In a remote European town.
"You're the sorcerer rumored to have lived for over a thousand years?"
Cao Cao studied the man entering, speaking thoughtfully.
"You don't seem human—more like a monster inhabiting a human body. No wonder you're mixed up with those cursed spirits."
Kenjaku smiled faintly. "Say what you will, but I think I'm a bit different from cursed spirits."
"I'm not interested in that. State your purpose."
Cao Cao crossed his arms. "You came all this way to find me. Must be something important."
Kenjaku nodded. "For the Khaos Brigade's growth, I'd like your help dealing with a devil."
Cao Cao: "A devil?"
Kenjaku: "Yes, a devil named Roy."
Cao Cao: "Never heard of him."
Kenjaku: "No surprise. He was an ordinary human until just over a month ago, when the Gremory family turned him into a devil."
Cao Cao: "?"
Is this guy joking?
"Are you joking?"
As if echoing Cao Cao's thoughts, a mocking laugh came from nearby.
"A newbie devil, barely a month old. How strong could he be?"
"Too weak to handle, yet you're begging Cao Cao for help? Shameless."
"Hercules, you're mistaken."
Unfazed by the taunt, Kenjaku replied with a smile.
"Roy may have been ordinary before becoming a devil, but things changed after."
"How so?"
"In just over a month, he gained power rivaling Ultimate-class devils."
"What?"
Hercules froze.
One month. Ultimate-class devil.
Those words don't belong together.
"Interesting."
Cao Cao, silent until now, let out a soft chuckle.
"You've got ten minutes. Tell me everything you know."
"No problem."
Kenjaku's lips curved slightly.
Hook, line, and sinker.
…
Night fell.
After sending Koneko on a task, Rias pulled Roy out of the Occult Research Club.
"Let's go to your place."
"Is this really okay?"
Roy gave Rias a skeptical look.
"Don't worry, it'll be fine."
Knowing what he meant, Rias patted her chest confidently.
"I'm just sneaking off a day early. It's not like I'm committing a crime."
"Later, I'll buy Koneko some sweets as an apology. She'll forgive me."
Well, damn. Koneko's totally under her thumb.
Recalling Koneko's love for sweets, Roy realized Rias's plan was airtight.
Ring ring!
A phone chimed from Rias's pocket.
She pulled it out, glanced at the caller, and answered.
"Hello, what's up?"
"That fast?"
"Got it."
Ending the call in a few words, Rias's earlier smile turned serious.
"What's wrong? Trouble?" Roy asked.
"The sorcerers responded."
"What'd they say?"
"They want to negotiate with you."
"Interesting."
Roy raised an eyebrow, understanding Rias's grim expression.
Wanting to negotiate meant the sorcerers weren't ready to apologize quietly.
"Did they say when and where?"
"Tomorrow morning, Tokyo Jujutsu High."
"Got it."
"Roy, I'm coming with you."
Rias decided after a moment. "Their reaction's off. We need to prepare for the worst."
"No need to stress. Even if things go south, I can handle it," Roy reassured.
"Maybe, but we should still prep."
If this meeting weren't framed as a negotiation, Rias would've brought more people.
"Alright, just the two of us then."
Roy didn't argue, agreeing readily.
Having Rias along wasn't a bad thing.
In fact, she was better at negotiations than he was.
If the sorcerers genuinely wanted to talk, Rias could handle it.
If they tried anything shady, that's when Roy would step in.
"Hope those guys are smart."
Discussing negotiation details with Rias, Roy soon reached home.
"I'm back."
"Welcome back, Master."
Shoko Toyokawa, cleaning the house, replied instinctively.
But spotting Rias behind Roy, her expression froze.
What's this? A guest?
"Hm? Roy, you've got a maid?"
Rias, entering the room, noticed Shoko.
Her thoughts about the sorcerers vanished as she sized up Shoko's appearance and outfit.
Hm… slight threat, but manageable.
"Shoko's the maid I hired last month. Besides cooking and cleaning, she volunteers to help test some magic and Senjutsu."
"Shoko, this is—"
"Let me introduce myself."
As Roy began introductions, Rias stepped forward, cutting him off and facing Shoko.
"I'm Rias Gremory, Roy's girlfriend. Nice to meet you."
"…Nice to meet you."
Shoko's expression grew stiffer.
After her family hit hard times, Shoko had been working odd jobs to survive.
To get by, she'd long shed her pride as a former heiress, facing life head-on.
But chatting in a maid outfit with a stranger? That was a bit much.
"Relax, no need to be so tense."
"We're all family now, working for Roy."
Noticing Shoko's discomfort, Rias exchanged a glance with Roy, then pulled Shoko to a corner to bond.
Meanwhile, seeing Rias blend in, Roy shifted focus and started training.
Time passed, and soon it was midnight.
Done training, Roy returned to his room for a quick rest.
But then, the door creaked open.
Rias, fresh from the shower, walked in wearing only a towel.
Water droplets slid from her crimson hair, her pale skin drawing Roy's gaze.
"How's it look?"
Pleased with the reaction, Rias puffed out her chest, setting off a wave of allure.
"Stunning."
Roy answered honestly.
Rias's lips curled into an unstoppable grin.
Truthfully, she hadn't planned to move this fast.
But seeing Shoko earlier sparked a sense of crisis.
Her competition seemed to be piling up.
As they say, hesitation leads to defeat!
To secure her place in Roy's heart, Rias, after a night of thought, decided to strike.
With a swish, the towel slipped from her alabaster shoulders.
Her long, graceful legs stepped forward, closing the distance.
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