AN: And like a Phoenix, I rise from my long and unannounced vacation bringing you fresh new chapter! Apologies to everyone who waited, I hope that it was worth it. With this chapter, we're starting a new arc, the one that'll leave me much more maneuver for original things. Guest-starring, scorching weather that accompanied me while writing this piece!
This chapter brought to you with the help of user Zazuki Kurosaki doing beta reading and fixes.
In his room, Septimus Hyoudou in his Nekomata form and a jinbei (traditional Japanese nightwear) was sleeping half-tangled in sheets and his head hanging down from the bed. It was just a normal image for this Hyoudou's morning, excluding ones where he didn't slept at all. Or ended up sleeping on one of the shelves. But when a flare of energy came from Issei's room, his eyes instinctively opened. Raising sharply up, teenager stared with sharp eyes at the wall, wondering whether to do something.
"What is it, Sepi?" Turning to the owner of an unexpected voice, Septimus saw his new familiar laying on the pillow in an orange nightgown and rubbing her eyes.
"Nothing, I think." Labeling whatever happened behind the wall as not threatening to the house, the Nekomata looked at Nisa with confusion. "Anyway, what are you doing on my bed?"
"Sleeping." Pixie yawned out the obvious thing.
"That I see. I'm asking why is it here."
He remembered that right after finding that his sisters came back, especially Izuna, he reinstalled anti-intruder spells and bounded field on his room. He also offered to put them on Issei room, but with everything that happened recently, there wasn't much time for that. They were actually pretty high quality, and even if they would be broken they should at least warn him of someone coming in.
"Well, as we are bound with the master-familiar contract, I thought that it was natural for me to sleep in your room. I didn't want to intrude on your sisters' or brother's rooms." With that, she tilted her head and cutely brought one finger to her lips
There wasn't any sign of lie or Nisa making fun of him that he could see, but Septimus was sure that she was doing this intentionally. It made his black ear twitch and his tails to sway ferociously, what only intensified when he looked at her. "... And why exactly on my pillow?"
"Because there isn't any free spot in this room beside that one," she pointed towards the room.
Following the fairy's finger, Septimus involuntarily cringed. What she said was true, even someone her size couldn't fit anywhere. Even though he lived here only two weeks, the whole room was littered with clothes both traditional and modern, cans, various weapons and outfits, boxes and an opened parachute covering the whole desk.
Trailing his eyes between that last thing and Nisa, Hyoudou sighed and dropped face-first on the pillow. Doing this he almost squashed orange girl, making her yelp in fear. "Fine, you have a point." With small fists lightly hitting his head, Septimus wondered why did he even had opened parachute in his room and whether his figurines on the desk were alright. "Sleep here for now, I'll try bribing Izu with headpats to clean here later."
"Don't just nonchalantly try to drop your head on me! And give me this pillow back, I was here first! You can go back to hanging down the bed!" Literally sparkling with anger, the Pixie continued her attack with raising ferocity.
Septimus' hand shot out, clutching her small body tightly and blocking any moves. Two pairs of orange eyes glared at each other, both glowing with internal lights. "Oi, stop that! It's annoy-"
He didn't get to finish, a sudden surge of power coming from Issei's room froze both of them in place. During a few seconds that felt like an eternity, the silent pressure made them shiver.
"What the fuck?!"
Stuffing his familiar into the pocket, Septimus summoned his swords in the middle of jumping off the bed and busted out of the room. Who could know about them and have enough power to scare him with just an aura? Was that this rumored Boss of rogue Fallens, taking it on himself to finish the job so fast? If so, he'd end up disappointed, there was no way either he or his brother were dying.
CRASH
Breaking the door to Issei's room, black-haired teen rushed in ready to kill anyone at sight and ask questions later. However, what he didn't expect, was that right when he stepped in, was to be flying without any control toward the source of murderous aura.
"SHIIIIIIIT!"
CRACK
A few minutes earlier
"Issei, please, take my virginity!"
A sentence that most teenagers would be ecstatic to hear from a beautiful girl who appeared in their bed from the ceiling. When Rias started to undress and showed to the world her undergarments, a sexy black lace bra that had to made with magic to hold Gremory's most valuable treasures and not break, Issei came to a revelation. This had to be a dream, a beautiful fantasy that he wanted to last forever. All the brunet hoped now was to at least get the good parts before waking up.
