The demonic voice coming from the radio echoed through the room, sending chills down the spines of those who recognized it.
Everyone except Sona, who was certain that neither her fiancé nor his subordinates would harm her.
Rias immediately placed a hand in front of her peerage, protecting them.
Then a very tall demon opened the door.
He stood over two meters tall, his smile alone enough to make people shiver.
Alastor.
With his ever-present cane, he stepped forward and first greeted the only person in this group of young devils who could not be ignored.
"Miss Sona, how have you been?"
He greeted her elegantly and politely.
Sona was the only one who mattered to him here.
Everyone else, in both power and influence, could not compare. Not even remotely.
These young and arrogant devils could not match an overlord.
But Sona was different.
She was Aikren Bael's fiancée, and their wedding was approaching.
If Sona asked Aikren to eliminate a small faction, he would gladly do so.
That was why, in the supernatural world, she was treated with respect despite being only high-class.
But setting that aside…
"Good morning, Alastor. I've been well."
At that moment, another voice rang out.
"Hello everyone, sorry for the intrusion!"
A very tall blonde woman—over 1.90 meters—entered the room.
Charlie Morningstar.
The current owner of the Embassy of Libertinage, in charge of hotels and everything necessary to accommodate foreign guests among devils.
Since that incident, no one needed to go to Alastor's radio program anymore. No one was that foolish.
These days, he spent his time hosting normal radio programs—normal by Hell's standards—while also acting as Charlie's security.
The young heiresses' faces lit up.
Charlie approached Rias, the closest to her, and hugged her, pressing her against her chest due to the height difference.
"Charlie, I didn't know you would be visiting."
Rias spoke warmly.
In Rias's words, Charlie was the only sane one among Aikren's subordinates.
"Oh, well, everyone needs a break."
Charlie replied with her usual friendly tone.
Sona also stepped forward to greet the princess.
They talked about trivial matters until Rias remembered Alastor.
"And… what did you come here for?"
the redhead asked.
"Oh, well, you see, we heard Miss Sona was going to the Familiar Forest, and that you wanted to go as well, so…"
His smile widened, and runes began forming as the aura of the Radio Demon slowly emerged.
"…we came to convince you to let Lady Sona go this time. What do you say?"
A terrifying aura filled the room, and everyone's vision distorted under the pressure.
Rias swallowed.
Then salvation arrived.
"Alastor, don't intimidate her."
Charlie stepped between them.
"Well, Rias… could you make this exception? Please allow Lady Sona to go to the Familiar Forest."
The princess asked kindly.
Rias sighed.
It wasn't like she had a choice.
Refusing a direct request from Aikren Bael was practically a one-way ticket to disappearing the next day—or "committing suicide."
"Oka—"
Before she could reluctantly agree, her cute pawn stepped forward.
"Hey! Who do you think you are ordering the president around?!"
To Issei, Rias was more important than anyone.
But to the world, Rias was expendable.
And that became clear in everyone's expressions.
They looked at him with fear.
As if he were already dead.
And then—
Alastor appeared from the shadows, staring directly at Issei.
"Well, well… it seems someone was never taught about ranks."
In truth, Issei understood ranks. He had felt Alastor's power.
But he was an airhead.
He could insult even a supreme-class devil if he disliked them.
He was an idiot.
He had a good heart—but this was not a world where good hearts survived.
In fact, they were usually the first to die.
"And just moments ago, you attempted to attack Lady Sona."
Horns began to grow from Alastor's head.
"Don't tell me hierarchy has already been forgotten… or do you want to visit the radio program?"
It seemed they had forgotten the power and authority he held.
An example was needed.
And to Issei's shock—
Rias Gremory, his King, the proud noble lady…
knelt down.
"Please, Alastor. I beg you to forgive him."
She looked genuinely terrified.
Issei didn't understand.
What was the "radio program"?
Then, after Rias, the others followed.
Akeno, Kiba, and Koneko knelt as well, asking for mercy for Issei Hyoudou.
They were comrades, after all, and they didn't want Issei sent directly to the real "hell."
Alastor looked at them impassively.
