Chapter 219: Settled and Rias's Return
The moment the teleportation gate closed.
On a skyscraper ten kilometers away from the Naruse residence, a handsome middle-aged man in casual wear, wearing glasses, took out a cigarette case.
"Quite perceptive. I was almost discovered."
Toujou Jin smiled as he lit his cigarette, as if he hadn't been the one carefully maintaining distance from Haruto's detection range the entire time.
Exhaling a smoke ring, he suppressed his smile and began to ponder silently.
His original plan was to protect the homeless sisters and let Toujou Basara get acquainted with his two cousins. But when he arrived, he couldn't find them for a long time. Instead, he discovered that Mio's adoptive parents had been captured.
Just as Toujou Jin was about to intervene and rescue them, he noticed the commotion caused by Mio and Maria.
Out of curiosity, he quietly observed. When he saw Haruto preparing to teleport away, he let his guard down slightly. In that instant, he nearly exposed himself.
"So they've connected with the Gremory family…"
Toujou Jin recognized Haruto at first glance.
Though Wilbert was dead, many demons still firmly supported his lineage. It was these supporters who informed him about both Zolgear sending assassins after Mio and Haruto's intelligence.
"This might be for the best. Those people wouldn't dare act recklessly in Kuoh Town... Hmm, it seems our father and son will have to move again."
Knowing the relationship between Wilbert and the Gremory family, Toujou Jin decided not to interfere forcefully. He was also aware of the Gremory family's current situation and felt uneasy about a group of young individuals gathering together. Thus, he resolved to move there with Toujou Basara.
While Toujou Jin was deciding to relocate, Haruto was pondering a similar issue.
After teleporting back to the Occult Research Club, Mio's parents quickly regained consciousness thanks to Asia's healing. The warmth of their family reunion after narrowly escaping death went without saying.
However, for safety reasons, it was best for them to remain hidden until the Three Factions Summit concluded—or more precisely, until Zolgear was completely dealt with.
The same logic applied to Mio. But with her high potential, she only needed to train for a while before she no longer had to worry about pursuers. Her parents, on the other hand, could easily be killed by even a Low-class Devil.
Additionally, while housing Mio alone was manageable—there were plenty of vacant rooms in the villa—accommodating her parents was less appealing to both Haruto and the girls. Age was one factor, but more importantly, there was a disparity in strength and status between them.
Both Mio and Maria possessed noble bloodlines and considerable strength and potential. It might sound harsh, but the Underworld was such a place—or rather, the world itself was this pragmatic.
Haruto, however, simply didn't want any males living with them. If it were only Mio's adoptive mother, that would be perfectly fine! While this demon wife might not have top-tier looks or figure, trying something new wouldn't be a problem…
Ahem, the couple has a good relationship, and since it wouldn't enhance his strength anyway, Haruto decided to be a decent person and completely eradicate those wicked thoughts.
Out of consideration for Mio's feelings, everyone avoided discussing the topic too explicitly.
Only after she personally confirmed her origins with her parents did she subtly express her wish to send them to the Gremory family in the Underworld.
Although the Gremory family had declined, they still retained many servants. Mio's adoptive parents could use this to conceal their identities and ensure their safety.
The Naruse couple had no objections to this arrangement, as they had originally been Wilbert's servants before coming to the human world.
In a way, this was like returning to their old profession.
Mio was reluctant to part with her parents, but she knew it was the right decision.
Truly the leading heroine of The New Sister—beyond her tsundere charm and allure, she's practically a dreamlike goddess.
Well, being tsundere and having a bit of a lewd side are actually plus points. A dreamlike goddess transformed into a genuinely adorable beauty.
Watching the twin-tailed, buxom beauty bid a tearful farewell to her parents, Haruto silently admired her.
After seeing off the Naruse couple, the next matter to discuss was Mio and Maria's situation.
Setting Maria aside for now—though she looked even more childish than Koneko, this was actually her sealed form.
Haruto glanced at the collar around the succubus loli's neck, his mind automatically conjuring the image of her post-release form: a tall, voluptuous, and mature beauty.
Lolis are fine, but I definitely prefer the "older model."
Especially a tall, mature beauty with long, slender legs in black stockings.
Maria's mission was half-complete. All that remained was for her to stay by Mio's side until the Three Faction Summit concluded, after which they would return to the Underworld and head to the Gremory family together with Sheila.