"H-hey! What do you think you're doing?! I got here first!" Getting after initial confusion, Miia sat up and brought her own assets to the fight. As she coiled her tail in anger around Issei's chest, the Lamia's face turned to the color of her scales. The shade got even deeper when a sudden thought appeared in the girl's mind. "B-but if Ise-sama wants that, I can s-share." Whispering the last part snake girl hide behind her hands, having used up all of her boldness with her plan to sneak into Issei's bed.
Rias looked at Pawn's familiar mid-unhooking her bra, only then noticing the third person in the room. Feeling deep down a pang of something she couldn't put a name on, she threw away the bra and hid this feeling under a polite smile. "Did I interrupt something? I'm sorry, but I have to take Ise-kun from you for five minutes."
Under them, Issei had his face covered by Miia's pair of boobs. The soft sensation of being hugged by them made him believe that a Devil could go to the Fourth Heaven. He was about to reach and taste those hanging fruits before him when he almost choked on what was said.
"WHAT?! Miia did you just said what I think you said?! We will talk more about this later. Also, was I just called 5-minute man?! Just so you know, this Dragon's stamina allows him to go at this for HOURS!" Issei couldn't decide, whether to focus more on a vision where those two beautiful redheads sandwiched him between their boobs in a hot threesome or the fact that his pride was mercilessly trampled on. Although it will probably be better to save that fantasy for later and deal with the latter. Now he had to prove to one Devil just how wrong she was to underestimate him. "Let me show firsthand what I'm talking about Buchou!"
With a perverted grin, Issei moved to start groping Rias and let himself free on this buffet. But before he could touch them, the teenager noticed his master's expression. There was nothing resembling lust, temptation or even typical for her proud look. Instead, Rias looked like someone scared, barely restraining her tears and trying last resort option to find a way out. And while Issei had many weird fetishes beside breasts, some seriously screwed up, sex with someone against their will wasn't among them, even if this all was just a dream.
With his mood successfully killed, Issei sighed in disappointment. Moving his hands from over the princess's breasts, instead, he picked up her uniform and covered her up. Seeing as both Miia and Rias stared dumbfounded, Hyoudou leaned back and sighed again. "Buchou, listen. I'll be more than happy to grant your wish, but only when you want it, not like that. So go back to being your usual proud, strong self and tell us what happened."
His words and a warm smile broke a dam inside the girl. Tears she was holding back started flooding when Rias clung to her servant. It required all of Issei's willpower to hold himself back when her shirt fell off and her naked breasts pressed against his chest. What didn't help in this situation was Miia, who didn't want to be left out, also hugged him from behind.
"Issei, I-"
Her words were stopped when the room was again enveloped in red light. As it died down, in the middle of the room stood silver-haired woman in a maid outfit, her red eyes staring at the trio. Both Issei and Rias instantly recognized who she was. However, before any of them said something, murderous ice aura started to emanate from the woman, freezing them on a spot.
"Looks like I was too late. I don't know who indicated what happened here, but seeing that you made Ojou-sama cry, I will be the one delivering your punishment." With pressure rising to an unbearable level before the maid appeared a silver magic circle. Still paralyzed, Issei thought that if he was about to die again, he could at least grope those boobs…
CRASH
A sudden sound of the doors being kicked out brought bed trio back to their senses. In place of broken furniture was Septimus, running with swords posed to attack and shadows accumulating around his tails. Before Issei could scream to stop his brother, he was already closing in at deadly speed.
Yet, even if they were able to injure the silverette, of which almost certainly she wouldn't allow, black blades would never reach their mark. Before the Nekomata had his target in reach, his foot slipped on something, resulting in him flying face-first at stunned woman's breasts.
"SHIIIIIIIT!"
Time seemed to slow down, as everyone gaped at the inevitable catastrophe that was to occur. When Septimus was centimeters from landing, suddenly his whole body vanished, for him to appear behind her, still flying.
CRACK
"Ouch, fuck, shit, fuck. I don't think that a neck should bend that way. But it was worth it, like Hell I'm gonna fall for such cliché set-up." Grumbling loudly, Septimus laid with his feet dangling in the air among remains of Issei's closet. As he tried to get up, something fell on his face. Raising it up, Nekomata stared at the object in his hands and cranked his head at the Half-Dragon. "Yo, Issei. Can you tell me what the fuck happened here that I slipped on woman's bra? That sexy kind of bra too."
