I cautiously opened the door.

"… Hey Makoto…" she said, weakly.

"Hey Rias. You feeling better?" I said after confirming she was actually wearing clothes to bed.

She sipped on a bottle of water, "Much better."

As she sat it down, I immediately grabbed it to investigate it.

"Relax… Your mom gave it to me to help me get my strength back. She would know it was poisoned."

I sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm still a little on edge after what happened."

She softly giggled, "You don't have to worry about me. I'll be fin-"

She started violently coughing.

As I froze up, she reassured me after the fit stopped. "Don't worry. I've just had these food-poisoning-like symptoms for the past few hours…"

I noticed the trash can next to her bed.

"It would have been a lot worse if I drank much more if it… The champagne, I mean… If it's any reassurance, you saved my life back then."

"So… Uh… Rias… About the Game…"

"Yes, Grayfia said I will still be too weak by the time of the game…"

… I nodded. "So… Sairaorg asked me to act as the Peerage leader in your stead."

"Well, that's a bold move…" she commented. "But if we can't postpone the game until I regain most of my strength then I accept this change."

"But… what if I can't measure up?"

"Makoto…" Rias interrupted me, grabbing my arm dangerously close to her breast, "You can do it… I believe in you…"

Akeno came in with tea for Rias and giggled, "But I believe in you more."

I sighed in amusement, "Of course you do…"

"Thank you, Akeno…" she said as she took the cup from her tray.

"It's such a shame though," Akeno said. "You won't have me as your hot date to the Young Devils' Social~."

"Wait, what?" I asked.

"Oh man… I almost forgot about that in all this ruckus…" she muttered. "It's some high-class event for the young devils of noble families… I was obviously supposed to make an appearance, but I guess that's not happening… I was about to ask if you were willing to tag along with me and my peerage before all this happened… especially since you have gained quite a reputation among the young devils with Serafall's show…"

"Have I now?"

"The rest of us agreed to stay behind and look after poor Rias." Akeno said. "Even Asia and the rest of your peerage asked to stay and take care of her."

"I guess I might as well stay behind as well. I wanna make sure you're okay."

"I am fine…" she coughed. "You should go in my stead. I bet all my peers are worried sick… Except maybe Zephyrdor…" she coughed again. "Please make sure to let them know I'm okay…"

She definitely didn't sound okay with all that coughing, but I nodded. "Okay. I'll go."

Grayfia entered the room. "They are waiting for you, Makoto."

As one of the maids entered to care for Rias, Grayfia escorted me to a meeting room in the house.

Before I entered, she told me. "Remember, Lady Rias has utmost confidence in you. I am obliged to share that sentiment."

"But what do you honestly think?"

"I saw you and Lady Rias sparring earlier," she said. "You have what it takes... Now go. Do not keep them waiting…"

She opened the door for me. I entered and she followed me in, shutting the door behind her.

Sairaorg, along with Sirzechs, was already in the room, along with another silver-haired man in a red coat.

"Oh! I believe we haven't met yet," the man said, coming to shake my hand. "I'm Diehauser Belial. I'm one of the coordinators for the Game. I'm terribly sorry for what happened to Rias. I hope whoever is responsible is brought to justice."

Sairaorg chuckled. "Humble as always. You'd best get to knowing him if you intend to climb the Rating Game ladder, Makoto. Diehauser is currently the top-ranking Rating Game leader."

"Now that we're all here, let's get to business," Sirzechs called to order. "Due to the sudden sickness of my dear sister, the two of us have recommended postponing the game for a couple weeks at least. However, someone has suggested an alternative arrangement for the same time, haven't you, Sairaorg?"

"Yes. Giving me extra time to prepare while they are busy caring for Rias would give me an unfair advantage. Plus, I am worried that someone may further cripple her team in the meantime. So, I have suggested the game go on as planned except that Makoto act as the leader of Rias Gremory's peerage."

"But wouldn't having an angel lead the peerage give him the unfair advantage?" Diehauser asked. "Especially since he also has the Dividing Gear and its Balance Breaker?"