Mio's situation was more complicated. Having grown up entirely in the human world, she would undoubtedly struggle to adapt if suddenly sent to the Underworld.
She herself expressed no desire to get involved in the Underworld's troubles, but with her powers now awakened and Zolgear constantly coveting that strength, a complete return to ordinary life seemed unlikely.
In the end, Mio decided to transfer to Kuoh Academy.
She would continue her high school life while diligently training to master the immense power within her.
As for accommodation, the villa had plenty of empty rooms, so she and Maria moved in that very night.
Daily necessities, changes of clothes, and other items could be gradually acquired later.
The minor expenses involved were negligible for the Gremory family.
Thanks to the previous generation's connections and the recent rescue operation, Mio quickly grew closer to everyone.
Perhaps it was also due to the entirely new environment—the Occult Research Club was the first social circle she encountered.
In any case, the tsundere twin-tailed beauty soon integrated into the atmosphere of the Occult Research Club.
Aside from changing schools and residences, her life largely returned to how it was before.
The day after Mio transferred, Rias returned from the Underworld.
There, she had already spoken with the Naruse couple and gained a general understanding of the situation.
With the Rating Game about to begin, she had little time or energy to focus extensively on Mio's affairs. After a brief introduction, she moved on to serious matters.
"Three days from now, at 10 p.m., the Rating Game will commence on schedule," Rias stated directly. "The location is Kuoh Academy. Preparations for the broadcast are complete. Now, we need to finalize the participants."
To prevent casualties, the higher-ups had replicated a special alternate dimension to serve as the battlefield for the Rating Game.
At the same time, the situation within the space would be broadcasted live. The winner would see their ranking and status rise, and they would also catch the attention of important figures.
The two parties in this match were no ordinary individuals. Upon hearing the news, major figures from the Underworld would be watching, including Rias's older brother, the Devil King Sirzechs.
"President, have you found a suitable contract?"
Haruto furrowed his brow. Rias was directly compiling the list but made no mention of forming a contract with him...
Sure enough, Rias shook her head and said regretfully, "There wasn't enough time to find a suitable contract."
As Phenex was also one of the Four Great Satans, finding a contract that could deceive them was no easy task.
Moreover, at such a critical juncture, the other side would undoubtedly scrutinize the contract thoroughly.
"Haruto, don't worry."
As if knowing what Haruto was thinking, Rias added, "Even if I can't guarantee a certain victory, I'm still about eighty percent confident."
An eighty percent chance of winning was indeed quite high—practically a sure thing.
However, this concerned Rias's lifelong matter, and Haruto didn't want any uncertainties.
More importantly, the faint unease in his heart seemed to foreshadow something.
If the worldline hadn't changed too drastically, Riser's servants were mostly A-rank, with his Queen Yubelluna and Bishop Ravel possibly possessing S-rank strength.
Riser himself was probably just a High-Class Devil, at most an Ultimate-Class Devil.
But the opponent had numbers on their side, and they were rich in Rating Game experience.
Add to that the Phenex family bloodline and the high likelihood of hidden trump cards...
Just as Haruto was lost in deep thought, a cute loli voice suddenly rang out.
"Um..."
The petite and adorable succubus loli stood on her tiptoes, raising her small hand as she tried to catch everyone's attention.
"Although I'm not quite clear about the contract you mentioned..."
Seeing that everyone had turned to look at her, Maria grinned and said, "I have a family heirloom contract here..."
Rias's eyes lit up as she instantly understood Maria's meaning.
Though it was a border region, after asking her mother, she knew Sheila's status wasn't low either—she was the previous generation's Succubus King.
Otherwise, Wilbert, being the Devil King, wouldn't have united with her.
The so-called family heirloom contract was likely a unique contract method specific to this lineage of succubi.
In that case, there was a high probability it could deceive the Rating Game supervisors and the Phenex family.
Compared to Rias's pleasant surprise, Haruto was momentarily confused. Because of the succubus loli's words, he recalled a very important event from The Testament of Sister New Devil.
They were also demons connected to the Devil King, and the master-servant contract was a major plot thread throughout The Testament of Sister New Devil.
He never expected that contract to actually be a family heirloom—no wonder he'd never seen anyone else use it...