Grayfia, for she was that silver-haired maid, was also the first one to get her senses back. Hearing the Pawn's name, the Strongest Queen made magic circle disappear and for the first time looked closer at the brunet. At first, she couldn't recognize him, but then something clicked and she put the teenager in front of her with the one she knew from three years ago. Then it also came to her, why the place she was felt oddly familiar since she'd already visited it more than once. Her husband bragged how his cute little sister just got two new powerful servants, but Sirzechs never mentioned that they'd be from Azazel's project. It seemed like Lucifer needed some long scolding from her about leaving important details aside and she'll provide it as soon as she'll be on her free time. "Issei-san? You're the one that Rias-sama took as her Pawn?"
Finally free from unnatural pressure Issei let out a relieved sigh. "Yes, Grayfia-dono. And Septimus there is also Buchou's Bishop."
Just as Issei, both redheads could move when threatening circles vanished. But in turn, after hearing Grayfia's name black-haired froze wide-eyed.
Looking between both sister-in-law and her servant, Rias asked surprised that they've met before. "You know each other? Grayfia, could it be that you know about the Hyoudou family?"
"Of course I know about them. I'm one of their supervisors, Devil Faction representative. Although I didn't know that they were your servants." After dropping this bombshell on Rias, Grayfia thought in silence for a second. When she spoke again, surprisingly for Gremory heiress instead of her 'work' mode she was in the 'older sister' one. "It's bad that I was too late to stop you from losing your purity just to get out of your engagement. But at least Issei-san here is better than some plebeian."
"I didn't do anything! Again, I'm not some one-pump chump! If we did it, even with Miia's helping her I'd still be just warming up! I demand apologies!" Issei erupted screaming after his pride was stomped on yet again. Seriously, how could anyone think that someone with as much practice as he could last only five minutes? All that practice was only on 'single-player' mode, but still. And that's not even counting his re-awakened supernatural physiology.
"Darli- Ise-sama, I don't want to interrupt your talk, but I think that Sep-sama's fall was more serious than we thought." Drawing the attention of three Devils, the Lamia pointed at Septimus.
The mentioned teen was still on the floor, mumbling under breath with everyone now staring at him. "I almost died again. I was literally centimeters from dying. If I'd hurt Grayfia-dono or landed in her boobs, even if I escaped her here the whole Underworld would be after my head. With her husband Satan being first in line. Thanks, whoever up or down there likes me, for that bra!"
When Septimus was going on about another near-death experience, one of his pockets without any warning was ripped to shreds in a bright flash. When the light died down, there was one shining and very angry Pixie, flying in front of his eyes.
"What's the big idea with throwing me into a pocket?! Is that how you treat a lady and your partner? Now get up and down on your knees apologizing, or I'll have to rethink being your familiar." As her master was going on about some bra being miraculous protecting amulet, Nisa's light and anger only grew as she tried to lift him up by his hair.
Issei for one was happy that his brother started to share his passion for boobs, kinda. Now all he had to do was to convince him about the beauty and greatness of harems to proudly call him a man whose tastes he approved of. But before that, there was still a matter of grave misunderstanding. Besides, his mood was now rocketing down even more, as it looked more and more like a reality than a dream. Yup, it was becoming too fucked up for a dream, it had to be another day with his family. Besides, if that'd be a dream then Grayfia appearing in his room would be without any clothes and… Whops, no no NO! Those are dangerous thoughts! The kind that can result in him being castrated with pure Power of Destruction!
"Ignoring Septimus for now, as I said. There is no way I'd be finished in such a short time. And if I'd started I wouldn't be taking any breaks that fast. At least not before I had a mouthful of those beautiful marshmallows. Therefore, Rias Gremory chastity is untouched! With that resolved, I again demand apologies! And would someone be so kind as to explain what the fuck is going on?!" Issei reminded both Pure-Blooded Devils that he was waiting there with wounded pride. And besides that, he was now seriously interested what pushed the proud Rias Gremory to jump onto him like that.
