Two days had passed since Akari's first official visit to the Occult Research Club. The atmosphere in the old school building had shifted noticeably.
What was once a relaxed clubroom for devil business had become a place of quiet tension and curiosity, especially after Akari casually revealed her Boosted Gear and rejected Rias's offer to join her peerage.
It was now late afternoon. Sunlight slanted through the tall windows of the clubroom, casting warm golden patches across the antique furniture.
Akari sat casually on the edge of the large central table, legs swinging lightly. Asia Argento sat beside her, still a bit shy but warming up to the group. Akeno stood nearby with her usual graceful smile, while Koneko and Kiba occupied their usual spots.
Akari, never one to behave, suddenly reached out and grabbed a generous handful of Akeno's perfectly shaped ass, squeezing it hard through her skirt.
"Hey Akeno," she said with a playful grin, "ain't you a beautiful girl?"
Akeno's cheeks instantly flushed a deep pink. A soft, involuntary moan escaped her lips as Akari's fingers dug in possessively.
"Ah… Akari-kun…"
Akeno tried to keep her voice steady, but it cracked slightly.
"Oh yea Akari-kun, but can you please stop—ahhhh~!"
The moan grew louder as Akari gave another firm squeeze, clearly enjoying herself. Asia's face turned bright red. She quickly turned away, covering her ears with both hands and mumbling something about "perverted behavior."
Rias, who had been reviewing some documents, coughed loudly and sharply to interrupt them.
"Ahem!"
Koneko's golden eyes narrowed, her voice flat and judgmental.
"What a pervert."
Akari released Akeno's ass with a dramatic sigh and turned to Koneko, pouting cutely.
"Come on Koneko, stop saying that. I'm just showing my love to Akeno."
Akeno's blush deepened even further at the word "love." She covered her mouth with the back of her hand, looking both embarrassed and secretly pleased.
"Akari-kun… please stop it."
"Okay, okay, I'll stop," Akari said, raising her hands in mock surrender with a grin.
Kiba, who had been quietly sipping tea, chuckled and shook his head.
"Man, girls these days…"
The moment the words left his mouth, four pairs of eyes turned toward him — Akari, Akeno, Koneko, and Rias — all wearing identical angry glares.
Kiba froze, sweat dropping down his temple.
"S-Sorry everyone…"
The angry looks immediately softened into normal expressions.
"It's okay," they said in perfect unison.
The room relaxed again for a few seconds.
Then, without warning, a massive magical teleportation circle erupted on the floor of the clubroom. It glowed with the fiery orange-and-gold crest of the Phenex family. The air grew unbearably hot as flames roared upward in a towering pillar.
Rias's face instantly twisted into pure, unfiltered rage. She knew exactly who was coming.
Asia squeaked in fear and shielded her eyes from the intense light and heat.
From the roaring pillar of fire stepped Riser Phenex, exuding pure arrogance. His blonde hair was styled perfectly, and he wore a flashy high-collared white suit that screamed "I'm rich and immortal."
Flanking him was his entire peerage — fifteen beautiful women in elegant yet revealing outfits, all of them radiating confidence and power.
Riser spread his arms wide, a smug, punchable smile plastered across his face.
"Ah, my beloved Rias. Did you miss me?"
Rias's voice came out as a dangerous hiss.
"Riser…!"
"Don't be like that, my little Rias," he continued, stepping closer without any respect for personal space. "Riser has traveled all this way to the human world just to see his future bride. You should be grateful."
"I told my father, and I am telling you," Rias growled, power of destruction already crackling faintly around her hands. "There is no future bride. I have no intention of marrying you."
Riser threw his head back and laughed loudly, the sound grating on everyone's nerves.
"Rebellious as ever! That fire in your eyes is exactly why you will bear Riser the strongest pure-blood children the Underworld has ever seen."
Akari, who had been watching the entire exchange with growing boredom, finally sighed loudly and cut in.
"Can you just stop this stupid monologue, Chicken Fry?"
The entire room went silent.
Riser slowly turned his head toward Akari, his smug expression freezing.
"Who are you and what did you just call Riser?"
Akari leaned back against the table, tone completely bored.
"I called you Chicken Fry, you stupid moron."
Riser's face twitched. He was clearly trying to maintain his cool aristocratic demeanor, but the insult had struck a nerve.
"Mira," he said coldly, snapping his fingers. "Put this stupid bitch in her place."
One of Riser's peerage members — a tall woman with long dark hair carrying a wooden staff — stepped forward immediately. She raised her staff, magic gathering at its tip, and swung it toward Akari with lethal intent.
Akari didn't even flinch.
She summoned the Light Sword in a flash of brilliant holy light. The blade materialized in her hand and stabbed forward in one clean motion, piercing straight through Mira's stomach.
Everyone in the room gasped in shock.
Rias, Akeno, Koneko, and Kiba stared wide-eyed. Riser and his entire peerage looked stunned. Even Asia uncovered her eyes, mouth open in disbelief. A holy weapon — in the hands of a human girl — was something none of them had expected.
The holy light from the sword began burning Mira from the inside. The fallen angel-level devil screamed in agony as sacred energy seared her demonic flesh.
Ten seconds later, Akari pulled the sword out. The burning stopped instantly. She dismissed the Light Sword, letting it vanish in a shimmer of light.
Then she pulled out a small glowing vial from her pocket — a healing potion she had purchased from the System Shop the previous day for 800,000 SP.
"Here. Drink this."
Mira, still in pain and bleeding, hesitated only for a second before taking the vial and drinking it. The effect was immediate. Her wound closed completely, color returned to her face, and all damage vanished. She looked perfectly healthy again.
Before returning to Riser's side, Mira leaned close to Akari's ear and whispered very quietly:
"…Thank you."
Then she rejoined her master.
The room slowly calmed down, though the tension remained thick.
Rias looked Riser dead in the eyes, her power of destruction crackling dangerously around her hands.
"If you want me, Riser, you will have to earn me," she declared, voice echoing with authority. "Let us settle this the way Devils do. A Rating Game. My peerage against yours."
A dark, hungry grin spread across Riser's face. He leaned in close to her ear.
"A Rating Game? Against Riser, who has never lost? Very well, my little Gremory," he whispered. "I'll give you 2 days. Try to become strong enough to even stand a chance. After all, you will become mine and bear my children if you fail."
With a dramatic snap of his fingers, the Phenex magic circle flared back to life. In a roaring vortex of flames, Riser and his entire harem of fifteen women vanished, leaving behind the faint scent of expensive cologne, ozone, and burning wood.
The clubroom fell silent once more.
Akari stretched her arms above her head and said casually:
"Well… that happened."