Grayfia had already lost count of how many times she'd sighed that night.
Rias was curled up on the couch, her face half-hidden behind her red hair, while her Queen, Akeno, sat beside her, enduring the scolding from the Strongest Queen right along with her.
"Rias-ojousama…"
Grayfia spoke with all the composure of a perfect maid as she stood before the two of them, her patience sustained only by the centuries she'd spent dealing with the Gremory family.
"Sleeping with a member of your own peerage does not nullify a marriage contract, no matter how... creative your intentions were."
The young heiress shrank further into the cushions, her cheeks glowing pink with embarrassment. Akeno brought a hand to her mouth to hide her laughter, though the sparkle in her eyes made it clear just how amusing she found the whole thing.
"I just thought that... if I wasn't 'pure' anymore, the engagement would be canceled…"
Rias mumbled, unable to raise her eyes.
Grayfia took a deep breath, no doubt trying to figure out for the thousandth time what the Gremory brain was made of. Somehow, they always managed to mix brilliance and recklessness in equally catastrophic proportions.
"That kind of tradition only applies to low-born families, Rias-ojousama. In the case of the Gremory and the Phenex, this marriage was arranged for political reasons. Your... purity, unfortunately, changes nothing."
She walked over to the table and poured herself a cup of tea. She needed something warm to preserve her patience.
"Riser Phenex is well-known for his... libertine nature. For the Phenex to demand purity from you would be hypocrisy even by devil standards."
That restriction came from Rias's own father, so even if something had happened, the marriage wouldn't have been canceled.
Akeno chuckled softly at that, while Rias slumped further down in her seat.
"So... nothing I do will change it...?"
Grayfia looked at her for a moment.
What Rias had tried to do was incredibly foolish, but it also showed Grayfia just how desperate she really was.
'Then there's no other choice, is there?'
Thinking about that chat system, she calmly set her cup down and spoke.
"Perhaps there's a way... to annul this contract without completely tarnishing the Gremory name."
Rias immediately looked up, her blue eyes lighting with hope. After all this time, she had thought no one truly intended to help her.
"What? How?"
Grayfia took a few steps forward, resting her hands on the back of the sofa.
"The contract can be voided if another man challenges Riser for your hand and wins. A Rating Game under special conditions."
Rias froze for a moment, as if the flicker of hope she'd just felt was about to vanish again.
"So... I need to find someone willing to fight for me?"
"Exactly. And fortunately, I believe I know someone... suitable."
Grayfia wasn't sure if "suitable" was really the right word for Keiji... but he certainly seemed like the kind of man who wouldn't mind getting involved in a little trouble.
And according to both his own assessment and Aizawa's confirmation, he should be more than strong enough.
Akeno raised an eyebrow, a curious smile forming on her lips.
"And who might that be, Grayfia-sama?"
Grayfia looked away, a faint, subtle smile appearing on her face.
"Let's just say he's... a friend. Someone I happened to meet recently."
Rias blinked a few times, caught somewhere between hope and confusion.
"If this person can really end this awful marriage... then I'll accept anything!"
Grayfia nodded, pleased to see the Gremory spark reignite in her once more.
"Then it's decided. Rest tonight, Rias-ojousama. Tomorrow, I'll have everything arranged."
Rias stood with Akeno's help. Still trembling a little, but clearly more spirited.
As they climbed the stairs, Akeno whispered in Rias's ear, though Grayfia still heard it perfectly.
"I wonder if this 'mysterious friend' is the kind who likes stubborn girls."
Rias shot her a scandalized look, her face flushing red again.
"Akeno!"
The Queen's soft laughter echoed down the hallway, following them until they disappeared behind the door.
Grayfia remained silent for a few moments, watching the steam rise gently from her teacup. She set it down on its saucer, placed a hand over her chest, and sighed softly.
"I hope you really can help, Keiji-san."
Now that she'd made up her mind, there was no room left for hesitation.
The holographic screen of the system opened in front of Grayfia. With a light touch on the floating interface, she began typing out a new mission.
– – –
『Mission』
Requester: Grayfia Lucifuge
Description: The young heiress Rias Gremory is about to be forced into marriage with Riser Phenex, a noble devil of high lineage. The contract was arranged for political reasons, but the girl refuses to accept her fate and wishes to fight for her freedom.
Objective: Win the Rating Game against Riser Phenex and his Peerage.
Assigned Member: Ayano Keiji
Reward: Undetermined
– – –
Grayfia read through the text carefully before confirming. It was exactly what she had intended, even though she couldn't assign a specific reward. The system would handle that part automatically.
In the end, she decided to choose Ayano Keiji. Not only did he seem like the best candidate, but he had also been the first to get involved with the system's missions without any safety net or prior knowledge.
For someone like that, he could only be one of two things: either someone extremely confident in his own strength, or someone completely lacking any sense of self-preservation.
– – –
[Mission issued.]
[Member Ayano Keiji has accepted your mission.]
[Member Aizawa Shota has been added to the mission.]
– – –
Grayfia raised an eyebrow confused.
"Aizawa?"
Before she could even try to understand why an extra name had appeared, two figures began materializing in front of her.
The first was a tall man with messy black hair, a tired look in his eyes, and an expression that screamed permanent exhaustion. The tactical scarf around his neck swayed slightly with the energy of his arrival.
"… that was kind of weird…"
That was Aizawa Shota.
A moment later, another figure formed beside him. A man with messy light-orange hair, wearing a loosely fitted shihakushō as if he'd gotten dressed in a rush, part of his chest exposed and the sash hanging undone.
"Grayfia-san... and Aizawa-san? What are you doing here?"