Hearing Issei's explanation, Grayfia after turned her eyes from the pair one the floor and nodded slowly. Even though Devil Faction had the least contact with Hyoudou family of everyone involved, she knew their members well enough to believe the teenager before her. His anger about comparing his ability in bed, no matter how insignificant its reason, also looked nothing like a faked one. When the maid finally spoke, it was again in her official manner. "I'm sorry for my rude assumption, Issei-san. I've let my emotions get better of me and acted rash. Other men would take advantage of Ojou-sama, so here let me thank you and apologize again."
In an instant all of Issei's anger vanished, replaced by embarrassment. He wanted her to say sorry, but that was going overboard. What worse, when he looked to Rias for some help, she turned away red in embarrassment like her hair. "Oi, don't do that after you ask a guy for sex out of blue!" Issei screamed in his mind.
"Is-is that so? So if I and Darli- Ise-sama weren't interrupted we'd be doing it for hours..?" Behind him, Issei felt that his familiar fidgeting nervously, but he couldn't say if it was in excitement or fright. In truth, it was a bit of both. The red Lamia sure was scared of the pain of having her first time and whether Issei would be too harsh, but she was also curious if it would be truly the way she saw in some of those magazines she skipped through a few times with burning face.
"Miia, if you really want to you can just call me 'Darling', I don't mind." The pawn tried his hardest not to show that he was really ecstatic at the thought of that beauty calling him that. He just wanted to shout in the air and then run brag about it to Motohama and Matsuda. Later. "Now, Buchou, why did you try to jump me?"
Grayfia closed in to stop them. "Rias-sama~"
"No, Grayfia. As my servants, they should know. Besides, they'll know about it soon enough either way." Rias stopped her sister-in-law, regaining her normal aura. Taking a deep breath, the princess looked her Pawn in the eyes. "Ise-kun, I'm sorry. I just wanted to use you as a convenient way out. You see, I'm forced in an arranged marriage against my will and I thought that if I were 'impure' my fiance would refuse and I'd be free."
When she looked at the teen for his reaction, she saw him gaping in astonishment. "So Buchou was going to give me her first time to get away from arranged marriage..? Wait! Isn't your brother a Satan?! Shouldn't he be able to help you out?!"
"He can't." Still laying on the floor Septimus answered Issei's question. Having calmed down, orange-eyed duo stared at people next to the bed. Raising up, black-haired boy dusted himself off and after placing Nisa on his shoulder continued. "As one of the Satans, he can't show favoritism, even to his own little sister. Am I right, Grayfia-dono?"
Nodding her head, the silver-haired beauty confirmed Septimus' statement. "That's right. Sirzechs-sama does, in theory, have the authority to abolish this engagement. However since he relinquished his rights as the heir of Gremory Clan after taking the title of Lucifer, he can't directly interfere in the family's internal matters."
"You see how it is," a Nekomata waved his hand before him. "Besides, Senpai, what's with that plan? What year is it? Today, it's harder to find a 'pure' girl in high-school than a place without internet connection in First World countries. There's no way something like that would work." He said, causing his upperclassman to look down embarrassed.
"Hey, imma virgin here, you insensitive idiot!" The fairy on his shoulder rose in the air screaming with a slight accent and again started to pound at his head.
"Me too," Miia slowly rose her hand.
Hearing the two sudden revelations from girls, Issei coughed not sure if he should also mention himself here. But as he didn't fall into 'girl' part of the category, he decided that it was better to skip it. "Yeah… Anyway, Buchou, you still haven't told us who your fiance is."
"Rias-sama's fiance is Riser Phenex," Grayfia answered that question as the redhead was still staring down at the bed.
"Hah! Then it's even less probable that the plan would work! Although that hot-headed playboy would surely want to kill Issei for 'defiling' his property." Hearing Riser's name Septimus sneered loudly. Hyoudous' previous education had in it part focused on the internal workings of each faction, so when they learned about Devil society they've heard about the Phenex and their third son. And his reputation. Just thinking about handing Rias to that guy caused Issei to grit his teeth. For the perverted Dragon that burning bird was someone who needed a lesson on how he should treat his harem.
"It doesn't matter." Their King spoke slowly, raising her head and showing them the face of sad acceptance. "Now that Grayfia is here a chance for that is already wasted." Then Rias looked at Grayfia and her expression morphed into one of determination. "But I'm still going to do whatever I can to oppose this marriage."
