Support my journey and unlock exclusive content! Join me on Patreon at patreon.com/xxSUPxx and be part of something special!
__________________________________________________________
They arrived at the dining room. A long, mahogany table was set with an array of exotic dishes from both the human world and the Underworld. Standing at the head of the table, his back to them, was a tall man. He turned as they entered, and Algernon's eyes met his.
He had the same fiery red hair as Rias, though his was shorter and styled to fall over his shoulders. His eyes were a striking shade of blue that held both a quiet intelligence and a deep, knowing warmth. A neatly trimmed patch of beard beneath his lower lip gave him a distinguished look.
He wore a high-collared shirt with a subtle Gremory crest, his confident posture radiating the authority of a true lord. This was Lord Zeoticus Gremory, Rias's father.
A polite, respectful smile appeared on Rias's face. "Father," she said, her voice formal yet warm. She walked to him and gave a slight, deferential bow before presenting Algernon.
Zeoticus returned her smile, his blue eyes holding a look of paternal assessment. "Rias, my dear, what a pleasant surprise," he said, his voice a deep, resonant rumble. "It seems your mother and I are the last to know of your return." He then looked to Algernon, his expression a mix of paternal curiosity and lordly assessment. "And you must be the young man who has caused quite a stir."
Algernon's expression remained calm. He walked forward, offering a respectful nod. "Lord Gremory. The pleasure is mine."
Zeoticus's smile widened. He saw the respect in the young man's eyes, but he also saw the unyielding confidence of a true leader "On the contrary," he replied, a subtle challenge in his tone."I have to say, I'm genuinely intrigued—how swiftly you've ascended to the rank of Demon King, and at such a young age as well!"
Algernon's smirk was subtle, but it was there. "The Underworld rewards those with a vision and the power to see it through," he stated.
Zeoticus nodded, he gestured to the table. "Then let's have breakfast," he said, the smile on his face now reflecting a genuine curiosity. "I believe we have much to discuss."
Venelana gracefully took her seat at the side of head of the table. Zeoticus gestured for Rias to sit beside him, and with a subtle smirk, he gestured to the chair across from her. It was a calculated move, placing Algernon directly across from both parents.
Algernon remained unfazed, his movements fluid and confident. He sat down, a look of calm resolve on his face. As they ate, the conversation remained light and familial. Venelana asked Rias about her studies at Kouh Academy, and Zeoticus spoke of his recent political dealings. But beneath the pleasantries, a palpable tension began to build.
After they had finished, Zeoticus placed his napkin on the table. The subtle change in his posture signaled the end of small talk. His blue eyes, which had held such warmth, now narrowed in a paternal yet regal assessment of Algernon.
"Algernon," he began, his voice dropping to a low, serious tone, "we have to admit, your actions over the past month have caused quite a stir. Your sudden rise, your public declaration… it's unprecedented. While we've welcomed you to our home, I trust your visit isn't merely for a pleasant surprise."
Algernon met his gaze without hesitation. He set his fork down, the clink of metal on porcelain echoing in the silent room. "You are correct, Lord Gremory. I have come to ask for Rias's hand in marriage."
Rias's breath hitched, her eyes widening in a mix of panic and utter joy. Venelana remained silent, her expression serene but her purple eyes now intensely focused on Algernon.
"That's a bold claim, young man," Zeoticus said, his voice now a low, serious tone that lacked its earlier warmth. He placed his hands on the table, his posture shifting from welcoming father to protective lord. "You are a new Pillar, but you are not of an established family. You have no deep roots, no long history of power to speak of. And most importantly, you are well aware that my daughter is already promised in marriage to a member of the Phenex family."
A collective gasp from the maids in the room was the only other sound. The air crackled with tension.
Rias's initial joy was replaced by a look of absolute disgust. She couldn't stand the thought of being forced to marry Riser Phenex, a man whose arrogance and lecherous behavior were legendary. She was about to speak, to voice her refusal, but a gentle hand on her arm stopped her. She looked to her mother, who was watching her with a silent, firm expression that told her to remain calm.
Algernon, however, remained completely unfazed. His crimson eyes held no surprise, no fear. He knew about the engagement from the original work. It was a fact he had accounted for in his plan.
"Lord Gremory, I did not come here under any false pretenses," Algernon stated, his voice calm and steady. "I am aware of Rias's engagement. I am also aware of the nature of the gentleman she is betrothed to." A flicker of a smirk crossed his face. "His reputation precedes him, but I do not see it as an obstacle. It is merely a formality that needs to be addressed."
Zeoticus's expression hardened. "A formality? The Phenex family does not take such matters lightly. This is not a dispute to be settled with words, young man. This is a matter of tradition and honor."
Algernon's smirk widened. He looked from Zeoticus to Venelana, then back to the head of the household. "I agree completely, Lord Gremory. A Rating Game is the most honorable way to settle this. However," he said, his voice dropping to a low, chilling whisper. "My personal strength is on another level. I have no need to dirty my hands with this matter. If Riser Phenex wishes to back out of this engagement, I will not stand in his way. But if he chooses to fight for Rias, he will find there is no retreat. I will simply send one of my peerage members to face his entire peerage."
The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken questions. No one spoke for a full minute, the only sound the faint, rhythmic ticking of a grandfather clock in the next room.
Zeoticus was the first to break the silence. His voice was dangerously calm, each word measured. "Algernon, do you have any idea what you are suggesting? Riser Phenex is a high-class demon with a full peerage. He is not a boy to be dismissed, and the Phenex family will consider this a grave insult."
