Genichi's recent days had been very peaceful.
Ever since he engraved the Schrift into every member of the Occult Research Club, he felt as if he had finished a massive project, and his whole body relaxed.
Yuto Kiba had received Apparition. The swordsmanship prodigy showed astonishing comprehension when it came to spatial magic, and in just a few days, he was already using it with ease.
Koneko Toujou had received Dragon Eater. She did not usually say much, but Genichi could feel that her strength had undergone a qualitative leap.
Asia had received Orario's strongest healing magic. The former nun already possessed a Sacred Gear, but she had never been able to perform group healing. Now that she had a way to heal multiple people at once, she smiled far more often than before.
As for Rias and Akeno, they practiced Shadow King every day.
"Genichi!"
Rias's voice came from the clubroom, carrying a trace of excitement.
"Look!"
Genichi pushed open the door and saw Rias standing in the center of the room. More than a dozen dark silhouettes stood quietly beneath her feet.
Those shadows looked exactly like her, right down to every strand of crimson hair.
When she raised her hand, the shadows raised theirs as well.
When she turned around, they turned with her.
Their movements were perfectly synchronized, like a well-trained army.
"Not bad."
Genichi nodded. "Keep accumulating them. Once you have enough, you can go after Riser."
Rias's eyes lit up, then quickly dimmed again.
"How much longer do I have to wait?"
"You only have a dozen or so shadows right now. To deal with Riser, you'll need at least a hundred. Wait another ten days or half a month."
Rias nodded and continued focusing on controlling the shadows.
Akeno stood by the window, also practicing with her own shadow.
She had fewer shadows than Rias, but her control was more flexible. She could already make them act independently.
Genichi watched them, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
He liked peaceful days like this.
By evening, the members of the Occult Research Club left one after another.
Kiba and Koneko left first, and Asia also went home.
Akeno glanced at Genichi and Rias, then closed the door with a smiling expression.
Only the two of them remained in the clubroom.
Rias sat on the sofa and patted the seat beside her.
"Genichi, come here."
Genichi walked over and sat beside her.
Rias leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. Her crimson hair brushed against his neck, carrying a faint fragrance.
"Genichi."
Her voice was very soft.
"Yeah?"
"What do you think will happen after I break off my engagement with Riser?"
Genichi thought for a moment.
"What will happen? You'll be free. You can do whatever you want."
Rias raised her head, her emerald eyes fixed directly on him.
"Then what will you do?"
Genichi looked at her and fell silent for a moment.
"What do you want me to do?"
Rias's face flushed faintly, but she did not look away.
"You know."
Genichi's heartbeat skipped.
Of course he knew.
Ever since that night at the shrine, when she had done that for him, he had known.
Rias Gremory, this noble and elegant devil princess, was waiting for him.
He reached out and gently cupped her face.
Her cheek was warm and soft, faintly hot against his palm.
She closed her eyes, her lashes trembling like butterfly wings.
Genichi lowered his head and kissed her.
Gradually, the atmosphere between them deepened.
And then—
A huge magic circle suddenly lit up in the center of the clubroom.
The light was so dazzling that Genichi had to close his eyes.
Dense magical power flooded the air, so heavy it nearly suffocated him.
Genichi's body instantly went tense.
The light burst outward.
A figure stepped out of the magic circle.
It was a woman with long silver-white hair that fell to her waist. Her features were as exquisite as a doll's, and she wore a blue-and-white maid uniform. Her bearing was noble, cold, and elegant.
Rias's expression froze instantly.
Genichi froze as well.
The entire clubroom fell so silent that a falling pin could have been heard.
The woman looked at the scene before her, her expression unchanged.
Her gaze swept over Rias's disheveled clothes, then over Genichi's hand braced against the sofa, then over the distance between the two of them.
"Lady Rias."
Her voice was calm as still water, without the slightest fluctuation.
"It seems I have arrived at an inconvenient time."
Rias's face turned crimson in an instant.
"G-Grafiya…"
Rias's voice came out in a stammer. "Why are you here?"
Grafiya Lucifuge.
One of the most powerful female devils in the Underworld.
She was the Gremory family's overseer, the representative of the Devil King Lucifer, and a being even ultimate-class devils treated with respect.
And at this moment, she was standing inside the Occult Research Club, watching Rias and her peerage member in an intimate situation.
Genichi finally came back to his senses.
He abruptly sat up straight.
Rias also began straightening her clothes in a panic. Her fingers trembled so badly while buttoning them that she missed the fastenings several times.
Grafiya watched their flustered state and frowned slightly.
"Lady Rias."
Her voice remained calm. "The Devil King sent me to check on your situation. After all, the engagement with House Phenex should be brought to a conclusion."
Rias's movements paused.
Genichi's hands also stopped as he fixed his clothes.
Grafiya's gaze landed on Genichi. Her eyes were calm as water, yet they carried an invisible pressure.
"So this is your new peerage member? Genichi Hyoudou?"
Genichi met her gaze and nodded.
"Yes."
Grafiya studied him. Her gaze felt as if she were inspecting an object.
From his hair to his clothes, from his posture to his eyes, she overlooked nothing.
Genichi stood there and allowed her to examine him, his expression unchanged.
"Not bad."
Grafiya finally spoke, her voice still calm.
"If you can make Lady Rias lose her composure to this degree, then you are indeed no ordinary person."
Rias's face turned even redder.
"Grafiya!"
Grafiya ignored her.
"Lady Rias, the matter of the engagement cannot be delayed any longer. The Devil King hopes you can make a decision as soon as possible. Will you accept Riser, or—"
Her gaze fell on Genichi once more.
"Will you prove that your peerage member is qualified to replace House Phenex's fiancé?"
After she finished speaking, the magic circle lit up again.
Before she left, Grafiya's voice rang out.
"One more thing, Lady Rias. Next time, please be more careful. You represent the dignity of House Gremory."
Rias lowered her head, her face so red it looked as though it might drip blood.
Genichi stood in front of her, his clothes rumpled and his hair a mess.
The two of them remained silent for a long time.
"Genichi."
Rias finally spoke, her voice as small as a mosquito's buzz.
"Yeah?"
"Do you think Grafiya will tell my brother?"
Genichi thought for a moment.
"She will."
Rias's face grew even redder.
"What should we do?"
Genichi looked at her and could not help laughing.
He reached out and ruffled her hair.
"What should we do? I'll prove to him that I'm worthy of you."
Rias raised her head, his figure reflected in her emerald eyes.
She smiled.
It was faint and gentle.
"Okay."
(End of Chapter)
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