"We will help however we can, Buchou. Am I right, Sep?" Issei cheered at his master who finally got back her spirit.
"Yeah, we owe you at least that much for saving us and helping with that previous mess." His brother agreed with a grin, while a Pixie that now sat on his head nodded vigorously. Even though she just joined them, Nisa wasn't one to leave her friends alone, and this Devil looked to her like someone of her type. "But admit it Issei. You're jealous of that hothead."
"Of course I am! That's why I want to kick his burning ass!"
Hearing their declarations Grayfia sighed silently, but inside she was warmly smiling. "Looks like you've got yourself more loyal servants, Rias."
Without showing her inner thoughts, she bowed her head respectively. "As you wish, Ojou-sama. Now, can we go back?"
Maybe as a sign of disobedience, or maybe because there was nothing more to be said, Rias ignored the question. Turning to her servants and their familiars, the King flashed them both an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry for troubling you. We'll see each other at the clubroom."
The devil princess vanished then in a red flash, quickly followed by another one caused by Grayfia. As the light died down, Issei looked at the clock. "Well, it's almost time for school so we'd better move quickly."
Septimus shrugged without much care at the mention of school, but still walked toward the hall. "I'm more worried whether Ela left any breakfast for us. Come on Nisa, let's check it." The two of them left the room, but after a few seconds in the doors, Septimus' head appeared and its little passenger. "Right, almost forgot. Our redhead guest forgot something of hers, so let's just say you owe me one." With a grin and wink, Septimus threw something at him and vanished.
Catching the flying object out of instinct, Issei spread it. In his hands was familiar black lace fabric of round shape and magnificent size, a priceless treasure. With a lecherous smile, the pervert gripped the bra that Rias Gremory accidentally just left in his room. He quickly hugged it to his heart, chuckling quietly and recalling the vision of boobs that just some time ago were hugged by thin cloth. All that behavior caused still sitting next to him Mia to nervously shake tip of her tail, especially when a happy tear escaped teen's eye.
"Can you explain to me since when our house became some supernatural hotel and you two now live there for free? If I didn't know better, I'd say that every Fallen Angel exists to freeload on Kaa-san's meals."
"You make it sound like I want to live in the same house as you! If not for Azazel-sama's orders and your mother's cooking, I would never do that even if you'd begged me."
Every member of ORC except for its president was present inside the clubroom and killing time before the said president arrived. Issei was currently out and not responding to anyone because his dream of being fed by someone was being realized thanks to Miia. Akeno sat beside them with Elaine, who said that she wanted to have a look at her familiars. On the opposite couch, there were Mirana, Kiba and Mittelt sipping tea and awkwardly watching the growing argument in the room, as well as Izuna with her hair tied today by a red ribbon, who had her nose buried in the same thing as yesterday. And lastly, sitting on the third couch, the participants of said argument, Septimus in all his Youkai glory and Raynare. Beside them, Nisa comfortably sat on Raynare's head and Koneko had her cat laying on her legs, sitting between the arguing duo. And while other two's faces were warped in grimaces, both Koneko and Nisa expressions were of bliss comfort, with smaller one not holding back and even sighing in pleasure. Why? Today turned to be a surprisingly hot day, and exactly on that day, the air conditioner broke, leaving the temperature at the unpleasant level. But thanks to orange-eyed magician waving black fan with a small white circle, a cool breeze with small snowflakes swept over them and the rest of club members.
The subject of their argument was that apparently when Azazel made two Fallen Angels into Issei's and Septimus' subordinates, or better-called slaves, he also stationed them in the Hyoudou household. His argument was that both of them should be closer to their superiors, but everyone who was somehow closely accustomed to Fallen's leader's behavior knew that he did so to tease all of them. But leaving aside Septimus' distaste for living under one roof with his old friend, with all new guests there were no empty rooms left and the house started to be simply cramped. And the line to the toilet this morning almost made him teleport to one of Grigori safehouses instead for his morning needs!
"Old sleazebag could just rent you a place nearby. Hell, he could buy you whole building! And why the fuck am I fanning you and not myself?!"