"Well, then having angels in the Rating Games will be a great opportunity to mix things up. I tagged along during his training, and I'm quite eager to see how much he's improved…"

"Hmm…" Sirzechs mused. "I would normally oppose a substitution this last-minute; especially substituting the King. However, I too am suspicious that someone is actively trying to sabotage this Game in some fashion, and if we call a postponement, more combatants could be crippled…

Makoto, do you wish to take my sister Rias' place for the upcoming Rating Game?"

I thought for a moment…

"Yes. I accept."

"Then I second Sairaorg's amendment to the game's proceedings. Diehauser?"

"Well, if Makoto is going to replace Rias, I would suggest placing an inhibitor on him so he can't use his Sacred Gear. That way, he would be a more even substitute."

Sairaorg shook his head. "No need. The greater the challenge, the better. Just increase his Dice Figure if you need to."

"Could you explain what that is?" I asked.

"The Rating Game between Rias and Sairaorg's teams will be in what's considered a 'Dice Figure Game' format," Diehauser explained. "Each side will roll a six-sided die and the sum of the two dice will determine which pieces either side will be able to use in a given round.

Pawns are given a value of 1. Bishops and Knights are 3, Rooks are 5, and the Queen is 9. Obviously, these values are multiplied if they were reincarnated with multiple Pieces. The King is given a value based on their abilities relative to their Servants. With just your base abilities, I would probably rank you about a 6 or 7. However, accounting for your Sacred Gear as well, I would say you're closer to 9."

"Hmm… Not bad," I replied. I'm in a better position than I thought. Apparently, I'm worth about the same as a Queen. That's good to know.

"No inhibitor would be perfect." Sairaorg said. "I wouldn't get too cocky, though, Makoto. I'm worth 12."

"Trust me, confidence is the last thing on my mind," I replied.

"Very well, then," Diehauser. "I guess you have my vote."

"It's settled then." Sirzechs announced. "Makoto. You had best start preparing. Starting tomorrow, you only have about a week until the Rating Game."

I exhaled. "I definitely have pretty big shoes to fill. Yes."

Since both Rias' and my peerage opted to stay behind, I went alone to the train station the following morning.

Well… almost alone.

"Hey, Makkun!" Serafall waved at me as I was approaching the terminal to Rias' private train. She was not dressed as a "maou-gical girl" this time, but was wearing the dress suit she wore to the conference.

I waved nervously, "Hello…"

I glanced at the updated trip itinerary I had received earlier this morning. I had neglected to find that the passenger list consisted of:

Fujiwara, Makoto

Leviathan, Serafall

"What brings you here?" I asked.

"Sirzechs-chan asked me to keep you company on the way to the Youth Social!~" she replied. "As your personal bodyguard, if you will."

"Okay… I don't exactly need a bodyguard."

"No! After what happened to poor Rias-chan, there's no telling what they'll do next! If they hurt you or my little sister… I don't even know!"

After a loaded second of silence, I nodded. She's right. Something fishy is obviously going on. Her somehow getting her hands on a bottle of poisoned champagne couldn't have been a coincidence.

If so, whoever did that to Rias is gonna pay!

After a three-hour train ride, as Conductor Reynaldo announced, "We will be arriving in the old capital Lucifard shortly, we thank you two for riding with us today."

"No, thank you~!" Serafall cheered as we sat playing cards in the lead car.

I chuckled.

Rias had told me this territory belongs to Sirzechs as the previous Demon Lords who carried his title did as it was the home of the original Lucifer.

Despite how old that would imply this territory to be, it was exceedingly modern! If it weren't for the purple-colored sky, I would have confused it with a human city.

As we walked to a nearby subway, I could hear some fangirls squeeing as we walked past. Serafall waved back at them. I also waved back as, at this point, I couldn't tell whose fangirls are whose.

Though I could easily tell a few fanboys who yelled, "WHOO! LEVIA-TAN!" were hers.

I heard from Rias that when she went to social events here, including one she and her peerage went to a week ago, that she was assigned bodyguards to protect her.

However, we were by ourselves today. I suppose that is because the Demon Lord Leviathan is such an absolute weapon that they would need her to protect them.

We took another private subway to the high-rise building that housed the convention center the social would take place in and we arrived at the basement of the convention center and entered.

