"Mmm, this feels so good~"
Roygun's eyes practically sparkled as she savored another bite, the kind of genuine delight that couldn't be faked even by someone with centuries of practice. She set down her fork with deliberate care, as if handling something precious.
"Yuuto-kun, where on earth did you learn to cook like this? This is easily one of the best quality, better than most establishments I've visited in the Underworld."
The salmon had come out perfect—crispy skin, tender flesh that flaked at the slightest pressure. The sauce was a delicate balance of citrus and herbs, complemented by roasted vegetables that still had just the right amount of bite. Simple ingredients, but executed with precision that spoke of countless hours of practice.
Yuuto felt heat creep up his neck. "You're giving me way too much credit, Lady Belphegor. It's just basic cooking, really. Nothing special."
'Roygun Belphegor.....If my memory serves right,' he thought, watching her take another bite with that satisfied smile, 'she's using a King Piece to maintain her Ultimate-Class status. Without it, she's just a High-Class Devil. No wonder her Bishop—the stray we killed—was so pathetically weak for someone supposedly serving an Ultimate-Class master.'
He reached for his water glass, using the motion to hide his expression.
'Should I make her feel guilty? Remind her that she's basically cheating at the Rating Games she claims to love so much? Use that leverage to—'
He stopped himself mid-thought.
'No. What the hell am I thinking? I'm not any better than her. I've got the CCA System giving me abilities I shouldn't have, making me stronger than any normal reincarnated devil has any right to be. Who am I to judge?'
The fork in his hand suddenly felt heavier.
'Besides, playing with someone's emotions for power? That's a line I won't cross. Doesn't matter what's at stake. That's the kind of thing that turns you into exactly what you're fighting against. I'm not going down that road, not for anything.'
"Yuuto-kun?"
Roygun's voice cut through his thoughts as he looked at her. He blinked, realizing he'd been staring at his plate for too long.
She tilted her head, those yellow eyes studying him with an intensity that made him feel like a specimen under glass. "You seem distracted. Are you not enjoying my company? I'd hate to think I'm boring you already."
There was something playful in her tone, but also a hint of genuine curiosity—maybe even concern.
"No, not at all," he said quickly, setting his fork down. "I was just... curious about something."
A smile spread across Roygun's face. She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on one elegant hand. "My, my. Are you showing interest in me, Yuuto-kun?"
The time in the room seemed to have stopped, for both of them.
"Perhaps you've already fallen in love?" Her smile widened, teasing and confident. "If that's the case, you're welcome to confess. I promise I'll consider it very carefully."
'Jesus Christ, she's not holding back.'
"Actually," Yuuto said, grabbing onto the first lifeline his brain offered, "I'm interested in Rating Games."
Roygun blinked. Once. Twice.
For a split second, her expression flickered—surprise mixed with something that might have been disappointment. But it vanished so quickly he might have imagined it.
Then her entire demeanor shifted. Her eyes lit up with an entirely different kind of fire, the kind that came from genuine passion rather than flirtation.
"Rating Games?" She straightened in her chair, suddenly animated. "Now that's unexpected. Most young devils your age are more interested in..." She waved a hand vaguely, "other pursuits."
"I haven't participated in one yet," Yuuto admitted, "but I'm curious. You're ranked second, right? Who did you have to beat to get there? And who's number one?"
Roygun's smile turned nostalgic, almost wistful. "When you finally step into the arena for your first Rating Game, Yuuto-kun, it'll be one of the most exhilarating experiences of your life. The rush, the strategy, the raw competition—there's nothing quite like it."
'Couldn't agree more. Just wish my first one wasn't going to be against a immortal chicken bastard with a superiority complex.'
"As for your question," she continued, "the current number one is Diehauser Belial. He's held that position for years now, but mark my words—one day, I'll dethrone him. It's only a matter of time."
There was steel in her voice, the kind of determination that came from someone who'd spent decades chasing a single goal.
Yuuto frowned slightly, making a show of considering her words. "That's... actually surprising."
"Oh?" Roygun's eyebrow arched. "What about it surprises you?"
"I would've thought a Phenex would hold the top spot. Or at least second place." He met her gaze directly. "Their regeneration is basically a cheat code. How is neither of them in the top two positions?"
Roygun's expression shifted—subtle, but noticeable. Her eyes narrowed just slightly, her smile taking on a more thoughtful edge.