"Oi, don't stop! It's too hot in here." It looked like the answer to his question was Nisa who complained from Raynare's head, followed by nodding from everyone in the room. And by everyone that also meant Fallen Angel that served as chair for the fairy. Because of Reinare sudden moves
While Septimus considered whether to argue with them, listen to the voice of majority or just start fanning himself without a word and watch their reaction, abruptly the doors of the clubroom opened stopping his thoughts and waking Issei from his dreamland. From the doors like an angry storm emerged Rias, with her red hair flowing behind looking like setting sun. Contrasting brightly with Devil Princess, the one who could be called Devil Queen in her maid uniform followed after Rias with calm aura. If Gremory looked to them like a storm during the sunset, then Grayfia reminded calm winter morning, with land covered in snow and hiding its true beauty, but at the same time showing something just as marvelous. To Issei, both of them were beautiful sights to behold, but he wanted to know what was going on right now, especially after what happened this morning.
"Grayfia, you've said that he was going to visit here, but you didn't say that it was to happen today!"
"That's because at first he was supposed to come only in around a week or two. But an hour ago he suddenly changed plans and sent his familiar with a message that he..."
WHOOSH
When the temperature suddenly started to rise even higher than it already was, Grayfia's sentence came out slower and slower, never reaching its end. When the room became hot like a sauna, shining with orange light, a magic circle appeared and summoned giant blaze of flames with a person between them.
At this unexpected intrusion large part of club members, which were the Hyoudous, their familiars (at least those that had them) and Fallen Angels jumped up readying their magic.
"It's been a while since I've been in the human world. Rias, I've come to take you~" As the fire died down Riser Phenex, the third son of Phenex Clan, turned to the center of the room with an arrogant smile, that quickly froze with the words in his throat. He did not expect that the first thing that welcomes him in his fiancee room would be overwhelming bloodlust, aimed magic circles, guns, fangs and… Lights Spears?! He knew Rias opposed their marriage, but to the point that she hired Fallen Angels to trap him and kill him? If so, how did she do that on such short notice when his planned visit was weeks away?
When over half of the room was about to unleash their attacks on the unexpected intruder, Rias sensing incoming disaster jumped between them. No matter how much she hated her forced marriage, if Pure-Blooded Devil died at the hands of her Peerage members or others on her territory, the repercussions for all of them would be terrible. And even though Riser's regeneration made him almost immortal, Rias already learned that even with just two Hyoudous one should expect impossible. And here she had five of them, so the chances were definitely against Phenex.
"Everyone, wait! He's not the enemy! ...Or at least he's not here to attack anyone..."
After everyone calmed down and Grayfia introduced Riser, as well as explained the matter of arranged marriage between him and Rias, they sat down on opposite sides of the table. When earlier Riser tried to sit next to Rias, one of her servants, brown-haired teenager, bared his teeth at him. Feeling almost visible aura with killing intent emitted by him, Phenex decided to stop. He was sure that he could beat him, but not only he didn't want to sully his hands with some dirty peasant. He also didn't want to anger Grayfia without any need. Even proud Riser knew that he didn't pose the slightest challenge to The Strongest Queen, no matter how big his ego was.
"As for the peasant and the rest, it looked like Rias' Peerage grew larger lately." Thinking to himself, Riser looked around gathered in the room. There were rumors that Gremory heiress recruited some new members. But as there was no information about the exact number of those new members, he was quite surprised to see so many new faces. If everyone here was now her servant, she got seven new members. Meaning that she could as well complete her set depending on how much Pieces they consumed. And some fine Pieces there, especially that blonde with pink ends or the one in nun clothes.
Seeing the older Devil's dirty smile as he stared at his sisters, Issei let out a low growl and again spiked his killing intent. However, before he could do anything in defense of them, like smash him to pieces or bite off his head, Septimus stood up. Giving his brother discreet sign to calm down, he sighed loudly and swayed his tails grinning.
"Yeah, that unexpected entry really startled us. And when I can't help but appreciate the theatrical effect of those flames, I mean seriously, they were great! Yet using such a thing when it's already so hot, dick move." While Septimus was just as pissed with Riser, he also knew that they didn't want to provoke son of highly influential clan needlessly. Making enemies of Phenex would in the near future cause them problems, especially when they'd come out with the project to bring all races together.
Turning to him, Riser spat with distaste. "I don't need advice about how I come and go from some lowly Nekomata. And from a male one on top of that."
Hearing that, the Bishop's ears twitched angrily, but he maintained his smile, even if it was forced now. "Excuse me?"