"Alright, just act normal, don't make a scene…" Serafall muttered as stood in the elevator together.

"I am acting normal."

"I'm talking to myself…"

An employee greeted us as we exited the elevator.

"Ah. Mr. Makoto, Lady Leviathan. Right this way."

We followed him, and soon after, another familiar man greeted me.

"Hey, Makoto! Glad you could make it!" Sairaorg, who was accompanied by his servants, said to me. "Nice to see you too, Serafall!"

"Nice to see you!" Serafall said as she and Sairaorg gave each other a surprisingly awesome fist bump.

"I gotta meet up with the other Demon Lords, seeya!~" she exclaimed, giving a comical salute before dashing off.

"What are you doing away from the festivities?" I asked him.

"It was just getting a bit crazy in the waiting hall" he said. "I needed some air."

"Alright. I'll go check it out." I replied, walking towards where I believed the suspecting room was. "I'm sure it can't be that bad…"

It was that bad.

Seekvaira Agares and her peerage looked like they were about to throw down with a peerage of goblin-looking devils lead by a barbaric-looking shirtless guy covered in occultish tattoos.

"I would hold your tongue, Zephyrdor!" she exclaimed. "Or do you wish to die here!?"

So that must be the one guy Rias said wouldn't be missing her at the festivities…

"Ha! You don't look so tough without your bodyguards, do ya!?" he barked back. "Maybe if they let a man near you, you wouldn't be such a virgin! But since you all are defenseless, don't we say we have at it!?"

"Oh-kay, that's enough, bub!" I exclaimed as I charged in. "For your own good, I would refrain from speaking to her like that any further…"

"Well, if it isn't Rias Gremory's little angel friend!" he scoffed. "What are you going to do – send me to Jesus!?"

"I might…"

I began glowing white.

"OOH! He glows! Did I touch a nerve when I mentioned her virginity!?" he mockingly asked.

"Possibly…"

I brandished my Dividing Gear.

"Uh, Boss? I think you should back down… That guy is bad news." One of his goblin servants told me.

He scoffed and replied, "What's he gonna do, turn the other cheek!?" right before attempting to sucker punch me.

I dodged and countered with a punch in the gut with my Dividing Gear arm.

"DIVIDE!"

"Sorry, but I'm not in the mood for that right now…"

He fell over unconscious.

"Boss!" one of his servants exclaimed.

"I told you so…" I muttered.

"Thanks, Makoto," Seekvaira asked. "I had this under control, though."

"Sure, you did," I responded.

"That de-escalation wasn't too bad, Makoto," Sairaorg said. "I'm looking forward even more to our matchup next week."

Why am I not surprised that beating the crap out of someone is Sairaorg's idea of "de-escalation?"

"Oh, so you are subbing for Rias?" Seekvaira commented.

"Yes, he is! First angel in an official Rating Game!" Sairaorg said.

"Well… Good luck…" Seekvaira said to me.

"Thanks. I need it…"

After we quickly rearranged the tables that had been dissheveled, which took no time at all thanks to a little thing called magic, the rest of the devils continued to intermingle.

Around that same time, Sona had come in along with Latia Astaroth, who appears to have officially taken Diodora's title as heir.

"Doing alright, man?" Saji said to me as he followed me to the catering table.

"I'm doing just fine, why'd you ask?"

"Nothing, just the Class President asked me to check up on you."

"Huh. Well that was thoughtful of her…" I said after sniffing out the fruit punch I just poured out for myself.

"Don't worry. It's just non-alcoholic fruit punch," the Employee manning the table told me. "Nothing sinister…"

"Are you really doing alright?" Saji asked me. "You've been acting awfully paranoid. It has to do with the incident with Rias-senpai, does it?"

I sighed and gulped down the punch in one gulp.

"I'm starting to wish this was alcoholic."

"Hey, Makoto!" Sona called out to me. "You're welcome to join us at the table."

"I am?"

"Yeah, take a seat and have some tea," Sairaorg told me. "These empty chairs are driving me nuts."

I found the assigned seat for "Rias Gremory" between Latia and Sairaorg and sat down. Saji had then moved behind Sona as the rest of each master's peerage were. Latia appeared to only have a couple servants while, obviously, mine were at the Gremory residence tending to Rias and were absent.