"The Phenex clan's regeneration is formidable, yes," she said slowly, her tone more measured now. "But Rating Games aren't won by their regeneration alone. Strategy, peerage coordination, exploiting weaknesses and especially Demonic Power, which mostly determines the fight before even it begins"
She took a sip of her wine, watching him over the rim of the glass.
"Though I'm curious why you'd ask specifically about the Phenex. Most people ask about techniques, famous matches, legendary players..." Her yellow eyes gleamed with understanding. "But you went straight for the one clan whose ability seems unbeatable on paper."
She set the glass down with deliberate slowness.
"Tell me, Yuuto-kun—is there a particular Phenex you're concerned about? Perhaps one that's going to get engaged to the Rias Gremory, of Gremory household?"
'Shit.'
The shift in Roygun's demeanor was complete now. Her playful flirtation evaporated like morning mist, replaced by something sharp and calculating. Those yellow eyes bored into him with an intensity that made his devil instincts scream danger.
The silence stretched for three heartbeats.
Four.
Five.
Then she laughed—but it wasn't the warm, musical sound from earlier. This one was knowing, almost rueful.
"My my." She set down her wine glass with a soft clink. "You've been thinking about this entire conversation, haven't you? All these questions about Rating Games, about rankings, about the Phenex..." She leaned back in her chair, studying him like he was a particularly interesting puzzle. "You want to know how to beat Riser Phenex."
Yuuto's poker face held, but only barely.
"I see." Roygun tapped one perfectly manicured nail against the table—tap, tap, tap. "It's no secret to me that Rias Gremory is engaged to Ruval's little brother, and you're not the only one who asked about it, Rias did as well, last night~"
She stood smoothly, moving around the table with predatory grace. Yuuto tensed despite himself as she came to stand beside his chair, one hand resting lightly on the backrest.
"If you want to know how to deal with Phenex regeneration," she said quietly, her breath warm against his ear, "I can teach you. Personally."
'There is more to it isn't it?'
"But," her voice took on a playful edge, "you'd have to come live with me in the Underworld. Train with me every day until this Rating Game of yours. I'll make you strong enough to give that spoiled brat a real fight."
Yuuto's mind raced.
'This is it. This is exactly what I need. She knows how to beat Phenex, she probably done it herself in Rating Games. With her training, I might actually have a shot at winning this Rating Game.'
His hand clenched under the table.
'But what's the catch? She didn't get to Ultimate-Class by giving away free lessons. And she's doing it with a King Piece—cheating, just like I am with the System. Can I really trust her training?'
Another thought struck him.
'And if I go with her to the Underworld, I can't train alone. Can't practice with my other abilities where she might see. Can't summon new character cards without her asking questions I can't answer. Everything I've been working toward—all of it gets put on hold.'
He looked up at her, finding those yellow eyes watching him with amused curiosity.
'She's waiting for me to jump at the offer. Probably thinks I'm desperate enough to agree to anything.'
"Lady Belphegor," he said carefully.
Her smile widened slightly, anticipation clear in her expression.
"I refuse."
The words hung in the air like a grenade with the pin pulled.
Roygun's eyes went wide—genuine shock replacing her confident amusement. She straightened, taking a step back to look at him properly.
"I... I'm sorry, what?" She actually seemed at a loss for words. "Did you just—you refused? You do understand what I'm offering, don't you? Training from an Ultimate-Class Devil? Most devils would literally kill for this opportunity, and you're just—"
"I refuse," Yuuto repeated, meeting her gaze steadily. "With all due respect, Lady Belphegor."
"But why?" The confusion in her voice was almost visible on her face "Don't you want to help Rias win? Don't you want to get stronger? This is your chance to—"
"I have complete faith in Rias-buchou and our peerage," Yuuto said firmly. "Even if it seems impossible right now, even if the Phenex regeneration looks unbeatable—I know we'll find a way. Together."
He stood, facing her directly.
"Also, I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention any of this to Rias. I don't want her knowing I was asking around about strategies. She'd probably get the wrong idea."
Roygun stared at him like he'd grown a second head. "What if you lose?" Her voice dropped lower, more serious. "What if you can't find a way? Rias would be married off to Riser Phenex. I know very well how much she despises him with every fiber of her being. You understand that, right? The consequences of failure?"