Algernon's smirk didn't waver. He leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other. "I know exactly what I'm suggesting, Lord Gremory. The Phenex family will have a choice: accept my challenge and face a battle they cannot win, or back down and publicly forfeit all claim to Rias. Either way, the engagement is over."
Rias felt a surge of hope. The thought of being freed from her engagement to Riser, the arrogant and repulsive demon who viewed her as a prize to be won, filled her with a fierce determination. She looked at her father, her eyes pleading with him to accept.
Venelana, ever the matriarch, spoke with a voice that was soft but held the weight of centuries of power. "Algernon, a Rating Game is a serious matter. It will be public, and it will draw the attention of the Satans themselves. Are you so sure of your peerage's victory?"
"I am," Algernon stated, his voice a low, chilling whisper. "One of my pawns, the longinus wielder, Issei Hyoudou, will face Riser's entire peerage. He will win, and he will do so for his King."
The words sent another wave of shock through the room. Rias had heard of the longinus holder, the one who wielded the power to destroy even the gods. But to hear he was a part of Algernon's peerage... it was a complete game-changer.
Zeoticus sighed, running a hand over his face. The casual breakfast had become a high-stakes negotiation for his daughter's hand and the political stability of the Underworld. "I need time to consider this," he said, his voice now a tired rumble. "You will be notified of the decision tommorow."
He gestured to a maid who stood silently in the corner. "Show Algernon to the guest chambers prepared for him. You may rest there." He gave Algernon a long, assessing look.
Venelana offered Algernon a small, knowing smile that was both a gesture of kindness and a silent promise of an impending, and thorough, interrogation. She then turned her attention to Rias, her expression filled with a mother's concern. "Rias, dear, you may see him to his room."
Rias's heart was a whirlwind of emotions. She gave her father a deferential nod and turned to Algernon.
As they walked through the opulent corridors of the Gremory Estate, the silence between them was palpable. Algernon's hand found hers, his touch steady and reassuring. "Relax. It's not a war, Rias," he said, his voice a low, soothing murmur. "It's a solution. We're giving them a choice."
They arrived at his room, a lavish suite decorated with dark, expensive wood and fine silk sheets.
"Rest," Algernon said, his gaze intense. "Tomorrow, the real games begin." He gently kissed her forehead, and with that, he walked inside, closing the door on the quiet halls of the Gremory estate.
____________________________________________________
The crimson sunlight of the Underworld seeped through the luxurious curtains of Algernon's room, painting the air in a soft, ethereal glow. He woke slowly, the feel of the fine silk sheets and the faint, sweet scent of lilies a stark contrast to the raw, untamed magic of his own territory. This was the opulence of an established Pillar family, a comfort that had been earned through centuries of bloodlines and careful political maneuvering.
He sat up, his thoughts immediately turning to the day ahead. His mind, honed by two lives and a single-minded ambition, was already running through countless scenarios. He had laid out his gambit yesterday, and the next few hours would determine its success.
He spent the next hour preparing for the day. He didn't meditate or train; his power was always with him, a constant, low-level hum beneath his skin. Instead, he simply got ready, his movements fluid and deliberate. He chose a dark, well-fitted suit, a symbol of his newfound status as a Pillar.
Just as he was buttoning his shirt, a soft knock echoed on his door. "Lord Azeroth," a polite, feminine voice said from the other side. "Lord Gremory is waiting for you in the dining hall."
Algernon's eyes, a fierce crimson, met his own in the reflection. A subtle, confident smirk touched his lips.
_____________________________________________________
The Gremory dining hall, bathed in the soft morning light, was silent save for the occasional clink of cutlery against porcelain. Algernon, Rias, Venelana, and Zeoticus sat at the table, the weight of their conversation from the previous night hanging in the air like a thick fog.
A Gremory maid, dressed in a formal uniform, entered the room with a swift, silent grace. She carried a small, sealed scroll and bowed before Zeoticus. "My Lord, a messenger from the House of Phenex has delivered this reply. It is for Lord Algernon."
Zeoticus nodded, his expression grave. He took the scroll and, with a subtle glance at Algernon, broke the wax seal. He unrolled it and his eyes quickly scanned the elegant script. As he read, his expression became a somber mask of resignation.
"It is as you expected," he said, his voice a low rumble. "The Phenex family has accepted your challenge. They see your proposal as an insult to their bloodline and their reputation. Riser Phenex will defend his right to Rias in a Rating Game."
Algernon, however, showed no emotion. He had not moved, his posture as serene as if he were discussing the weather. This was not a surprise. This was a plan.
Zeoticus looked at Algernon, a new, serious glint in his eyes. "They have accepted your terms. They expect you to send only one of your peerage to face Riser's entire peerage. It seems they are confident in Riser's victory, and they wish to add a little flair to the match."
A smirk finally touched Algernon's lips, a cold, confident curve that held no humor.
"Of course," Algernon stated, his voice a low, chilling whisper. "He will find that he has made a grave mistake."
Zeoticus sat for a long time, staring at Algernon, the weight of the proposed Rating Game a heavy burden on his shoulders. A battle between a single pawn and an entire peerage was not just a fight; it was a public gamble, a political statement that would reverberate across the entire Underworld. Finally, with a weary sigh, he gave his approval, setting the game in motion.
Hours passed in a blur of anticipation. By the afternoon, the entire Underworld was buzzing. News of the unprecedented challenge had spread like wildfire, drawing a massive audience to a private, high-tech arena in a pocket dimension.
The stands overflowed with an assortment of high-ranking demons, noble families, and political figures, all eager to witness a spectacle that defied all tradition. The air crackled with a palpable, electric energy.