"Just what I said. Your lowly kind is only useful to us Devils for its animalistic features, nothing more. And what use they are on some guy instead of a cute girl? You should consider turning into one, maybe then you'd be somewhat useful. So keep your useless advice to yourself, no one wants to hear about your worthless taste of aesthetics."
As Riser talked on, shadows around the Nekomata's feet grew and his tails furiously smacked over the couch. There were few things that pissed Septimus off, and among others perfect examples were insulting his personal tastes or starting on how nekogirls were the only good thing in his race, ridiculing their male counterparts as nothing but a joke or trap material. Looking at him and still angry Issei, members of the Peerage worried what was going to happen. That worry turned to panic at offhandedly whispered comments between Izuna and Elaine.
"Nee-chan, who do you think will rip this annoying guy's insides out? Ise-niichan or Sep-niichan?"
"Hmm, my bet goes on Septimus, he pushed more of his buttons."
"Then I'll put my money on Ise-niichan."
Feeling impending doom rapidly closing in, Rias and Akeno wanted to reach out and somehow stop them, but didn't know how exactly. Sitting and watching silently, Koneko, on the other hand, wasn't sure whether she wanted for them to stop, or to listen to that unwanted cat side and punch the annoying bird for his words. As the one to punch was this perverted Phenex that caused so many problems for her master, she was seriously considering the second option.
However, before they could do anything, Grayfia silently appeared between the Nekomata and the Phoenix, pushing them down with the weight of her stare. "Excuse me, Riser-sama. Can you tell us why are you here?"
Both unnatural pressure and shadows quickly vanished under maid's gaze, as black-haired Bishop sat down hiding behind a fan, chewing down a long list of insults that he wanted to throw.
Riser, discreetly swallowing gull that formed in his throat under Grayfia's stare, masked his uneasiness with an arrogant smirk and fixed his hair. "Why? This is of course because of my beautiful Rias. I did as much as even go to this dirty human world personally to bring her back with me to the Underworld."
On her couch, Rias clenched her fists at Phenex behavior. Thinking of her like his possession, all but 'consumed' part of his harem collection and even thinking that it was some great honor! That all made her want to fight with whatever she got against their marriage. Even if everyone said that her dream of marrying out of love was some childish fantasy, what use of all her power was if she couldn't get at least that much?! "I am not 'your Rias'! I'm Rias Gremory! And I already told you that I can't accept this marriage. Both of our families made this agreement between themselves, but I just don't love you."
The smile disappeared from Riser's face as if he had been slapped. Reaching out his hand to grab redhead Devil, he started with a raised voice. "Rias~!"
Seeing that asshole Devil move hands to his King was the last straw for the Pawn. With Dragons being hot-blooded as they are, even lasting that long before finally jumping to kill was a great achievement.
"Buchou~!"
However, when Issei barely made one step, he and everyone in the room were suddenly under the effect of a familiar presence. The ice-cold, monstrous aura that paralyzed everything and everyone around. And its source, the Silver-Haired Queen of Annihilation Grayfia Lucifuge stood there, holding some paper in her hand.
"Ojou-sama, Riser-sama, am I to understand that both parties cannot come to understanding with current terms?" Making Dragon back out to where he stood with just a gaze of her blood-red eyes, Grayfia turned towards her sister-in-law and removed her pressure.
"Yes!" Matching her eyes, Rias answered strongly and without any hesitation, making Riser scowl.
Unfolding the paper so both high-class Devils could see it, Grayfia continued in the same professional tone. "I am here on behalf of Sirzechs-sama orders and it's my responsibility to resolve this situation. As he predicted something like that could happen, he offers you an alternative option."
"Alternative? What do you mean, Grayfia?" Rias asked, nearing to the document.
"If Ojou-sama insists on opposing the marriage, Lucifer-sama issued special permission for her despite not being a qualified player to participate in Rating Game and settle the issue herself."
At Grayfia words low murmurs erupted in the room, as sudden declaration surprised everyone. For Septimus, the look of astonishment quickly changed into a feral grin.
"That crafty Devil!" Excited about what he just heard, Septimus accidentally sent his thoughts to Issei.