I noticed the seat for "Zephyrdor Glasya-Labolas" was vacant. I wonder why? The placard for "Latia Astaroth" also looked much more hastily made for obvious reasons.

"I know all of us sitting have met each other before, but let's introduce ourselves so our servants can put a name to a face," Sairaorg said. "I'm Sairaorg Bael – heir to the House of Bael and title of High King. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

We then proceeded to go around the table and introduce ourselves.

"Seekvaira Agares – heir to the House of Agares and title of Archduke."

"My name's Sona Sitri. I'm the next head of the House of Sitri and the title of Prince."

"If you don't know me, I'm Latia Astaroth, the new heir to the House of Astaroth and title of Duke after my foolish brother got himself arrested."

And then it came to me. I finished sipping the tea. It appears they have brought Suzaku's tea leaves to this occasion because it was really good.

I waved. "Hi, I'm Makoto Fujiwara… That's about it… Rias asked me to tell you all she's okay."

"Thanks for letting us know, Makoto. We appreciate it." Latia responded.

"I think her family has the title of Duke, I believe."

Shortly after, someone came and said, "Thanks for your patience, they are waiting for you…"

I followed the devils out and into a large important-looking meeting room. As we were approaching the room, I saw a defeated-looking Zephyrdor emerge from the bathroom with his goon squad and follow us.

I recognized the Demon Lords along with some other important looking old people sitting high up on a raised platform. Serafall seemed to recognize me and waved happily. I waved back.

The five devils I sat with at the table walked up to the first level of the platform as I stood in the crowd, having gotten myself another cup of (non-alcoholic) punch.

One of the elders who was sitting with the Demon Lords began making opening remarks.

"Greetings. We have gathered here as we have regularly to assess our next generation – those who will carry our legacy onwards."

One of the other elders chuckled and audibly muttered, "And they're already fighting."

Sirzechs glared at him. He looked at his cards and appeared to dismiss them as he stood up to speak.

"I'm going to get to the point. We are in a period of great challenge for all of us. Even among these young devils you see before you.

One of the families represented here had a young man betray our trust, which has brought this young woman to step up in his place.

And my dear sister, Rias Gremory, cannot even be with us today, because someone, who may even be in this very room, made an attempt on her life that left her gravely ill.

I would like to ask all five of you – What are your dreams?"

There was a loaded moment of murmuring before Sairaorg walked forward.

"I would like to become a Demon Lord myself!"

There was some gasps and oohs from the audience and even some of the platform party.

"You would even wish to forfeit your potential title of High King to achieve it?" one of the Elders mused.

"It may be a gut feeling. But I feel it's my destiny to reach those heights!"

Even more reaction.

"I want to advance technology to the Underworld!" Seekvaira followed.

"Uh… I am going to become an unbeatable Rating Game champion!" Zephyrdor boasted.

I could hear some scattered chuckles. People knew I just beat him already.

"I want to uphold the reputation my family has built," Latia said. "I will not let the one who preceded me taint it any further."

Some applause there. I get the feeling nobody really liked Diodora.

And finally Sona, "I wish to establish a Rating Game School in the Underworld. One that accepts devils of all classes!"

Some more gasps and oohs similar to Sairaorg's statement. Serafall began silently clapping at her sister's statement shortly followed by Latia.

The elder who made the sarcastic comment from earlier, however, burst out laughing. "So, we have a dreamer!"

"Lord Sirzechs did ask what my dream was, and so I answered." Sona replied.

"You must accept the fact that low-class and reincarnated devils solely exist to serve their masters. Surely you can't be serious."

"I am."

"Yeah, little sister!" Serafall cheered.

Latia looked quite pissed off at this Elder.

But not as much as Saji…

"And what if learning how to play the Rating Games is our service!?"

"Quiet! You should keep your servant in line, Sona!"

"I cannot stand back while you badmouth the Class President- no, Lady Sona's dream like that!"

"I will deal with him later…" Sona said, glaring at Saji, who froze up in fear.

I cricked my neck and ran up next to Sona.

"Then if you won't listen to him, then you will listen to me! Sona's dream deserves a chance, old man!"

