[ISSEI'S POV]
Around 11.40pm at night—.
The other club members and I have gathered in the old school building. We are waiting in our most relaxing positions. Everyone except Asia is wearing their uniform.
Kiba is equipped with a gauntlet on his hand and has some armor on his lower leg. He has his swords against the wall.
Koneko-chan is sitting on the chair and is reading a book. On her hands, she is wearing gloves that allow her fingers to be seen. It's one of those gloves that martial artists wear. It looks pretty intense if a girl with a loli face wears it.
Akeno-san and Buchou are drinking green tea elegantly. Just to be expected from our Onee-samas, they sure are calm...
I sit on the chair quietly while I wait for the time to come.
Ten minutes prior to the match, the magic circle glows, and Grayfia-san appears from it.
"Is everyone ready? It's ten minutes before the match."
Everyone stands up after Grayfia-san confirms us. Grayfia-san then starts to explain about the battle.
"When it becomes the time to start the battle, you will be teleported to the battlefield through this magic circle. The location of the place is in a different dimension used for battles. You may fight with all your power. It's a disposable space, so feel free to fight to your satisfaction."
I see. A battle purpose field, huh. So Devils can prepare something like that as well.
Indeed, if we fight somewhere in the humans' world or the devils' world, we can't avoid destruction. So it means that we need a place where we won't harm anything no matter what we do.
But leaving that aside, there's something that I'm concerned about.
"Hey, Buchou?"
"What is it?"
"Buchou, you also have another [Bishop], right? Where is that person?"
Yes, that's what Buchou told me before she reincarnated Asia. She told me she already has another [Bishop].
She told me that the [Bishop] is doing another mission, but why isn't the [Bishop] here under this serious situation?
After I asked the question, everyone except me and Asia acted weird. It seems like I asked something I shouldn't have. It feels like the atmosphere in this room has changed. All of them are keeping their mouths closed.
"Unfortunately, the other [Bishop] can't participate. Though there will be a time when I will talk about that in the near future."
Buchou says that to me without looking me in the eyes.
Seems like there's something complicated about this matter. I probably should stop asking about this topic now.
But what's so important that the [Bishop] can't appear for its master's important match? I can't get rid of my suspicions. Grayfia-san then speaks under this weird atmosphere.
"This "Rating Game" battle will also be viewed by members of both households from a different location through broadcast."
Are you serious? So they will be watching us? So they are going to view us like VIP members, huh? They sure must be having fun. Since Buchou's parents are watching this as well, I can't show them an unsightly scene.
"Arthur-sama will be watching you from the designated area, which the Gremory family provided, and Maou Lucifer-sama will also be viewing this battle. Please do not forget about it."
Maou!? Maou-sama!? Wow, that makes me nervous. Even the one standing above us is paying attention to this match!? Buchou then makes a shocked face.
"Onii-sama is? ... I see, so Onii-sama is also going to view this battle."
...Huh? I think I heard it wrong. What did Buchou just say? O-Onii-sama...? I got confused, so I put my hand up and asked.
"U-Umm, Buchou, you just called Maou-sama "Onii-sama"...? Did I hear wrong?"
But Kiba answers me straight away.
"No, Buchou's brother is indeed the Maou-sama."
What...
"M-Maoooooou!!? Buchou's Onii-sama is Maou-sama!?"
"Yes."
Buchou confirms it straight away.
Are you serious!? Seriously!? No, wait. But Buchou is part of the "Gremory clan," isn't she? I think her last name is different from any of the Maou's last names...
Lucifer, Beelzebub, Leviathan, and Asmodeus. It doesn't match with any of their last names.
"Are you confused because Buchou's family name is different from the names of the Maou-samas?"
Kiba guesses what I'm thinking. It's a bummer, but he has it correct.
"Yeah, that's it."
Kiba starts to explain after I admit it reluctantly.
"In the previous Great War, the Maou-samas was in a critical condition and passed away a long time ago. But there would be no Devils if there weren't any Maou-samas. That's why—"
The Devils decided to keep the names of the Maous and let them be inherited by the ones with enormous powers. So the current Four Great Maous are the Ultimate-class Devils that are the successors of the first generation Maous that have inherited their names.
So that's how it is. Then "Lucifer" and "Beelzebub" aren't personal names but more like managerial positions.
"To tell you the truth, out of the three factions of the God, the Fallen Angels and the Devils, the Devils have the least power. We are actually in a tight spot, but we are still safe because the current Maou-samas have a power equal to the previous Maou-samas."
...So the Devils' society is just somehow managing, huh...
I'm pretty shocked to hear that the Maou-samas that have their names recorded in the books you find in the libraries are already dead.
"So Buchou's brother was chosen to be a Maou from the Ultimate-class Devils then?"
Kiba nods at my question.
"Sirzechs Lucifer—who is also known as the "Crimson Satan". He is Buchou's brother and the most powerful Maou-sama."
—Sirzechs Lucifer.
Not a "Gremory" but a "Lucifer," huh? So he isn't referred to by his family name any more, like Buchou is.
"...So that's why Buchou needs to inherit her household."
It can't be helped since her brother became a Maou. Her brother has to carry the world of the Devils on his back. Amazing. Even Buchou's family is amazing...
"It's about time. Everyone, please head to the magic circle."
We gather in the magic circle after Grayfia-san urges us to.
"Also, once you get transported, you cannot use the magic circle until the game ends."
So we can only return here after the outcome.
The magic circle's symbol changes to another one, which is not that of the Gremory, and it starts to emit lights. It's also not the symbol of the House of Phoenix. Perhaps it's the one used for the game?
While I was thinking about it, the light covers us and the teleportation begins.
❌❌❌
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