, after all."

Hearing that, Lord Phenex regained a bit of his arrogance.

"Hmph! Are you suggesting that a half-breed would be able to do anything to my son?" Lord Phenex said in a tone that showed he was greatly offended.

Hearing that, Sirzechs glanced at Lord Phenex out of the corner of his eye. Then, he looked away and spoke once again.

"James Alaverus, eighteen years old, peak ultimate-rank being." Sirzechs stated calmly. After giving Lord Phenex a moment to digest that information, Sirzechs continued. "So, yes, I believe James could not only do something to your son. I doubt he would last longer than three minutes."

Lord Phenex froze momentarily after hearing how strong James was suspected to be. Y es, Lord Phenex chose to believe that Sirzechs only suspected James' strength to reach such a height. His petty pure-blood pride would not allow him to accept that an eighteen-year-old half-devil was of equal power to himself.

"*Sigh* Not that it matters anymore." Sirzechs said while shaking his head. "I have work to finish, please excuse me for not sending you off."

With that, Sirzechs left the room and made his way toward his office. Meanwhile, Lord Phenex could only watch him leave. Then, he lowered his head and clenched his fist.

"Why does it feel like I was wrong from the start?" Lord Phenex asked aloud to no one in particular.

"Originally, your intentions weren't wrong." lady Phenex said as she took her husband's hand into her own. "It would have been fine if you were satisfied with simply strengthening our family through marriage. But you let your greed get the better of you."

Hearing his wife's soothing voice, Lord Phenex raised his head and looked into her eyes.

"Even if we are devils, we take contracts seriously." Lady Phenex said sternly. "The deal was for both Clans to benefit from this marriage. And you broke the contract unilaterally."

"*Sigh* Karma, huh?" Lord Phenex said while staring blankly at the ceiling. "I guess it really is a bitch."

Human World, Japan, Kuoh.

Right now, Zeoticus, Venelana, Cassiel, Leona, James, Sona, and the two's peerages were waiting in Rias' mansion's living room for her to return triumphantly with her peerage.

"To think that she had only been training seriously for four years." Cassiel said, amazed by Rias' current strength. Or what he had heard about it from Zeoticus, Venelana, James, and Sona. "Just imagine how strong she would be if she had trained seriously from the beginning."

With that thought, the four adults shuddered a little. Then, they realized there was an example of someone with high talent who did actually train hard from the beginning. A moment later, they were all staring at James.

James, feeling the stares, turned his head and made eye contact with the four parents. Then, he tilted his head in confusion.

"Monster." Zeoticus said quietly.

Venelana and Cassiel nodded in agreement. Leona, on the other hand, had mischief swirling in her eyes. And James did not miss it. Then, in a pitiful tone, he threw himself into his mother's arms and sobbed.

"Mom, did I do something wrong?" James asked sadly. "Why are Dad, Uncle Zeoticus, and Auntie Venelana calling me a monster? I know I haven't come to visit in a while, but am I really that bad?"

Hearing the grief in James' tone, Zeoticus, Venelana, and Cassiel all started to feel guilty. Until the conversation continued, that is.

"No, Sweetheart. You haven't done anything wrong." Leona said, appearing to be consoling her son. "I think those old folks are just jealous of your talent."

Hearing what Leona had to say, the three froze. Then, when they were called old, their eyebrows began to twitch furiously.

"Oh, it's just that?" James said in a totally dismissive tone. "I understand where they are coming from. If I weren't me, I would be jealous of my talent, too."

'Seriously?' Not just Zeoticus, Venelana, and Cassiel thought this in response to James conceited claim. Instead, everyone who was able to hear it had the same thought, at the same time.

During the time everyone was stunned into silence, a teleportation magic circle appeared in the corner of the room. Unfortunately, no one noticed it. When the circle was gone, eight new arrivals were revealed. They were, of course, Rias and her peerage. Grayfia also decided to accompany them. However, they were all stunned to see everyone in such an awkward atmosphere. While Leona and James were smiling happily, everyone else was looking at them incredulously. Eventually, Rias was the first to regain her senses.

"James!" Rias shouted as she began to run toward James. Then, when she was close enough, she leapt into his embrace. With her arms wrapped around his neck, she continued. "Now, I don't have to hold back, anymore. Don't ever think you can get away from me, either."

After her declaration, Rias pressed her lips against James' lips forcefully. Realizing that Rias was no longer interested in the rest of the celebration party, the others began talking amongst themselves.