When Lucifer because of his title couldn't directly help his younger sister, giving her a chance to fight for freedom wasn't impossible. Of course, with her power alone, Rias didn't even stand a chance against someone like Phenex's third son, so if he was in Sirzechs' place he'd discreetly put someone powerful enough in front of his sister. Or maybe sabotage Riser and Peerage directly, like giving him something temporally disabling his ability to regenerate or increasing Devil's sensitivity to pain. No matter, with him and Issei now joining the fight, Princess's chances even without such things were much better. And this cat here could work with that.
"You're already plotting something, ain't you?" Issei's telepathic voice sounded among some dark ideas now swirling in Septimus' head.
"Perhaps. Just trust me if I say something."
Back with Riser, after his initial shock, he burst laughing at the proposition. Throwing back his hair, he stared down at his fiancee with a look of a sure winner. "You've heard it Rias? You can have your precious freedom! All you have to do is for you, a complete newbie and not even a qualified player, to defeat Rating Game veteran like me. And as for my Peerage..."
SNAP
At Phenex's loud snap, his magic circle appeared again on the floor accompanied by the sea of flames. When they died down, in the room fifteen beautiful girls of different appearances.
"...I have a full set! What do you say at that?"
With the room now full of beauties, Issei's eyes with light's speed jumped between them. All with a top-class look that almost made him cry to the moon. Girl in kimono, one with bust rivaling Rias and Akeno, catgirls, twins, maid and more! And with that many women around him, Riser still wasn't satisfied, wanting to get his hands on Akeno, Rias or his sisters?! Fueled by anger and jealousy, he erupted before Rias could answer.
"Buchou, please agree! With us all we can easily beat this asshole and get you out of marrying a man like him! Just leave this to us and we will crush him and his harem! This beautiful, great harem!" Issei screamed out loud, barely holding back his tears and earning various looks from others in the room.
Riser, looking at him with wonder mixed with distaste, remembered him as the one glaring at him. With now also insulting him it was too much for Phenex's pride. It looked like this servant needed a lesson in humility, as well as the rest needed to have that bit of resistance crushed. Searching quickly through his Peerage, his eyes landed on one of his Pawns.
"Mira! Teach him how should address those higher than him!"
At his words Mirana raised her head confused, thinking she was called out. But right then a small girl with a staff jumped before the rest, without hesitation pointed her weapon at him and attacked. By normal standards her attack was fast, but she wasn't even close to Kiba's speed back when they first met. Not to mention that what happened then was a total surprise and now Issei was itching for a battle. For him, this girl was moving almost in slow motion. As she closed in, Issei heard his brother shout in his head with overjoyed voice.
"That's perfect! Issei, don't use any magic or tricks, just crush this shorty with as much force as you can! Show-off here!"
He wasn't really sure what Septimus already planned, but if he was this happy it had to be something good. And while Issei wasn't a fan of dirty plays like Septimus, crushing pretty girl also wasn't what he'd do. But a promise was a promise, and Sep sure had some plan or at least some part of it. Then although he felt little sorry for her, when she was in his range and swinging that pole at him, Issei caught it and stopped her from moving. When Mira with unbelieving eyes stared at her weapon being effortlessly stopped by scaled claw, corner of her eye caught something coming at her with incredible speed.
BOOM!
CRASH!
That thing was Issei's leg flying mercilessly in a roundhouse kick at the girl's abdomen. The male Pawn used her staff as a handle to pull her closer, only to send her flying with a full-powered hit, leaving behind a shockwave. With their fight finished before it could even start, Mira flew right next to Riser's face to fast for him to even react, crashed into a wall behind him, and after leaving a large hole in it dropped two rooms further unconscious.
With now everyone in the room staring at him, the Dragon Hybrid heard his brother again.
"Beautiful!"
CLAP! (insert clapperboard here with your imagination)
That's all for this episode, bringing you a bunch of scenes with a cute small pixie, drama, focus on Rias' problem and Grayfia staring coldly enough to freeze Riser's fire. If you want her to glare at you too, the queue starts in the left corridor, our icy star gives special service with her chill eyes today only. However, the staff asks everyone participating to refrain from requests involving slapping, spanking, stomping on or having any other sort of physical contact. Our cast is either disgusted by those requests or too dangerous and we don't want any casualties and legal problems following them. Thank you very much.
And with that last impro, we're truly done. As always, if you liked that, let me know by follows, favs and reviews. Have a nice day and see you all in the future.