He was about to ignore them when he received a message.
Apparently, Aikren had an idea for a game involving that foolish pawn.
After hearing the plan, Alastor found it amusing.
"Very well. But make sure it doesn't happen again."
He spoke cheerfully.
"It seems the master has his eyes on you, Issei Hyoudou. Stay alert."
Rias's expression shifted from relief to absolute pallor.
Finally, under Charlie's apologetic gaze, the two demons left, while Rias remained on the floor, trembling.
It took them longer than expected to stand again.
Seeing this, Sona spoke.
"Well then, with everything settled, I'll be leaving."
Sometimes she loved her privileges a little too much, though it didn't show on her face.
"Sona…"
Rias spoke painfully.
"What is it, Rias?"
Rias grabbed her shoulders.
"Please, as my friend, convince Aikren to take Issei out of whatever game he's planning."
She didn't ask—she begged.
Sona looked uncomfortable.
She knew her fiancé too well.
"I don't know, Rias. You know how he is. He gets very stubborn with his games… he's quite childish."
She glanced aside nervously, then smiled softly at the thought of her boyfriend.
But seeing Rias's tearful face, she agreed to try.
Sona then left to prepare for the Familiar Forest.
Rias collapsed to her knees, sobbing.
"President…"
Issei approached to comfort her.
The way everyone looked at him made him uneasy.
With pity.
So much pity.
As if they already knew misfortune awaited him.
"You don't understand…"
Rias said, staring at the floor.
"What?"
Issei asked, confused.
"You don't understand!"
"Issei!"
"Aikren Bael has his eyes on you! The devil has his eyes on you!"
She spoke in anguish.
Her cute pawn…
"It will be horrible. You'll be a mouse before a snake."
He will play with you.
He will destroy you.
A death filled with suffering.
Like a predator, he will corner you, slowly breaking you and taking everything from you.
And in this oppressive atmosphere, we leave the room.
Weeks Later
Several weeks later, in a room where a Rating Game was being watched, the battle for Rias Gremory's freedom was underway.
Raiser Phoenix, Aikren's brother-in-law, was fighting against the Gremory heiress.
For the record, Raiser did not have Ravel in his peerage, as she had formed her own.
Returning to the Rating Game—
The match was being narrated by the now single Grayfia Lucifugus.
Yes, it seemed she never forgave Sirzechs for that party.
She still worked for the Gremory household, as she got along well with her former mother-in-law.
They had also tried to reconcile her with Sirzechs, but it wasn't working.
She was also attempting to revive her extinct clan, with the help of a certain smiling demon lord.
Inside the private viewing room were:
Sona and her peerage,
Serafall Leviathan,
and Sirzechs Lucifer.
And then, as an important figure, Aikren appeared.
"Hello, how have you all been?"
He greeted everyone confidently.
They were briefly surprised by his arrival.
The first to stand was his fiancée and girlfriend, Sona.
"Hello, Aikren."
She jumped into his arms.
They shared a brief kiss before linking arms as Aikren greeted the others.
Incidentally, Aikren enjoyed calling Serafall "sister-in-law," because he loved the expression it gave her.
In his words:
"Like she swallowed a lemon."
"Lord Aikren, what do you think of this match?"
Sirzechs asked.
Even if he didn't like him, respect was necessary.
"Do you think Rias has a chance to win?"
Aikren looked amused.
"Not at all. They'll be completely crushed."
He said it confidently.
And it was already happening.
"Well then… would you be interested in making a deal?"
Even Lucifer seemed to know how this would end.
"I'm not interested. You'd offer things easy for you to obtain and not even a small part of your soul, so no."
Souls that haven't fallen into misery aren't entertaining.
And strangely, no one seemed surprised that Aikren asked for part of Lucifer's soul.
But setting that aside—
The match reached its final stage.
Issei tried to fight Raiser and lost, and finally Rias surrendered.
Aikren watched with a smile, staring directly at Issei.
"It seems it's finally time to move."
He smiled maliciously.
TO BE CONTINUED
Stones and reviews are appreciated, but I'd also like you to comment on what you think could be improved :)