Keiji blinked a few times, still adjusting to the new environment.
Aizawa shoved his hands into his pockets and let out a weary sigh.
"I got a system notification. Apparently, this is the price for that emergency mission I used before. I'll participate in this one, but I won't get any rewards."
Keiji tilted his head, a grin slowly forming.
"So Aizawa-san's working for free, huh?"
Aizawa pretended not to hear Keiji's jab and turned his gaze toward Grayfia.
"Did the system charge you anything for this mission?"
Grayfia calmly shook her head.
"No. Maybe I'll end up 'working for free' like you in another mission."
Aizawa sighed again, rubbing his temple.
"…Either way, I don't think I'll be much help."
He'd already seen Keiji fight, so Aizawa wasn't sure how he could contribute. He'd witnessed Keiji suppress dozens of villains at once with what he called "reiatsu", and if this mission required someone stronger than that, Aizawa knew his own power wouldn't be enough to matter.
Unless his Quirk happened to work on the target, but that was still to be tested...
"Don't worry, I won't overwork you, Aizawa-san."
Keiji said while adjusting his shihakushō and trying to tame his messy hair. He looked a little unkempt, but, to be fair, Grayfia's mission hadn't come at a very convenient time…
He had just finished another round with Unohana when the system notification popped up. If it weren't for the countdown timer flashing in the corner of his vision, and the fact that Hancock and Maki were probably ready to steal his slot, Keiji would've just ignored it for later.
'But maybe this isn't so bad.'
After all, he wasn't quite sure how to face his Captain after what had happened earlier. Of course, he was a man and he'd take responsibility... but there was a good chance she'd be pissed. Especially considering that, well… he might have gotten a little too enthusiastic.
She had clearly decided to keep up because she was enjoying it too, but he could bet he'd be getting an earful later.
'More importantly…'
Keiji looked at Grayfia. The beautiful woman before him looked like she was in her early twenties, with a voluptuous figure wrapped in a maid uniform that highlighted every curve of her body. Her long silver hair was styled with twin braids on each side, tied with small blue ribbons, while the rest flowed freely down her back, ending in soft twin plaits and a pair of red eyes.
'This is the devil who's lived for centuries?'
She didn't look any different from a human at all.
"What is it, Keiji-san?"
Grayfia asked, noticing his persistent stare.
"I thought devils had horns."
He said, circling around her like a curious scholar examining a specimen.
"Except for the corrupted feel of your reiatsu, Grayfia-san, you don't look any different from a human."
Aizawa nodded beside him, seeing the same thing. It might have sounded a little improper, but Grayfia actually looked more human than some of the people back in Aizawa's world who had mutant-type Quirks.
"Not to mention, you look younger than me…"
"Well… I suppose I should take that as a compliment?"
Grayfia replied, unsure if they were praising her or teasing her.
"Oh, don't get me wrong. It is a compliment."
Grayfia sighed quietly, adjusting her posture.
"High-class devils don't age easily."
Keiji crossed his arms.
"So you live for centuries and are still beautiful. As expected from a devil."
Grayfia cleared her throat, choosing to ignore the remark.
"If you two are done analyzing me, may I explain the mission now?"
"Sure, sure. Go ahead, Grayfia-san."
She kept her tone professional, though a flicker of amusement crossed her eyes.
"As for the mission, Keiji-san will be introduced as Riser Phenex's rival suitor. Your victory in the Rating Game will nullify the marriage contract and guarantee Rias-ojousama's freedom."
Keiji scratched his chin, then dropped lazily onto the same couch Rias had used earlier, crossing one leg over the other.
"So we're doing this as a love duel, huh?"
Not that he really cared, there was a reward involved after all, but after facing Aizen and Unohana, this "battle for love" felt like a downgrade in opponent quality.
Still, he was slightly curious to fight someone from a mythological race like the devils.
"In simple terms… yes," Grayfia replied.
"And how do we start this so-called Rating Game?"
"Keiji-san will need to challenge Riser Phenex personally. I believe he's scheduled to visit the human world tomorrow, so that will be our chance."
"And what's going to make this Riser Phenex actually accept the challenge?"
Aizawa asked as he sat down beside Keiji with a tired sigh.
"Rias-ojousama's insistence will certainly help… but my King also has a particular interest in ensuring that this marriage is stopped."
"'Your King,' huh…"
Grayfia had already explained the high-class devil hierarchy, and the name Sirzechs Lucifer was now familiar to both men.
Byakuya and Rukia, Sirzechs and Rias…
Keiji let out a small laugh.
"Seems like this 'King' really does care about his little sister."
Grayfia kept her face composed, though a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"Naturally."
Aizawa turned to Keiji.
"So? How confident are you that you can beat this guy?"
The [Chat Group Dimensional] brought together people from completely different worlds, and they'd already agreed that it was hard to measure each member's strength in advance, mainly due to the difference in their power systems.
From experience, Aizawa already knew that Keiji ranked among the top in both his own world and his own — though Keiji often claimed that overall power levels in Aizawa's world were "too low."
But how would he fare against devils in this one?
That was the real question. Especially since their entire plan depended on Keiji defeating Riser.
Keiji rested his arm casually along the back of the couch.
"How strong is this Riser Phenex compared to Grayfia-san?"
"A speck of dust."
"Then I'll be fine."
"Oh?" Grayfia raised her eyebrows slightly.
So Keiji apparently considered himself on par with her, which was an unexpected surprise. But if he was that confident, she wouldn't say anything else.
"In that case, tomorrow everything will be set in motion. I'll also introduce you to Rias-ojousama beforehand."
Grayfia just hoped that everything would work out in the end.