"Makoto, now's not the time for heroics…" Sona muttered to me, becoming embarrassed.

"And who are you supposed to be, angel!? Who invited you here?"

"That's the White Dragon Emperor you speak to!" Serafall stood up dramatically. "And if you won't listen to him either, then you will listen to me! Get your head out of your butt and let my Sona-chan reach her dream!"

I think Sona's face is glowing redder than Rias during home video night.

I stepped back down as Serafall began ranting unintelligibly.

"That's enough, you two!" Sirzechs boomed at Serafall and the Elder, the latter of which he pointed intently towards. "I'm going to have a chat with you later…"

Sirzechs cleared his throat and continued:

"Makoto Fujiwara. If you wouldn't mind walking back up to where you were…"

I hesitated for a second and obliged.

"This young man, an angel as he may be," Sirzechs said, glaring at the Elder with that last bit, "is just as much a crucial part of this next generation as these other five are. I asked you all for your dreams because these times are changing. Now, more than ever, we need to strive to reach them.

Because without them… there may be no future left."

I walked out shortly after Sirzechs made his closing statements, rubbing my face at how cringy my declaration was.

Though, apparently it wasn't cringy for somebody…

"That was awesome, Makkun!" Serafall explained as she suddenly appeared next to me. "Coming to my little sister's rescue like that against that dumb geezer!"

"Wasn't much of a rescue…"

"If you rescued anyone, it was me," Saji said. "It all just kinda blurted out of me and next thing I knew, I thought I was dead for sure."

I could hear Sona clear her throat and she also appeared next to us along with Tsubaki.

"Or maybe not! I'm so sorry!"

She put her arm on his shoulder and smiled ever so slightly.

"Thank you all for sticking up for me."

"Oh, Sona-chan~!" Serafall suddenly embraced her sister.

"Please get off, big sister…"

I sighed, "Good grief…"

That levity was short-lived, however, as I felt a threatening presence behind me!

Did I just hear a knife being unsheathed?

Serafall quit her glomping for a second, "Makkun, look out!"

I began glowing and brandished my Dividing Gear as I turned around to face one of Zephyrdor's servants chasing after me with a knife!

However, someone from the camera crew punched him out for me!

"What a moron…" he said. "Doing that sort of thing in the open like that..."

"Wow!" Serafall exclaimed. "Nice save!"

"Thank you," he said. "The name's Korgull Naberius. Pleased to meet you all!"

"Pleased to meet you too!" Saji said.

"Can I get a picture of that Sacred Gear?" he said.

"Sure…" I said, holding up my Dividing Gear arm.

He snapped the picture. "Thank you so much!"

He walked off with his camera.

I sighed. "I'm gonna have to find somewhere else to train for this Rating Game where someone isn't constantly trying to cave my head in…"

The next morning, I, along with everyone in the Occult Research Club except for Rias went to the station.

Surprisingly, Grayfia was coming with us…

"Lady Grayfia? What are you doing here?" Xenovia asked.

"I'm helping you all get settled into Lady Rias' vacation home in the mountains back on Earth," Grayfia explained. "The other maids and Lady Venelana will take care of her while I'm gone."

I nodded. "Thanks for your help, Grayfia."

Grayfia smiled and bowed slightly while still carrying her's and Ravel's luggage. "You're always welcome."

Wait, is she genuinely taking a liking to me? There's no way she has been drinking this early in the morning.

"So, what are we doing going to the President's Vacation Home, Acting President?" Aika asked me.

"Acting President?" Ravel questioned.

Akeno giggled. "I believe he's our leader for this game. Right, darling?"

"…Right…" I nervously replied.

She got dangerously close to me and placed her hands on my shoulders.

"You're gonna do fine…" she seductively whispered in my ear.

"Hey, now's not the time for that stuff!" Asia exclaimed.

"My, my," Akeno said. "Are the other devils influencing you?"

Asia violently pouted.

"I agree with Asia, you should not engage in suggestive acts in a public place." Grayfia commented.

Akeno giggled.

I sighed, "To answer your question, Aika. We need to train. A lot. If we want even a sliver of a chance to defeat Sairaorg, we need to give it all we got these next six days."