Something hardened in Yuuto's chest. His eyes sharpened, taking on an edge that made even Roygun pause.
"That won't happen," he said quietly. "It's either Rias wins that Rating Game, or—"
He didn't finish the sentence. Didn't need to.
Roygun studied him for a long moment, her expression unreadable.
'Is he being optimistic?' she wondered. 'Or is he just refusing to accept reality? Either way, that kind of blind confidence usually gets people killed in this world.'
But looking into those eyes, clear and absolutely certain, she didn't see a speck of delusion. She saw something else entirely. Something that made her centuries of experience feel almost inadequate.
'He actually believes it. Not because he's naive, but because he's already made peace with what he'd have to do to make it true.'
A slow, genuinely amused smile crossed her face.
"My, my. I have to wonder what kind of deal Rias made with you to earn such loyalty. What could possibly inspire this level of dedication?"
"It's not a deal," Yuuto said simply.
Then he told her.
About the church. About his friends. About the experiments and the screams and the Holy Swords forged from their bodies. About dying with their names on his lips and waking up to Rias offering him not just a second chance, but a purpose.
Roygun's expression shifted as he spoke—shock, then anger on his behalf, then something that looked uncomfortably close to pity.
When he finished, silence filled the apartment.
"I..." Roygun's voice was softer than he'd ever heard it. "I shouldn't have pried. I'm sorry, Yuuto-kun. That was thoughtless of me to ask about something so—"
"Hey, don't worry about it."
To her complete surprise, Yuuto smiled—bright and genuine, scratching the back of his head with an almost boyish embarrassment.
"You've got nothing to apologize for, seriously."
He looked down at his plate, expression growing more contemplative.
"I've already made peace with what happened. It still hurts sometimes, yeah, but I've promised myself something." He looked back up at her, and that determination was back in his eyes. "I'll avenge their deaths. Every single one of them. But more importantly..."
His smile returned, softer but no less sincere.
"I won't let anyone else I care about die. Not ever again. That's why I'll keep getting stronger, keep pushing forward. Not for revenge—for protection."
Roygun felt something catch in her chest.
'How does he do that?' she thought, genuinely baffled. 'How does someone carry that kind of pain and still smile like that? Still look at the future with hope instead of bitterness?'
It was rare. Incredibly rare to find that kind of... purity, she supposed. That ability to experience hell and come out the other side still believing in something good.
A genuine smile—warm and without any of her usual calculation—spread across her face.
"I made the right choice coming to visit you," she said quietly.
Yuuto tilted his head, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing important." She waved it off, then glanced at his plate. "Now, are you going to let me try more of this cooking, or are you going to hoard it all for yourself?"
"Oh!" He grabbed the serving dish immediately. "Let me get you some more—"
"No, no." She held up a hand, laughing. "I'm absolutely stuffed. If I eat another bite, I'll regret it tomorrow."
Then, she pulled out an elegant black flyer. The Belphegor clan symbol gleamed in pink across its surface.
"Here." She pressed it into his hand. "If you change your mind about the training, use this. Or..." Her smile turned sly again. "You can use it to ask me for any favor you want. Anything at all."
Before he could respond, she leaned in close—close enough that he could smell her perfume, sweet and intoxicating like ripe strawberries on a summer day.
"Anything," she whispered directly into his ear.
Yuuto's throat went dry. His brain short-circuited for a solid three seconds.
Then she pressed her lips to his cheek—soft, warm, lingering just long enough to leave an impression—and pulled back with a wink.
"Thank you for a wonderful evening, Yuuto-kun. I'll be waiting to see what decision you make."
Her pink magic circle formed beneath her feet, intricate patterns weaving together on the floor.
"Oh, and Yuuto-kun?" She paused just before the teleportation completed. "You really should be more careful about who you show that smile to. It's dangerous."
Then she was gone in a flash of pink light.
Yuuto stood frozen for a solid ten seconds.
Slowly—very slowly—his hand came up to touch his cheek. His fingers came away with a faint trace of lipstick, the same shade as her lips.
"So that's what it feels like," he muttered to himself, "when a beautiful woman is actually interested in you."
He looked at the flyer in his other hand, then at the lipstick mark on his fingers, then at the spot where Roygun had been standing.
'Did I just have my first date?'
. . .
For advance chapters, you can check on p*treon.com/opeler