Human World – Kuoh Town – Kuoh Academy – Occult Research Clubroom

After all the chaos of the Rating Game had finally died down, Akira returned to the human world with Rias and the rest of her peerage.

But before they parted ways, Sirzechs had left him with a final remark—calm, yet striking.

"I look forward to the day you and Rias walk down the aisle together."

The words left Akira momentarily speechless. He didn't respond right away, simply blinking in quiet surprise.

Still, he took it in stride. After all, he was technically Rias's boyfriend now. That was the entire reason he participated in the Rating Game. It made sense... logically.

Or so he thought.

Not long after, Grayfia—ever composed—delivered the real truth.

By defeating Riser Phenex in front of the entire Underworld, Akira had, by custom, become Rias Gremory's new fiancé.

That was the unspoken law among devils—where strength ruled over all else.

Long ago, such matters were settled through duels to the death. Now, they were decided in the form of Rating Games—battles of pride and power.

Akira won. Riser lost. And thus, the engagement was naturally transferred.

In other words...

Shin Akira was now officially the prospective son-in-law of House Gremory.

— — —

Back in the clubroom of the Occult Research Club, Akira sat with a distinctly annoyed expression, staring directly at Rias.

He definitely liked her—she was the main heroine of High School DxD, after all. As a guy, it was impossible not to be attracted to someone like Rias Gremory.

But still...

This whole situation felt like a trap.

All he wanted was to help. Now, somehow, he'd ended up stealing another man's fiancée—and the entire Underworld knew about it.

"Okay, okay, I admit it. I should've told you beforehand," Rias said, guilt flickering across her face.

"...You're acting like there's going to be a 'next time.'"

"There won't be! That was the only time. You're such a guy, why are you being so petty?"

Akira sighed, exasperated. "You've got a point. I'm not exactly losing out. If I marry you, then Akeno, Koneko, and Asia come as a package deal. One bride, three personal attendants. Not a bad bargain."

The moment those words left his mouth, Akeno Himejima, Koneko Toujou, and Asia Argento simultaneously flushed red.

Asia, especially, looked like her brain had short-circuited from embarrassment. Her hands fidgeted helplessly as she tried to figure out where to place them.

Akeno, by contrast, remained as elegant as ever. She had long since crossed the line of no return with Akira—even before Rias.

From the start, Akeno had understood that she would never be the main wife. And yet... she was content. That alone was enough for her.

"Haaah… Can you not say things like that in front of me?" Rias rubbed her temples, visibly exhausted. She was, after all, now his official fiancée. Hearing her peerage described like a bonus prize didn't exactly sit well.

"Fine. Next time I'll say it behind your back."

"Yo—!"

She almost snapped, but stopped herself.

No point getting angry. He had saved her. Even if she ended up having to "pay" with her engagement.

— — —

Time passed until late afternoon.

Rias and her peerage went back to their usual duties as reincarnated devils—making contracts with humans, granting requests, and receiving energy or spiritual compensation in return.

Meanwhile, Akira, who had no particular role in that work, decided to head out and walk around town on his own.

But just as he stepped out through Kuoh Academy's front gate...

"Yo. Been a while, Red Dragon Emperor."

A familiar voice called out from behind.

Akira turned slowly. His expression sharpened the instant he saw who it was.

Standing casually under the glow of the setting sun, hands in his coat pockets, was none other than Azazel—Governor General of the Fallen Angels and supreme leader of Grigori.

They had met once before. But to call it a "fight" would've been a stretch.

Back then, Akira had done everything he could just to stay on his feet. Azazel, on the other hand, had simply watched, like a scholar observing a fascinating specimen.

He had pulled back—not because Akira forced him to, but because he had no real reason to escalate the situation.

Only now, having reached the power of a Maou-level being, did Akira understand just how vast that gap had truly been.

If it had been anyone else other than Azazel back then… he would've died. No question.

Azazel wasn't merciful—he was curious. And because he cared deeply for Vali, his "son," and Vali was the White Dragon Emperor, he wasn't about to kill the Red one.

"…Azazel."

"Yeah, it's been a while," Azazel said, smiling easily. "Heard you gave Vali a serious beating. Nicely done."

"Just got lucky," Akira replied flatly.

"Heh. Luck counts as a form of strength. Besides, Vali told me himself—said you used your abilities with incredible precision. That's not luck. That's skill."

Akira didn't respond. He simply stood there, quiet, his posture subtly shifting.

He had already begun circulating magic through his body.

Azazel might be an Ultimate-class being with years of experience... but Akira wasn't afraid. Not anymore.

At the very least, he was confident he could escape alive if things went south. The Boosted Gear—the Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet—was still his greatest ace.

But Azazel simply chuckled. "Relax. I'm not here to pick a fight."

"Hmph. An Ultimate-class Fallen Angel suddenly shows up in a small Japanese town, claiming he's just here for a casual chat. Do you believe that?"

"You're cautious. I like that." Azazel grinned. "Got time? Let's grab a drink."

He gestured toward a small street-side restaurant across the road. A quiet place, the kind of shop salarymen would visit after work for beer and snacks.

Akira narrowed his eyes. This guy? In a place like that?

"…I'm fifteen," he said under his breath, glancing away awkwardly.

Despite having the mind of an adult, his current body was still that of a high school student. In Japan, drinking underage was illegal.

"Oh come on, you're the Red Dragon Emperor. You're telling me a little sake scares you?"

"Cheap bait. Not biting."

Still, Akira followed him in without resistance.

With his current power, alcohol wouldn't even make a dent. He could purify its effects with a flick of mana if needed.

"Two sets of appetizers and two bottles of sake," Azazel called out once they stepped inside.

"Coming right up!" the owner replied cheerfully.

Apparently, the shopkeeper knew Azazel pretty well. He welcomed him like an old friend.

Akira found it increasingly strange.

A Governor of the Fallen Angels… and he's a regular at some tiny izakaya in rural Japan?

More and more, things stopped making sense.

Why was the leader of Grigori spending so much time in the human world?

Why did he seem so comfortable living among normal people?

Questions started piling up in Akira's mind.

And somehow, he knew—this wasn't just a casual drink.

Azazel didn't move without reason.

And whatever that reason was… Akira was about to find out.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

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