Riser did not train the next morning.
That alone was strange enough to draw attention.
Instead, he sat in the lounge adjacent to his room, a low table in front of him, several books stacked neatly to one side—none of them opened.
He was waiting.
Not for information.
For a person.
The door opened precisely on time.
Yubelluna stepped in, already prepared.
Tea.
Light breakfast.
Perfect posture.
Perfect composure.
She stopped when she noticed him sitting there instead of in the training yard.
"…You are not training today."
"Recovery day."
That earned him a brief pause.
"…I see."
She set the tray down carefully.
Riser watched her for a moment.
Then—
"Sit."
She froze.
Not completely.
Just enough to be noticeable.
"…Young master?"
"You heard me."
A beat passed.
Then, slowly, she sat across from him again.
This time, she didn't hesitate as much.
Progress.
Riser poured tea for both of them.
That earned him another look.
"You are doing it again."
"Doing what?"
"Acting unlike yourself."
He smirked faintly.
"That's becoming a theme."
A brief silence settled.
Comfortable.
Not quite natural yet.
But no longer awkward.
Riser picked up his cup.
Then—
"Tell me about Rating Games."
That broke it.
Not dramatically.
But enough.
Yubelluna's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…That is an unusual request."
"I've been making a lot of those lately."
"That is true."
She didn't refuse.
That was important.
Instead, she adjusted her posture slightly—less servant, more instructor.
"…Very well."
Rating Games
"Rating Games," she began, "are structured battles between devils, typically between noble houses."
Riser nodded.
Basic.
Expected.
"Each participant acts as a King, commanding a peerage formed using Evil Pieces."
"I know that much."
Her gaze flicked to him.
"…Then what do you wish to know?"
Riser leaned back slightly.
"Everything that actually matters."
That got her attention.
"…Then we start with this," she said calmly. "Rating Games are not about raw power."
Good.
That matched what he'd seen.
"They are about control."
"Control?"
"Yes. Of the battlefield. Of your peerage. Of your opponent."
She continued smoothly.
"A King who relies only on personal strength will lose to one who understands positioning, timing, and coordination."
Riser tapped the table lightly.
"…So strategy matters more than power."
"Not more," she corrected. "But equally."
That made sense.
Too much sense.
"Tell me about top players," Riser said.
That pause again.
Slight.
Careful.
"…You are thinking ahead."
"Always."
She studied him for a moment.
Then nodded.
The Top Tier
"There are several high-ranking Rating Game players," she began. "Some of them are… exceptional."
Riser didn't miss the slight emphasis.
"Names."
She didn't hesitate this time.
"Diehauser Belial."
Riser nodded.
Expected.
"The current strongest Rating Game player among the younger generation."
"Style?"
"Balanced. Highly adaptive. Excellent peerage coordination."
Annoying.
That meant no obvious weakness.
"Who else?"
"Seekvaira Agares."
Riser's eyes narrowed slightly.
Gravity user.
Dangerous.
"Strategic?"
"Extremely."
Of course.
She continued listing names.
Each one—
A problem.
Then—
"…Ruval Phenex."
That one landed differently.
Riser's expression didn't change.
But something behind his eyes did.
"…My brother."
"Yes."
Yubelluna's tone shifted slightly.
Careful.
Measured.
"Ruval-sama is one of the top ten Rating Game players."
"I know."
"His control over Phenex abilities is exceptional. His regeneration is efficient. His offensive output—"
"—is better than mine."
She stopped.
Not because she disagreed.
Because she didn't need to say it.
"…Yes."
Silence.
Riser looked down at his tea.
Then took a slow sip.
Top ten.
That wasn't a small gap.
That was a different world.
He set the cup down.
"…What kind of King is he?"
Yubelluna didn't answer immediately.
She chose her words carefully.
"…Efficient."
Not warm.
Not inspiring.
Not charismatic.
"Explain."
"He does not waste resources," she said. "He uses his peerage precisely. No unnecessary risks. No emotional decisions."
Riser leaned back slightly.
"…So he wins."
"Yes."
That wasn't the whole story.
But it was enough.
Riser's gaze drifted slightly.
Not unfocused.
Just… inward.
Efficient.
Controlled.
Successful.
Everything canon Riser wasn't.
"…Do you respect him?" Riser asked.
Yubelluna didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
That answered more than the question.
Riser nodded slowly.
Good.
Because that meant something important.
Ruval wasn't just strong.
He was worth beating.
Not out of jealousy.
Not out of resentment.
But because if Riser wanted to stand at the top—
Then that was the level he had to surpass.
"…I see."
Yubelluna watched him.
Closely.
"You are comparing yourself."
Not a question.
Riser smirked slightly.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Yes."
Fair enough.
He leaned forward slightly.
"…Then answer me this."
Yubelluna straightened.
"If I fought in a Rating Game right now…"
He paused.
Then finished—
"…how badly would I lose?"
Silence.
A long one.
Yubelluna didn't answer immediately.
Not because she didn't know.
Because she was choosing how honest to be.
"…Completely."
No hesitation.
No softening.
No politeness.
Riser blinked.
Then—
He laughed.
Short.
Sharp.
Genuine.
"Good."
That surprised her.
"…Good?"
"Yes."
He leaned back again.
"That means I know where I stand."
And that mattered.
More than comfort.
More than pride.
Because if he didn't know how weak he was—
He couldn't fix it.
Riser stood up slowly.
His body still carried the aftereffects of the potion.
But it felt stronger.
More stable.
"…Then I'll fix it."
Yubelluna watched him.
Something in her expression had changed again.
Not confusion.
Not hesitation.
Recognition.
[System Notification]
Yubelluna — Loyalty: 63 → 65Status: Attentive → Engaged
Riser didn't look at the screen.
Didn't need to.
He already knew.
Because this time—
He hadn't tried to impress her.
He had just been honest.
"…We'll continue this later," he said.
"Yes, young master."
He walked past her toward the door.
Then paused.
"…Yubelluna."
She looked up.
"…Next time, don't hold back."
A small pause.
Then—
"…Understood."
Riser left the room.
And for the first time—
The idea of standing in a Rating Game didn't feel like a distant humiliation.
It felt like something he could reach.
Eventually.